By Lance Johnson, Host/Moderator
We are already in full swing making plans for the 2017 edition of the Missions & Ministry Summit and I couldn’t be more excited. I want to take this opportunity to invite you to be part of this incredible journey.
Our theme for the 2017 Summit will be “Take the Land.” I believe God has placed your church in just the right location to make an eternal impact on those around you and He is calling you to “Take the Land”. This has been our calling from the very beginning of our movement. We unapologetically proclaim the truth that Jesus tasted death for every man, woman, boy and girl. As General Baptists, we want to do anything we possibly can, while we trust God to do the impossible so we may take the land He has given us by sharing this life changing message.
That’s why I believe the Missions & Ministry Summit is so important for each of our churches. Each year, General Baptists from all across the globe gather together to encourage and strengthen one another. Our focus is always on learning how we can make a greater impact in growing God’s Kingdom. We challenge each other to further develop our respective ministries through meaningful worship, purposeful training, and missional challenges.
At next year’s Summit, we will continue to challenge and encourage one another on July 17th-19th at the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville, Indiana. It is already shaping up to be an incredible event.
We will be offering a wide array of breakout sessions that will help you better impact your community. We will build on the excitement generated by the Go Project at the 2016 Summit and once again have a focus track on children’s ministry development. You will have an opportunity to explore technology in the church with workshops on service planning and volunteer ministry through Planning Center Online, working with presentation software like Pro Presenter, as well as resources for graphics and video editing. Other possible tracks we are discussing involve leadership development in the church, personal enrichment, and much more.
All of our breakout sessions will be designed to equip you to “Take the Land” God has given you. It would be an incredible opportunity for your church to bring staff, leaders, and volunteers to grow in their respective ministries.
There is also an inspiring roster of keynote speakers for the 2017 Summit. We will welcome to the main stage one of our very own difference makers, Gary Baldus. Pastor Gary has been intentional as he planted New Walk Church in Zephyrhills, Florida to “Take the Land” God called him to. New Walk has now grown to become the largest church in General Baptist history.
We will be challenged by Aaron Broyles. Aaron is a Christian author of the book “Do Great Things”, a speaker, and entrepreneur. As a successful businessman and leadership developer, his focus is on discovering purpose, helping people see opportunities that others don’t see, and achieving success in those opportunities.
And finally, we will welcome back to the Summit none other than Alex Himaya. Alex serves as pastor of TheChurch.at in Oklahoma and was a special part of the 2015 Missions and Ministry Summit.
This year’s Summit is going to be incredible. As always, you are going to be able to reconnect with old friends and have the opportunity to network with new ones. But even more than that, we will all be equipped and encouraged to make a difference in the world around us. With God leading the way, I believe with all of my heart that you and your church can make that difference. So I am challenging you to prepare yourself for God-sized things in your ministry by inviting you to be part of this amazing event.
Make plans now to attend the 2017 Missions and Ministry Summit on July 17th-19th. For more details and information, visit the Summit website at www.gbSummit.org.