On June 29, the GARBC’s Council of Eighteen met for a strategic planning session. As the meeting opened, participants were reminded of the turbulent times in which we live, but also of the steadfast faithfulness and unfailing sovereignty of God. “Our God still reigns!” said Ken Floyd, chairman of the council. “He sits on His holy throne. Even though we are experiencing a spiritual and cultural shift today with misplaced and backward value systems, it’s our great opportunity to raise a righteous standard and to proclaim that God is in control.”
Assured of God’s continued faithfulness, the association is taking bold steps toward increased visibility and ministry effectiveness for the days ahead. The first major initiative of 2015 was accomplished on May 4 when the GARBC’s Resource Center relocated from Schaumburg to Arlington Heights, Illinois. The relocation allowed the association to significantly reduce its ongoing operating expenditures. “This will solidify our ability to help churches for years to come,” says Michael Nolan, the GARBC’s CFO and treasurer.
The other two major initiatives discussed at the council meeting were rebranding and church planting. The rebranding process, which has been in progress for several months, will bring a fresh, unified look to the GARBC’s subsidiary ministries. “The GARBC and its ministries have developed identities that are unique and individually focused,” says John Greening, national representative. “But they lack a unified, comprehensive brand that depicts them as all being part of one big ministry family.” The newly updated logos and branding materials will help to correct this imbalance.
The push for a comprehensive church-planting enterprise was first announced last November. The council’s church-planting committee has been hard at work since then and has hammered out a mission statement, philosophy, and vision, and is nearing the completion of a proposed organizational infrastructure. Meetings are planned for August to put the finishing touches on the plan and to begin implementation.
The council also voted to recommend four resolutions to the voting messengers this year. The resolution topics include believers’ connection to Christ, the importance of discipleship, an official response to the Supreme Court’s recent decision in favor of same-sex marriage, and a resolution of appreciation for John and Hope Murdoch, who are retiring from the directorate of the Regular Baptist Chaplaincy Ministry.
