2024 RBM Conference Notebook

JUNE 24–27

Elgin, Illinois

Schedule of Events

Monday

8:00 a .m . Council of Eighteen Meetings

12:30 p m Chaplaincy module

3:30 p .m Registration

6:30 p m Plenary Session 1 - David Strope

7:45 p m Council of 18 Panel

8:45 p m Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary Reception

Tuesday

8:40 a m Prayer and Devotion: Jeremy Scott

9:00 a m . Plenary Session 2: Clare Jewell

10:00 a m Q&A, C18 & National Representative Candidate

11:00 a m Plenary Session 3: Mike Bullmore

1:30 p m Annual Business Meeting

3:30 p m Learning Sessions: Retirement Planning | Servant Solutions, Child Protection 101 | ECAP

6:30 p m Plenary Session 4: Mike Bullmore

8:00 p m Clarks Summit University Reception

Wednesday

8:40 a m Prayer and Devotion: Mark Wood

9:00 a m . Plenary Session 5: Ken Fields

10:00 a m Plenary Session 6: Mike Bullmore

11:00 a m Breakouts: Establishing Minisry Connections

1:30 p m Workshop Sessions: Clare Jewell, Mike Augsburger, Terry Thompson, Will Hatfield, Brian & Jenni Cederquist, Ken & Sharon Floyd, Ross Shannon

6:30 p m Plenary Session 7: Sam Choi

Thursday

8:15 a m Exhibitors’ Prize Drawings

8:40 a .m . Prayer and Devotion: Stephen Muindi

9:00 a m Plenary Session 8: Mike Bullmore

Location of Events

10ofThose Bookstore: Main Lobby

Breakouts: Connect, W101, W103, W105, W107

Business Meeting: Main Auditorium

Chaplaincy Module: Connect

Conference Registration: Main Lobby

Council of 18 Meetings: Cornerstone

Exhibitors: Main Lobby

General Sessions: Worship Center

Kids’ Check-in and Program: East Lobby Walk past the nursery rooms; enter the row of doors down that hall

Learning Sessions: Worship Center, Cornerstone

Lunch: Harvest Cafeteria, 2nd floor . Walk past the nursery rooms; enter the row of doors down that hall . The elevator is on the left . Past the elevator is an optional stairwell .

Nursery: Rooms 111 and 113

RBM Exhibits: Main Lobby

RBP Exhibits: Main Lobby

Receptions: Cornerstone

Toddlers: Room W115

Youth Meet and Greet: Connect

Youth Program: Harvest Kids’ Theatre, 3rd floor . Walk past the nursery rooms; enter the row of doors down that hall . The elevator is on the left . Past the elevator is an optional stairwell .

Workshops: Worship Center, Connect, Cornerstone, W101, W105, W107, W103

After the conference, look for a link to a survey that will provide feedback to RBM so we can improve future conferences.

Conference

Schedule

Monday, 6/24

8:00 a.m. Council of 18 Meetings

Tuesday, 6/25

8:40 a.m. Prayer and Devotion: Jeremy Scott

9:00 a.m. Plenary Session 2: Clare Jewell

9:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m. Q&A, C18 & National Rep. Candidate

11:00 a.m. Plenary Session 3: Mike Bullmore

Noon Lunch

12:30 p.m. Chaplaincy Module

1:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. Annual Business Meeting

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m. Registration Learning Sessions Retirement Planning | Servant Solutions Child Protection 101 | ECAP

6:30 p.m. Plenary Session 1: David Strope Plenary Session 4: Mike Bullmore

7:00 p.m.

7:45 p.m. Council of 18 Panel

8:45 p.m. Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary Reception Clarks Summit University Reception

Conference Schedule (continued)

Wednesday, 6/26

Thursday, 6/27

8:15 a.m. Exhibitors’ Prize Drawings

8:40 a.m. Prayer and Devotion: Mark Wood Prayer and Devotion: Stephen Muindi

9:00 a.m. Plenary Session 5: Ken Fields Plenary Session 8: Mike Bullmore

9:15 a.m.

10:00 a.m. Plenary Session 6: Mike Bullmore

11:00 a.m. Breakouts: Establishing Ministry Connection

Noon Lunch

1:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. Workshop Sessions

Creating a Discipleship Pipeline | Clare Jewell

Ministry Bound: Recruiting & Training the Next Generation | Mike Augsburger

Revitalize: First Steps Toward Health | Terry Thompson

Pastoral Connections: Lifeline for Lasting Ministry | Will Hatfield

Creating a Culture of Outreach | Brian & Jenni Cederquist

Dealing With the Inevitable . .Conflict | Ken & Sharon Floyd

Prioritizing: First steps, priorities and questions to ask as you join a new ministry | Ross Shannon

6:30 p.m. Plenary Session 7: Sam Choi

Conference Extras

Receptions

Friends of two exhibiting schools are invited to attend receptions to hear about the great things God is doing through these organizations .

• Faith Baptist Bible College Monday, 8:45 p.m.

Cornerstone

Youth Program

• Clarks Summit University Tuesday, 8:00 p.m.

Cornerstone

All events are located in Harvest Kids’ Theatre on the 3rd floor unless otherwise noted .

Monday, June 24

8:30 p.m. Welcome to Chi-town Party (Connect room near auditorium)

Enjoy pizza and pop while getting to know each other and your leaders! You’ll also learn details about planned activities.

Tuesday, June 25

SUPER YOUTH DAY!

8:40 a.m. Devotional and Instructions

9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Just for Fun Outing Bowling, laser tag, ropes course, arcade, lunch, and more at Main Event in Hoffman Estates

2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Service Project

Volunteer project packing meals at Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg

5:00 p.m. Return to Harvest Dinner with parents or Duke’s BBQ for those attending from local churches

6:30 p.m. Rally and Worship Service Music and learning from God’s Word

Wednesday, June 26

9:00 a.m. to noon Evangelism Training

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Street Evangelism in Dundee Area

3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Debrief and Testimonies

5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dinner, attend Evening Session with Parents NO YOUTH PROGRAMMING

Thursday, June 27

9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Wrap-up Session (Cornerstone room near auditorium) Worship, challenge, testimonies, and snacks as we reflect on our accomplishments and learning

Conference Extras (continued)

Kids4Truth Clubs Program Schedule

Monday, June 24

3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Conference Registration

6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check-in & Registration Crafts as children come in

6:55 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lesson & Activities 1

8:35 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. Checkout & Clean up

Tuesday, June 25

8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Check-in

8:55 a.m. to noon Lessons & Activities 2 & 3

noon to 12:20 p.m. Checkout & Cleanup

1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check-in

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 3D Craft Extravaganza

4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check-out/Clean up

6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check-in

6:25 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lesson & Activities 4 & 5

8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Checkout & Cleanup

We keep children busy until all are picked up.

When you are ready to drop off or pick up your child:

• Your child’s items will be under your last name on the tables by the door Pick up and drop off supplies as needed .

• Sign your child in and out on the sign-in/sign-out sheet

Wednesday, June 27

8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Check-in

8:55 a.m. to noon Lessons & Activities 6 & 7

noon to 12:20 p.m. Checkout & Cleanup

1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check-in

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Game Mania Tournament

3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Checkout & Clean up

6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check-in

6:25 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lessons & Activities 8 & 9

8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Checkout & Cleanup

Thursday, June 28

8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Check-in

8:55 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Lesson & Activities 10

11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Checkout & Cleanup

• If picking up, tell the worker at the door your last name, and your child will be called

If your child’s awards are not ready: Go ahead and take your child . The cinch bag with award patch will be waiting when your child arrives for the next session

If arriving, have your child enter the room and join the group in the current activity

Memory work may be recited:

During sessions (anytime but during the teaching lesson)

• When your child arrives, as time allows

• Anytime your child finds Mr or Mrs Ralph outside of sessions Games are available for families to enjoy before or after our sessions. When finished, please put all game pieces on the game’s playing field so the pieces are ready for the next player.

Workshops

Creating a Discipleship Pipeline

Clare Jewell, director of Regular Baptist

Generate and executive director of ABWE’s EveryEthnē

Discipleship and leadership development can go hand in hand in any size church

Connect with pastors and leaders who are striving to develop healthy disciple makers in their ministries

Ministry Bound: Recruiting and Training the Next Generation

Mike Augsburger, lead pastor of Soteria Des Moines, West Des Moines, Iowa

There is a great need for more men in ministry Connect with pastors and leaders who are encouraging men toward church ministry

Revitalize: First Steps Toward Health

Terry Thompson, founder of Small Church USA and leadership development pastor at Rock Point Church, Crawfordsville, Indiana

Help! My church needs revitalization! Where do I start? Connect with pastors and leaders who are actively helping churches grow in health

Pastoral Connections: Lifeline for Lasting Ministry

Will Hatfield, lead pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church, Ames, Iowa

One of the greatest strengths as an association is the opportunity to build healthy connections with one another for accountability, discipleship, growth,

fellowship, and counsel Connect with pastors and leaders to strengthen these relationships .

Creating a Culture of Outreach

Brian and Jenni Cederquist, pastor and wife at Good News Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Outreach can easily give way to apathy in aging churches Connect with pastors and leaders who are working toward creating a culture of outreach in their churches

Dealing with the Inevitable: Conflict

Ken and Sharon Floyd, pastor of leadership development and wife at Grace Baptist Church, Canton, Ohio

Distraction can easily rear its ugly head when we are creating or implementing a ministry plan . Connect with pastors and leaders who are navigating these potential hindrances .

Prioritizing: First Steps, Priorities, and Questions to Ask as You Join a New Ministry

Ross Shannon, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lapeer, Michigan

Starting out in a new ministry has its challenges Change, courage, first steps, and questions to ask are all part of this new responsibility Connect with pastors and leaders to start out on the right foot

Faith Biblical Counseling & Faith Bible Seminary

FAITH BIBLICAL COUNSELING

Equipping You to Encourage Others.

“The heart of FBCM is to equip pastors and lay people with the tools from God’s word to minister his truth to change lives through grace-based and gospel-centered counseling and discipleship. Whether you are seeking the training individually or as a part of your church, we believe you will be both encouraged and equipped in your personal walk with Christ.

If you are new to biblical counseling, our foundational training will give you the confidence to grow in your own ministry of the Word. For those continuing their journey in biblical counseling, sessions are available for intermediate, advanced or on-going training to include specializations in marriage or reconciliation.

Training is available throughout the year, both in-person and through virtual sessions, to provide the flexibility to meet the needs of your ministry and your schedule. Visit bctconference.org to see the complete listing of training opportunities.

MASTER OF ARTS IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING & MASTER OF DIVINITY

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Biblical Education for Effective Christian Ministry

Faith Bible Seminary has been committed to biblical education for effective Christian ministry for more than a decade. Our programs combine practical experience, flexibility and affordability. FBS’ degrees provide you an education that will encourage you as a Christian and prepare you to serve with excellence. Pastoral internships are available for the M. Div program starting in Aug 2025. Learn more or apply at FBS.edu. fbs.edu Learn more about the many

You can sign up to receive more information about Faith Bible Seminary by scanning this code.

Notes

& Other Information

Go Digital

• Visit garbc .org and GARBC on Facebook for photos and audio from this year’s conference

• Posting on social media? Use #StrongerTogether and #GARBC24

• Interact on the GARBC social media pages:

Facebook: GARBC

X: @RegularBaptist

Instagram: @RegularBaptist

• Download a digital version of the conference notebook at garbcConference.org/digital .

Speakers

David Strope

David E Strope is interim national representative of the GARBC

Previously he was a pastor for 45 years, serving in four New York churches and, most recently, at Ankeny (Iowa) Baptist Church . David has also served on several councils, including the GARBC Council of 18, the Northeast Fellowship Council of 10, the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches Council of 10, and the council of Baptist Mid-Missions .

Mike Bullmore, Keynote

Mike Bullmore recently retired as pastor of CrossWay Community Church, Bristol, Wisconsin Prior to leading the launch of CrossWay Community Church in 1998, Mike served for 15 years as professor of homiletics and pastoral theology, as well as chairman of the practical theology department, at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School He is a founding member of the council of The Gospel Coalition

Sam Choi

Sam Choi has served as pastor of Prior Lake (Minnesota) Baptist Church since 2014 Christ’s words in John 14–17 have shaped Sam’s desire to glorify God by making Christ known through the Word Sam’s philosophy of life and ministry flows from Galatians 6:14 (“God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”) and 2 Timothy 2:1 (“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”)

Ken Fields

Ken Fields has served as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Schaumburg, Illinois, since 2020 Previously he served at Delhi Baptist Church, Jerseyville, Illinois, as associate pastor and then pastor Ken grew up in a pastor’s home and is thankful for the legacy of faithfulness passed along to him His passion is to preach and teach the Word of God in a way that calls people to think higher thoughts of Christ and to fall deeper in love with Him

Clare Jewell

Clare serves as the Executive Director for ABWE EveryEthnē The primary focus of EveryEthnē is to mobilize the church to reach every ethnic group in North America through disciple making that multiplies leaders and churches . We believe that every person needs to be in a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ

Clare also serves as the Director for Generate, a Regular Baptist Ministry focused on fueling the health and reproduction of leaders and churches within the GARBC

Clare has been with ABWE EveryEthnē since 2014 and with Generate since 2016 . He has also taught Missional Living at Corban University for 7 years Prior to these ministry opportunities, Clare served as the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Park Baptist Church in Auburn, IN, for 21 years .

Clare received his undergraduate degree in pastoral ministry from Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania He has a Master of Social Science Degree from Eastern Michigan University and will graduate from Corban University with his Doctor of Ministry degree in Strategic Leadership on May 4, 2024

Clare loves to hike, golf, ski, and read His passion is to engage people in God’s mission so they can experience the enormous joy of introducing people to Jesus and discipling them to become more like Him .

Clare has been married to Donna for nearly 43 years They have four daughters and 13 grandchildren .

You’re passionate about DISCIPLESHIP. So are we!

Discipleship is best developed with intentionality, and developing strong leaders is at the heart of all we do. Every church resource that RBP provides is designed to equip your church’s leadership to encourage maturity in Christ. That’s why churches just like yours choose to build lives by the Book with GARBC-trusted discipleship resources from RBP.

• Strong Curriculum equips you to build stronger by teaching all Scripture to produce spiritually mature believers of all ages who measure up to the stature of Christ.

• Vacation Bible School equips you to reach kids in your community with gospelsaturated themes to teach Bible truths to children you may or may not see each week.

• Kids4Truth Clubs equips you to teach students key doctrines so they understand how Biblical truth applies to their own lives. This systematic theology for kids helps them understand what they believe and why they believe it.

• Bible Studies & Regular Baptist Books equip you to lead individuals and small group participants into a deeper knowledge of and relationship with the Lord.

®

"Brains and Bibles" is so named because those two t hings should never be disconnected! This 501(c)3 ministry streng thens churches by equipping them in subjects such as evangelism , discipleship , and Bible study ( the work of the ministry - Eph. 4:11-16) through counsel, camps, conferences, curriculum, an d Christ!

(Picture of Joel and Beth Willoughby with their children

Roger, Isaiah, Valerie, and Hannah taken in Jan. 2024. With another due in June!)

Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera for all the ministry links, including Joel’s podcast, “Brains, Bibles, and Beyond!”

Topics to Develop through Conferences and Training Sessions

Sharing the Gospel Making Disciples Studyin g the Bible Explaining the Triune God Gender Issues Worldviews Polemics (Refuting error) Prophecy Apologetics (defending truth and giving reason for the Biblical hope) Social Media Various Theological Issues

How might your local church partner with Brains and Bibles in fulfilling the Great Commission and the Work of the Ministry?

Conferences Retreats Camps

Consultation Pulpit Supply

Facilitation of Bible Training

Pastoral Fellowship

Pastoral Mentorship

Micro-Network Development

Private 1-2-1 training to teach through speaking and writing

Brains and Bibles was founded in March 2020. Since then, there has been a godly and wise board of directors to guide the ministry in good stewardship to the glory of God. Founder and Executive Director Joel Willoughby devoted himself full-time to this ministry in June 2022. God continues to bless and grow Brains and Bibles! Please consider investing in eternity by supporting Brains and Bibles through prayer and finances.

Sessions

Day/Time Speaker Message

Monday, 6:30 p .m . David Strope Living as God’s Children in the World - p . 30

Tuesday, 9:00 a .m . Clare Jewell Come Together - p . 34

Tuesday, 11:00 a .m . Mike Bullmore The Functional Centrality of the Gospel - p . 36

Tuesday, 6:30 p .m . Mike Bullmore Much More: The Benefits of Our Justification - p . 46

Wednesday, 9:00 a .m . Ken Fields The Unity between a Pastor and God’s People - p . 48

Wednesday, 10:00 a .m . Mike Bullmore Living in the Good of God’s Steadfast, Unfailing, Everlasting Love - p . 50

Wednesday, 6:30 p .m . Sam Choi In Our Waiting . . . We Need Each Other - p . 52

Thursday, 9:00 a .m . Mike Bullmore Living in the Gospel Together - p . 54

After the conference, look for a link to a survey that will provide feedback to RBM so we can improve future conferences.

Exhibitors

Exhibitors

Appalachian Bible College

Ariel Ministries

Baptist Children’s Home

Baptist Church Planters

Baptist Mid-Missions

Bibles International

Bob Jones University

Brains and Bibles

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company

Cedarville University

Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Church Works Media

Clarks Summit University and Baptist

Bible Seminary

Continental Baptist Missions

Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention

EveryEthnē

Faith Baptist Bible College

Faith Baptist Mission

Faith Bible Seminary

Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries

LABWE (Liberia ABWE)

Maranatha Baptist University

Northeast Fellowship

Reasons for Hope

Servant Solutions

Small Church USA

Tourismora

Twin Lakes Camp

TwoTone Creative

Virginia Beach Theological Seminary

Regular Baptist Ministries

Generate

Regular Baptist Chaplaincy

Regular Baptist International

Regular Baptist Ministries

Regular Baptist Press

After the conference, look for a link to a survey that will provide feedback to RBM so we can improve future conferences.

Source: Student Survey, Spring 2024

Flexible

Theological

Academic

Deepen your ministry with a degree from BAPTIST BIBLE SEMINARY

Join our vibrant on-campus community

Earn a double major in Biblical Studies alongside your career major

Experience caring mentoring and discipleship from faculty and sta

Northeastern Pennsylvania

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Passport to Prizes

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Email: Phone:

Several exhibitors are offering prizes this year. To be eligible to win one of these prizes, you must

• secure a signature from the exhibitors listed below,

• put your completed passport of signatures in the container on the registration desk before 8:15 a m on Thursday, June 27

Appalachian Bible College

Ariel Ministries

Baptist Children’s Home

Baptist Mid-Missions

Brains and Bibles

Bibles International

Cedarville University

Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Clarks Summit University

Faith Baptist Bible College

• be an adult to secure signatures from exhibitors, be in the foyer for the drawing at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, and

• be present to win.

Reasons for Hope

Servant Solutions

Creative

Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries

LABWE (Liberia ABWE)

Tourismora

TwoTone

Prizes 2024 Exhibitor Prize List

The following exhibitors donated items as part of the prize drawing. Be sure to stop by their booths, say thank you, and find out more about their ministries.

Appalachian Bible College | Gift Certificate valued up to $1,590 for a free course (online or on campus)

Ariel Ministries | Book on Christ in the Old Testament

Baptist Children’s Home | Gift card and discount for our Trauma Training

Baptist Mid-Missions | $50 Visa Gift Card

Brains and Bibles | Gift Basket

Bibles International | Book assortment

Cedarville University | Jeremiah Study Bible and Cedarville author books

Central Baptist Theological Seminary | Stack of Faculty Books plus Visa Gift Card

Clarks Summit University | One free course (any level) at CSU or BBS (course is transferable)

Faith Baptist Bible College | FREE Registration to Faith’s Refresh Conference

Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries Registration for 2025 Biblical Counseling Training Conference

LABWE (Liberia ABWE) | Nativity set made in Liberia

Reasons for Hope | Curriculum and books

Servant Solutions | Trunk Organizer and Cooler

Tourismora | $500 gift certificate

TwoTone Creative | reMarkable 2 tablet

After the conference, look for a link to a survey that will provide feedback to RBM so we can improve future conferences.

Visit Faith!

GLOBAL MINISTRY

Prepare for global ministry at Maranatha Baptist Seminary and expand your opportunities overseas or at home. Our Word-centered, Christ-exalting courses of study will enrich your mind and equip you for passionate, faithful service wherever God has called you.

Explore Possibilities the

We combine biblical integrity with practical know-how that you and your church need to e ectively fulfill the Great Commission. And we’re backed by decades of experience. Wherever God is leading you, including di cult and unreached places of the world, Baptist Mid-Missions helps you serve and thrive—from start to finish. Missions isn’t just for those in

Living as God’s Children in the World

David Strope - Monday, 6:30 p.m.

I. The __________________ of Ministry: “Fulfill my joy” (Philippians 2:1–4)

II. The __________________ of Ministry: “Adopt this attitude” (Philippians 2:5–11)

III. The ________________ of Ministry: “Manifest true conversion” (Philippians 2:12–18)

A. God’s __________________: “Work out your own salvation” (v 12)

Work it __________, not work _________!

It is ____________ _______________ in you!

Grace!

B. God’s ________________ Check: “Do everything without grumbling and arguing” (v . 14)

God’s Purpose:

“that you may be children of God” (v 15)

“in the midst of a crooked and perverted world” (v 15)

“________ the world!”

“in which you shine as lights in the world” (v 15)

“holding fast the word of life” (v 16) “holding fast” or “holding forth”?

C. God’s _______________-Check: “Even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith” (Philippians 2:17)

Council of 18 Panel

Monday @ 7:45pm

Council of 18 Panel

Council of 18 Panel

Monday @ 7:45pm

Monday, 7:45 p.m.

Ministry Scorecard Survey

Ministry Scorecard Survey

Come Together

Clare Jewell - Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.

The Functional Centrality of the Gospel

Mike

Bullmore - Tuesday, 11:00 a.m.

Introduction

A recently asked question: What is the greatest, most crying need in the church today?

Not just a Biblical/theological literacy but a functioning Biblical/theological literacy, especially a functioning gospel . I believe a local church is healthy to the degree that (1) its pastor-teachers are able—accurately, effectively, and broadly—to bring the gospel to bear specifically into the real lives of people and (2) its people have a deep personal understanding of and a deep personal appreciation for the gospel so as to be able to live in the good of the gospel daily

One of the greatest challenges, yet one of the most important tasks, of pastoral ministry is to help people actually see the connections between the gospel and the thinking and behavior that make up their everyday lives We know well the centrality of the gospel message, but in order for it to have a functional centrality, it must be clearly, carefully, and consistently connected to the real issues—issues of thought and conduct—of people’s lives This kind of ministry is most greatly needed .

I. The Functional Centrality of the Gospel: A Biblical Paradigm

A. The Essential Centrality of the Gospel

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3) .

B. Doctrinal Implications of the Gospel: “Gospel Truths”

“Doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel” (1 Timothy 1:10–11)

• The idea of “gospel-shaped” doctrine

• Some examples

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) .

“There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) .

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32) .

C. Behavioral Implications of the Gospel: “Gospel Conduct”

“Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27; cf Galatians 2:14 and Titus 2:1) .

• The idea of gospel-shaped conduct

• Some examples

“Flee from sexual immorality . . . . You are not your own, for you were bought with a price So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20)

“Forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32) .

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25) .

“See that you excel in this act of grace also For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:7, 9) .

Ultimately, all Christian behavior should flow out of the gospel .

II. The Functional Centrality of the Gospel: Implications and Opportunities

A. In the Effect of the Gospel in Your Own Life

B. In the Teaching (and Reception of Teaching) from God’s Word

C. In Pastoral Care and the Giving of Counsel

D. A Gentle Word of Warning

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This discipleship course is designed for a child, adult and child, or group of children to help each one understand what it means to live as God’s child.

NEW ADULT BELIEVERS

Designed for discipleship, this study covers basic doctrines, Bible study, and memorization while offering guidance for victorious living.

BAPTISM

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Much More: The Benefits of Our Justification

Mike Bullmore - Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

The Unity between a Pastor and God’s People

Ken Fields - Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.

Living in the Good of God’s Steadfast, Unfailing, Everlasting Love

Mike Bullmore - Wednesday, 10:00 a.m.

In Our Waiting . . . We Need Each Other

Sam Choi - Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Living in the Gospel Together

Mike Bullmore- Thursday, 9:00 a.m.

Learning Session Notes

Learning Sessions

Notes

Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.

Workshop Notes

Workshop Session

Notes

Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.

2024 Annual Report

Regular MinistriesBaptist

Dr. David E. Strope, Interim National Representative GARBC.org

Annual reports! This is my 48th annual report, first to the churches I pastored and now to our fellowship. My role as interim national representative has now stretched two and a half years. I’m living my unexpected life. My wife, Debbie, and I have prayed repeatedly these last few years, “Heavenly Father, You have every right and do not need to ask our permission to rearrange the course of our lives at any time in any way in order to extend our lives’ influence for Your glory.” Therefore, we delight in our place of service on behalf of Christ and our fellowship of churches. We exclaim, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him” (Psalm 18:30).

Upon each occasion of reporting in churches the ministry of RBM, I note that my tasks are to lead and represent the national association and to connect with, counsel, and encourage churches, state and regional associations, and pastors and wives.

Leadership requires administrative effort—working with our very capable RBM staff, overseeing Kerry Watkins in his role as head of operations, participating in Council of 18 meetings, and fulfilling various responsibilities as I interact with these multiple moving parts. I attended in person and virtually more meetings than I care to count. Included among these are biweekly meetings with Kerry, weekly meetings with the administrative leadership team, and as many meetings as possible with Council of 18 committees.

In addition to my administrative responsibilities, I have also served as the executive editor of The Baptist Bulletin. Melissa Meyer has given yeoman service as managing editor of the Bulletin.

A primary and important task fulfilled this past year was securing the services of our new director of RBP, Matt Olmstead. I am so grateful for Matt’s presence and early ministry.

It was also a great joy to represent the GARBC and Regular Baptist International in Liberia, West Africa. I and a team of pastors and missionaries led a three-day pastors’ training seminar and a weeklong Bible conference. Additionally, I assisted the Liberian pastors and leaders in organizing a national Regular Baptist fellowship in Liberia.

I represented RBM in extensive travel this past year, preaching and presenting the ministries of RBM in 50 churches, associations, colleges, and military bases. The travel is daunting at times, but one of my great joys is to be in the churches and with pastors—encouraging, exhorting, listening, and simply being with them. Most months I also commuted from Iowa to Elgin, Illinois, for face-to-face interaction and work with RBM staff.

My service as interim national representative concentrated on ministry to churches both healthy and vital, and needy and weak. Much of my work this past year has been connecting churches with other churches, creating natural and intentional channels of assistance and encouragement. I have given considerable planning and effort to be in churches and our state and regional associations. I regularly interacted with churches seeking pastors, with pastors seeking churches, and with churches not presently fellowshipping with the GARBC.

I share my thanks with so many who have assisted me in service for our fellowship. Diane Scallon, administrative assistant, has been especially helpful. The Council of 18 has given me wide latitude in my interim role to lead the RBM staff and the GARBC. Working with the RBM staff is a blessing. Each displays godliness, professional expertise, and loyalty to our fellowship.

My beloved wife, Debbie, has been my most significant helper. She faithfully intercedes for me and our fellowship and sends me out the door to each ministry assignment with encouragement and prayer. This proverb is indeed true: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). I have truly been highly favored.

We as a couple have retained our membership and accountability in our local church, Ankeny (Iowa) Baptist Church. We reached at least two milestones this past year: Debbie retired from Mercy Hospital Infusion Clinic. She has worked in medical offices for nearly 30 years and was the glue of each office. We also buried her mother this past September and yet care for her 95-year-old father. Milestones indeed . . . and passed with some difficulty.

Dr. Rembert Carter, past professor and interim pastor of several churches, gave me a lengthy “Pastor’s Task List” when I assumed the pastorate of Calvary Baptist Church, Norwich, New York (where I served from 1990 to 1999). That list was four full pages front and back! One of the items he listed and always reported to the churches he served was this: “I have discharged myself of the charge of being lazy in service to Christ.”

I have worked hard and have found great pleasure in both God’s grace and service to God’s church. God’s grace—His current provision to meet my momentary need—is indeed sufficient. For the privilege of unexpected service on behalf of the GARBC, I am very grateful.

Regular MinistriesBaptist

Kerry Watkins, Head of Operations / HR Director GARBC.org

HEAD OF OPERATIONS

As we work to chart a way forward and to strengthen the ministry for the future, I would say this year has been a year of building our infrastructure. There were several areas where we needed to do better and so we have been working on those things. This will put us in a good position as we move forward.

Finances – We are focused on making sure this is a year where we end our calendar year in the black. We have made decisions to lower our expenses and improve our revenue. It is early in the year, but the changes appear to be working out well. God has blessed our efforts.

Culture is important to the success of any organization. There has been a team in the office working on defining our culture. This will help us more clearly communicate to our staff what our purpose is and what is of the highest importance to us as a ministry. This is something we will be implementing through the rest of this year. It is important that our staff be clear on our purpose and what is important as we go about our work.

At the beginning of the year we started meeting weekly as staff for a time of prayer. The time is dedicated to praying for staff needs and RBM needs. A different person leads the meeting each time. Prayer is our focus, but it has also been good to get our staff together more frequently. Since much of our staff is remote this has been an added benefit. The prayer requests themselves also help in the communication about needs in the ministry and with individual staff members.

Lastly, in early March our leadership team met for an afternoon to discuss and decide upon key initiatives for 2024 and 2025. Many of the initiatives for 2024 were already in place and being worked on. The idea was to provide clarity for our team so we would all know what is priority to get done this year. Each of us left with a few projects to work on this year. This is something we plan to do annually in the fall each year.

In closing, I want to say the desire of the home office staff is to serve everyone in our association well. If you have a question or a need do not hesitate to ask. I can be reached at kwatkins@garbc.org, or at 847-585-0837.

Regular MinistriesBaptist

Mark Johnson, Treasurer GARBC.org

As we gather for our annual conference, I am pleased to present an overview of Regular Baptist Ministries’ performance and outlook for the upcoming year. While our fiscal year is not yet complete at the time of this writing, I anticipate providing a comprehensive financial report during the business meeting.

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

Our long-term federal disaster loan payments commenced in 2023, resulting in a steady decline in the loan balance. Coupled with gains from invested funds and balanced operational budgets, we foresee continual improvement in our financial position, offering greater flexibility and opportunities for growth.

Investment markets have positively impacted our financial standing since last year. Our portfolio maintains a well-diversified strategy focused on long-term gains and income stability during market fluctuations.

Our transition to an outsourced information technology company in early 2024 incurred initial transition costs. However, we anticipate significant cost savings in the future, and this new partnership with a firm exclusively serving churches and ministries has already proven valuable.

PERSONNEL AND BUDGET

Personnel adjustments were made to adapt to retirements and evolving ministry needs. We are grateful for God’s provision of talented individuals who have seamlessly integrated into expanded roles in our organization.

The approved 2024 consolidated budget anticipates $5 million in revenue and $4.85 million in expenses. While Regular Baptist Press foresees a net positive outcome, Generate and the GARBC Annual Fund are planning strategic investments using existing funds.

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Despite challenges in VBS sales affecting the previous fiscal year’s financial report, our budget for the measured quarters from June 2023 to March 2024 has been met overall.

Our team remains focused on meeting the budget for the remainder of 2024. Regular reviews and strategic adjustments are integral to ensuring fiscal responsibility and organizational sustainability.

YOUR PART

As we embark on new initiatives and prepare for a national representative transition, we invite your support. Could your church consider allocating additional resources to the RBM Annual Fund PLUS! to help us meet our budgetary needs for the current year and beyond? Please consider giving at GARBC.org/give.

We are grateful for your continued support and partnership. Together, we look forward to embracing future opportunities to serve churches and communities for God’s glory.

Regular Baptist Chaplaincy

Manning Brown, Director of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy RegularBaptistChaplaincy.org

Regular Baptist Chaplaincy has remained vibrant and consistent over the past year. The Lord continues to provide new troops for the ranks as we say goodbye to others. From routine ministries to unique opportunities, chaplains reflect the importance of their role—providing one-on-one counsel, comfort, and care. A quarterly newsletter provides informative and encouraging updates on our chaplains’ individual ministries. That newsletter is available through email for anyone interested.

I am excited that the chaplaincy application process is now entirely online. This new system allows for responsive communication and a more expedient flow among the applicant, me, and the chaplaincy committee, eliminating the time and expense of traditional mail. The chaplaincy committee and I have also begun reviewing the current endorsement policies and procedures. This review will help us better align emerging opportunities with prospective chaplains and support for existing chaplains. These initiatives aid the primary goals of recruitment, retention, and encouragement.

Cultural shifts impacting society impact the military as well. Wokeness continues to be a challenge, especially for our chaplains serving in the military. They remain protected from being compelled to do things against their (and our) beliefs and doctrine, but it is an issue that we must remain vigilant about.

Financially, Regular Baptist Chaplaincy is stable. Through faithful giving and mindful spending, we are able to meet our financial obligations. Regular Baptist Chaplaincy relies upon the financial giving of churches and individual donors to carry out its ministry.

Support from the home office remains exceptional. The home office’s administrative oversight and assistance ensure that the chaplaincy’s behindthe-scenes operations run smoothly. As I enter into my ninth year of this ministry, I am grateful to be part of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy and Regular Baptist Ministries as a whole.

CURRENT NUMBER OF CHAPLAINS

Military Chaplains 21 Institutional 41 Community Service

TOTAL

ROSTER CHANGES These changes have been made since the 2023 GARBC Conference:

DROPS

• Jen Van Loon (retired)

• Charles Teffeteller (deceased)

ADDS

• Stephen Burch (Civil Air Patrol)

• Joe Wilson (lay chaplaincy)

TRAVEL

JULY

• Jack Schultz, (retired)

• David Troyer (separated)

• Tim Martin (lay chaplaincy)

Spoke at missions conference, First Baptist Church, Wellington, Ohio

OCTOBER

Spoke at round-robin missions conference, five churches in Minnesota

Regular InternationalBaptist

Darrell Goemaat, Coordinator GARBCinternational.org

T

he past twelve months have been full of hardships and blessings for our Regular Baptist International partners. Persecution and natural disasters continue to afflict churches and pastors. But our ministry is thankful to have visited some of our partners this year.

VISIT TO LIBERIA

In February, David Strope, interim national representative of the GARBC, traveled with a team to Monrovia, Liberia, to participate in a pastors’ training seminar and a Bible conference. David was joined by James Kester, pastor of Sahuaro Baptist Church, Tucson, Arizona, and member of the GARBC Council of 18; Josh Robinson, pastor of Altoona (Iowa) Regular Baptist Church; and Bill and Kathy Brittain, missionaries with ABWE. Two pastors in Liberia hosted the team: Philemon Gwelikpolusohn, president of the African Fundamental Baptist Mission and pastor of Highland Hills Baptist Church in Monrovia, and James Togba, pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Monrovia.

The three-day pastors’ training seminar focused on topics like local church polity, ordinances, theology, and Baptist distinctives. David, James, and Josh instructed many pastors and laymen who have no theological training and reminded those with training of Scripture’s truths. Following the seminar, a seven-day Bible conference took place. David, James, Josh, Bill, and Kathy spoke throughout. The theme was “Arise and Rebuild” from Nehemiah 2, ending with a compound theme: “Arise and Rebuild with Joy by Grace.”

Philemon says, “Their teaching was inspiring . . . [and] spiritually reawakening. Not only me but all of our team of 200 ministers greatly appreciated them for a great job well done.” He adds, “The Bible students, deacons, and churches’ leaders who came were blessed and went home with some materials to equip others in the faith.”

We thank the Lord for all of these pastors in Liberia and that they could be strengthened by this visit. We look forward to the time when we can schedule another conference with a larger group of partnering leaders and associations.

HARDSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

Sadly, military warfare and religious persecution continue to threaten lives and churches in India. Prasad Sakile, a pastor with the New Life Regular Baptist Society in Andhra Pradesh, India, reports increased attacks on churches across regions of India. He says, “The targeted violence, discrimination, and restrictions on religious freedom have posed significant challenges to the Christian community’s ability to worship freely and practice their faith without fear.”

In March, Prasad reported that a pastor from one of our partnering associations in India fell victim to a horrifying act of persecution. Three Hindu extremists brutally beat the pastor with metal poles on the side of a road. His legs and hands were broken, and he sought treatment at a hospital.

“Amidst these trials, there is also cause for hope and celebration,” Prasad says. “Churches are being planted in Muslim communities, and believers are boldly stepping out in faith to share the love of Christ with our Muslim neighbors.”

In Manipur, India, tribal warfare threatens believers in three of our partnering associations. In two associations, 11 churches were burned. The fighting has come within five miles of Pastor H. C. Stephen’s home. “We live in a war zone, and the battle is still going on,” he says. H. C. and his church are providing food and spiritual encouragement at nearby Christian relief camps, visiting injured church members in medical shelters, and distributing rice to struggling church members. H. C. says partnering leaders need funds to buy basic needs, including food, clothing, blankets, and medicine.

In Africa, natural disasters are spreading disease. Timothy Odhiambo, pastor of Revelation Baptist Church in Kenya, cares for orphans suffering from malaria. Flooding in his area has caused a rise in the mosquito population, bringing malaria to his doorstep and infecting the children. Timothy is asking for $1,000 to buy mosquito nets to protect the orphans. His ministry also needs $30,000 to build a dormitory, a dining hall, a kitchen, and an office.

In Haiti, crime and atrocities are disrupting life. One of our partnering leaders, Prédestin Hérard, is president of the Evangelical Baptist Association of Churches of Haiti and director of an orphanage, Our Father’s House. Gang members invaded the Hérards’ home, searching for money. Finding none, they tried to kidnap the family. “If not for the presence of God, we would all be dead,” Prédestin says.

Prédestin and his family were able to flee to the Dominican Republic but risked being deported back to Haiti. Learning of the Hérards’ situation, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio, stepped in to help. For many years the church has financially supported My Father’s House orphanage. Now the church is helping the Hérard family as well by arranging for Prédestin and his family to live in the US until they can safely return to Haiti.

Despite the challenges our partners face, they continue to tell us that people are trusting Christ as Savior and being baptized; churches are being built; ministry leaders are being trained; and orphans, widows, and displaced people are being fed.

GIVING TO REGULAR BAPTIST INTERNATIONAL

We are grateful that donations to Regular Baptist International have allowed us to meet partners’ needs through grants. From last September to this January, our ministry awarded more than $39,000 in grants. These grants allowed us to ship RBP Sunday School material to churches, build and furnish two churches in Congo, and provide pastoral leadership training. These funds also helped provide food, clothes, and basic necessities for orphans, widows, and church members displaced by war and natural disasters.

The largest portion of these grants went to Going Home Africa Ministries in Malawi. That ministry was selected by Regular Baptist Press Vacation Bible School for its 2023 missions giving project, Operation Hope: Providing a Future for Impoverished Kids. Francis Chipukunya, director of Going Home Africa Ministries, says the grant helped purchase food, clothes, Bibles, and school supplies for the children under his care.

We desire to continue helping partnering leaders meet compassion needs and spread the gospel. Donors are vital to continuing this ministry, and we thank those who give faithfully.

Unfortunately, donations do not keep pace with our partners’ needs. Please help us be an extension of Christ’s love and grow His church through Regular Baptist International.

Generate

Clare Jewell, Director Generate.Church

Casting a vision to encourage churches to focus on God’s mission is one significant way Generate fuels the health and reproduction of Regular Baptist churches and their leaders.

A primary method Generate uses to cast this vision is sponsoring M3 conferences (formerly Church Solutions conferences). M stands for “multiply,” and 3 represents disciples, leaders, and churches.

Over the past three years, Generate has provided resources for 25 M3 conferences across the United States. More than 200 churches have participated, and the majority of those are Regular Baptist churches. We give each person who attends close to $100 worth of materials and resources. We also provide a road map for assessing the health of a church, engaging in effective evangelism, making disciples who make disciples, and developing leaders. The goal is to help churches establish a culture of reproduction that leads to the planting of new churches.

Generate also focuses on giving grants to Regular Baptist churches. Generate provides the following grants:

• Generate Church grants help churches plant churches. If approved, Generate provides $10,000 per year for up to three years.

• Generate Renewal grants pay 50 percent of the fees for a church to work with a trained consultant to walk through a process of revitalization.

• Generate Leaders grants provide up to $1,000 per month for up to a year for a future pastor or church planter to go through a residency program at a church focused on reproducing disciples, leaders, and churches. This is critical because Regular Baptist churches are facing a serious shortage of leaders.

• Generate Facility grants give churches up to $20,000 in grants or no-interest loans to help complete building projects that enhance a church’s mission.

• Generate Assistance grants enable churches to recover or serve members of their communities after natural disasters.

In 2023, Generate awarded three $10,000 church planting grants, three facility grants totaling $35,000, and four $1,500 church renewal grants—for a total of $71,000 in grants awarded to Regular Baptist churches.

We thank God for providing the resources to help churches in our association.

ON THE HORIZON

God is opening doors for Generate to engage more significantly with Hispanic church plants. We are partnering with ABWE’s EveryEthnē and some of our state and regional associations to provide residencies for Latin American church planters to launch more churches.

This year we are hoping to establish a few regional hubs led by experienced Hispanic church planters. Hubs are already operating in the Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast. We are planning to start a hub in the Midwest later this year.

Please pray for God to keep opening these doors. Pray for wisdom. Pray for effective partnerships to continue to be established and grow. Pray for the resources to enable us to follow God’s leading in this area.

ETHNIC CHURCH PLANTS

What could happen in your community if your church helped start an ethnic church? A group of Baptist churches in Ontario has been effective in doing just that! Some of these churches simultaneously host worship services in three or more languages in the same facility, and the children meet for Englishspeaking programs.

Unreached people are hearing the gospel. People are trusting Christ as Savior. Disciples are making disciples. And leaders are being developed to plant more churches.

Generate would be honored to come alongside your church with a church planting grant to help you start an ethnic church in your community.

The nations are here. God is working. Let’s join Him and help accomplish His global vision expressed in Revelation 7:9–10: “A great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, [was] standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ ”

Regular Baptist Press

Matt Olmstead, Director RegularBaptistPress.org

I’m writing this report in early spring, several months before we gather for the annual conference. I have been in my role as director of RBP since October 2023, allowing me ample time to assess the current state of RBP.

In many ways we are positioned optimally for growth. Our customer base remains steady with positive sentiments, and opportunities abound in market share, customer experience, and segment disruption. Three strategic priorities will shape how we leverage these opportunities: content excellence, customer experience optimization, and technological improvements.

Before getting too deeply into our strategic priorities, however, I want to recognize the dedicated men and women who serve on staff. Jonita Barram, a 35-year veteran of RBP, retired from the editorial staff. Her reputation and skills were clear, and she will be missed. With her departure, the median tenure of RBP staff members remains at a healthy 15 years. We have a good balance of experience and fresh perspective, which positions us well moving forward. These people know and live the mission of Regular Baptist Ministries and heartily and selflessly fulfill it each day in their respective capacities at RBP.

The strategic priorities I mentioned above were formed from the present realities of RBP and the Christian publishing industry. By God’s grace, the church is blessed with a plethora of resources for ministry—some good, some not so good. Our culture also puts a premium on experience. Does a product feel pleasant to handle? Is it user friendly? Is it simple? And technology is ubiquitous to the way churches operate today. If RBP is to be successful, we must produce excellent products that are simple for customers to use and that appropriately leverage technology.

CONTENT EXCELLENCE

We produce good products, but they must get better. Our aim is to produce excellent content. We must always learn from our product development experience and improve upon what we produce. Here are a few updates on our products.

Strong Curriculum continues to be a success. Pastors express deep appreciation for our curriculum, saying its excellence alleviates the stress of worrying about what their Christian education classes teach. To improve upon this content excellence, we are planning a significant investment over the next two years and are confident that in the coming years we can reinforce Sunday School curriculum as RBP’s highest value resource to strengthen churches.

Vacation Bible School continues to be a strong product. Sales in 2023 grew 20 percent from the previous year but still fell short of projections. As of early spring, sales in 2024 have been behind projections. March and May are our biggest months for VBS sales, so we’ll be able to report updated numbers by the time we meet in June.

At the opening of this conference, you may notice no VBS 2025 theme in the exhibitor area. Don’t worry; that’s intentional. I am excited to reveal the theme and other new products on Tuesday evening and hope you will join me after the main session.

Kids4Truth Clubs seems ripe for better growth. Club count and revenue continue to grow year over year but at a smaller than ideal rate. I sense disruption coming in the midweek club space, which gives Kids4Truth Clubs an opportunity to leverage its unique perspective. The team is working to shape a strategy for long-term growth.

Books and Bible studies have resumed production in 2024. We are seeking to offer timely studies and titles that will serve your church. Several titles, including the next volume of the New Testament Exposition Commentary series, are slated for publication later this year.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The next two priorities may be considered together. Improving customer experience and leveraging technology are two strategic priorities that go hand in glove. These priorities begin at the initial contact with a church secretary, Christian education director, or pastor and continue all the way through to the students learning about the gospel and doctrine through our products.

It is imperative that our platforms—website, catalog, or customer service—and product media are designed with users in mind. How can we make it easier for customers to find us? How can we make it more economical for our customers to purchase our products? How can we responsibly implement technology to enhance customer experience? These kinds of questions must occupy our minds at every phase of operations and production.

This mindset informs RBP’s focus this year. Our highest priority this year is to invest in our infrastructure and bring it up to date. We will improve our website and our ordering experience. And, as I mentioned above, our product focus this year will include investing in the next iteration of Strong Curriculum. With these investments, and by the grace of God, RBP will be positioned well for the future.

Let me close by addressing one statistic that was brought to my attention in my onboarding. Only a minority of Regular Baptist churches—the intended customers of RBP—use RBP products. I am still chasing down precise metrics, but regardless of where those metrics land, my goal is to increase RBP’s share of Regular Baptist churches by double-digit percentage points year over year.

We serve churches. We want to serve more Regular Baptist churches with excellent resources to strengthen them for the glory of Christ.

Get resources, find community, and ignite revitalization in your church when you fully invest in the GARBC.

Visit our website to find out how you can engage in the GARBC to help your church—and others like yours—move forward.