GB-12 TH E
PILOT PROJECT
T
hrough a partnership with Intentional Churches, we are piloting a church revitalization project with a select group of General Baptist churches. We hope that the GB-12 Initiative will provide opportunities for local churches to establish a Church Operating System (ChurchOS) that can lead them to fulfill the Great Commission more effectively. The churches in the pilot project were selected using key metrics, including geographical location, average attendance, salvations, baptisms, and financial resources. The hope is to make the tools available for a wider audience of churches once there has been a “proof of concept” in some key demographics and contexts. In particular, a set of resources called the Activate Experience will be made available online to any General Baptist leader interested in implementing ChurchOS. Each church participating in the program kicks off their participation through a one-day strategic session (“install”), where a group of 6-12 church leaders joins the pastor(s) for a day of focus on their Great Commission Engine. After this initial install, the leadership of the church receives six months of coaching as they implement the system. This is called “Lap 1.” After this initial six months, another one-day strategy session takes place, and depending on progress, another six months of coaching. This is called “Lap 2.” All included, the coaching for the church would take place over 12 months (thus, GB-12). Churches who go through this program will receive some practical equipping to mobilize the church to reach their community digitally and physically with increased Great Commission impact! The first church to begin the GB-12 program was Well’s Chapel in southern Illinois. They met for their initial strategic one-day on August 21. Pastor Chris Vaught and Pastor Tyler Feller met with the church in an intense one-day, where they made plans to begin implementing the GB-12 program. On October 16, the Nixa General Baptist Church in Nixa, Missouri, was the second church to join the pilot program.
General Baptist Messenger Winter 2021 | 33
