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Schedule of Events
Monday
9:00 a .m . Council of Eighteen Meetings
12:00 p m BBC/CSU Lunch and Mini Golf
12:30 p m Chaplaincy Module
3:00 p m Registration
6:30 p m Plenary Session 1: Clare Jewell
8:00 p m BBC/CSU Reception
Tuesday
8:15 a .m . Coffee Conversations
9:00 a m Plenary Session 2: Pat Nemmers
10:00 a m Plenary Session 3: Daryle Doden
11:00 a m Connect Time (by Region) West: Clare Jewell, Central: Mike Augsburger, Midwest: Brian Cederquist, East: Kerry Watkins
11:00 a m Women’s Session 1: Venessa Ellen
12:00 p m Lunch Break
1:30 p m Family Business Meeting
3:45 p .m . Workshop Sessions:
• Commitment to Our Sisters: Hospitality (Venessa Ellen)
• ESL: A Tool for Building Relationships to Create Gospel Conversation Opportunities (Michael and Monica Pasquale)
• Ethnic Partnerships (Clare Jewell)
• Four Vital Steps to Renewed Church Health (Terry Thompson)
• From Curious to Committed in Your Church (Tim Walker)
• How to Share the Gospel So It Sticks (Gil Thomas)
4:45 p .m . Dinner Break
6:30 p .m . Plenary Session 4: Josh Jones
8:00 p .m . ABWE Reception
Schedule of Events (continued)
Wednesday
8:15 a m Coffee Conversations
9:00 a m Plenary Session 5: Mark Cizauskas
10:00 a m Plenary Session 6: Tim Walker
11:00 a m Connect Time (Cross Regions) West: Clare Jewell, Central: Mike Augsburger, Midwest: Brian Cederquist, East: Kerry Watkins
11:00 a .m . Women’s Session 2: Venessa Ellen
12:00 p .m . Lunch Break
1:30 p .m . Workshop Sessions:
• Commitment to Our Sisters: Remind Them That God Is Good (Venessa Ellen)
• Four Vital Steps to Renewed Church Health (Terry Thompson)
• The Henhouse and the Foxes: Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy in Safe Hands? (Doug Bookman)
• Leading Well in Ministry: Planning for a Lifetime of Service (Mark Senseman) Scaling Ministry, Part 1 (Brett Bixby)
3:00 p m Workshop Sessions:
• Church Comms Playbook: Effectively communicating internally and externally for growth (Jenny Cross)
• Ethnic Partnerships (Clare Jewell)
• How to Share the Gospel with People of Non-Christian Faiths (Gil Thomas)
• My Identity Is My Choice: Debunked! (Frank L Figueroa Jr )
• Reaching Your City (Tim Walker) Scaling Ministry, Part 2 (Brett Bixby)
4:00 p m Dinner Break
6:30 p m Plenary Session 7: Brent Belford
8:00 p m Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary Reception
Thursday
9:00 a m Plenary Session 8: Brent Belford
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Conference Schedule
Monday, 6/23Tuesday, 6/24
8:15 a.m. Coffee Conversations
9:00 a.m. Council of 18 Meetings
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Plenary Session 2: Pat Nemmers
Plenary Session 3: Daryle Doden
Connect Time (by Region)
West: Clare Jewell
Central: Mike Augsburger
Midwest: Brian Cederquist
East: Kerry Watkins
Womens Session 1: Building Godly Relationships with Women in the Church (Venessa Ellen)
12:00 p.m. BBC/CSU Lunch and Mini Golf Lunch Break
12:30 p.m. Chaplaincy Module
1:30 p.m. Family Business Meeting
3:00 p.m. Registration
3:45 p.m.
Workshop Sessions:
• Commitment to Our Sisters: Hospitality (Venessa Ellen)
• ESL: A Tool for Building Relationships to Create Gospel Conversation Opportunities (Michael and Monica Pasquale)
• Ethnic Partnerships (Clare Jewell)
Four Vital Steps to Renewed Church Health (Terry Thompson)
• From Curious to Committed in Your Church (Tim Walker)
• How to Share the Gospel So It Sticks (Gil Thomas)
Womens Session 2: Discipleship: One of the Keys in Christianity (Venessa Ellen)
12:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. Workshop Sessions
• Commitment to Our Sisters: Remind Them That God Is Good (Venessa Ellen)
Four Vital Steps to Renewed Church Health (Terry Thompson)
The Henhouse and the Foxes: Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy in Safe Hands? (Doug Bookman)
• Leading Well in Ministry: Planning for a Lifetime of Service (Mark Senseman)
• Scaling Ministry, Part 1 (Brett Bixby)
3:00 p.m. Workshop Sessions
• Church Comms Playbook: Effectively communicating internally and externally for growth (Jenny Cross)
• Ethnic Partnerships (Clare Jewell)
• How to Share the Gospel with People of Non-Christian Faiths (Gil Thomas)
• My Identity Is My Choice: Debunked! (Frank L . Figueroa Jr .) Reaching Your City (Tim Walker)
• Scaling Ministry, Part 2 (Brett Bixby)
4:00 p.m. Dinner Break
6:30 p.m. Plenary Session 7: Brent Belford
8:00 p.m. Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary Reception
Event Locations
10ofThose Bookstore: Main Lobby
Family Business Meeting: Main Auditorium
Chaplaincy Module: Café B, Harvest Cafeteria on 2nd floor. Walk past the infant and toddler rooms, walk down the hall, and enter the row of doors; the elevator is on the left. Past the elevator is an optional stairwell.
Connect Time (by Region & Cross Region): Central - W101, Midwest - W103, West - W105, East - W107
Council of 18 Meetings: Cornerstone
Exhibitors: Main Lobby
General Sessions: Worship Center
Infant Nursery: W111 and W113
Kids’ Check-in and Program: East Lobby. Walk past the infant and toddler rooms, walk down the hall, and enter the row of doors.
Lunch: Harvest Cafeteria, 2nd floor. Walk past the infant and toddler rooms, walk down the hall, and enter the row of doors; the elevator is on the left. Past the elevator is an optional stairwell.
RBM Exhibits: Main Lobby
RBP Exhibits: Main Lobby
Receptions: East Lobby Entrance
Toddlers: W115
Women’s Sessions: Worship Center
Workshops: Worship Center, Connect, W101, W103, W105, W107
Youth Meet and Greet: Cornerstone
Youth Program: Cornerstone
Exhibitors
Exhibitors
ABWE
Administer Justice
AdvanceTech Systems, LLC
Appalachian Bible College
Baptist Church Planters
Baptist Mid-Missions
Bibles International
Biblical Counseling Center
Bob Jones Seminary
Bringing Children Hope (rebranded from Baptist Children’s Home)
Cedarville University
Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Continental Baptist Missions
EveryEthnē
Facility Ministry
Faith Baptist Bible College
Faith Baptist Mission
Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries
Good Soil Evangelism & Discipleship (ABWE)
LABWE (Liberia ABWE)
Maranatha Baptist University
Missions To Military, Inc .
NARBC
Operation Mordecai
Phil’s Friends
Public Servants’ Prayer
Reasons for Hope
Servant Solutions
Shepherds Theological Seminary
Small Church USA
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
The Journey Media
Tourismora
Twin Lakes Camp & Conference Center
TwoTone Creative
Virginia Beach Theological Seminary
Regular Baptist Ministries
Generate
Regular Baptist Chaplaincy
Regular Baptist International
Regular Baptist Ministries
Regular Baptist Press
Conference Extras
Receptions
Bible Baptist College and Clarks Summit University, Monday, 8:00 p.m.
Join a special gathering to celebrate the legacy and impact of these esteemed institutions
ABWE, Tuesday, 8:00 p.m.
Come hear about the continuing work of global missions .
Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary, Wednesday, 8:00 p.m.
Alumni and friends are welcome for a time of fellowship
Youth Program
Monday, June 23
6:30 p.m. Session 1: One Verse, Five Minutes, and a Little Bit of Courage
8:00 p.m. Meet and greet
Tuesday, June 24
9:00 a.m. Session 2: Biomimicry: Copying the Creator
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Brookfield Zoo
Bus departs from the conference location promptly at 10:00 a.m. and leaves from the zoo promptly at 4:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m. Pizza dinner
6:30 p.m. Session 3: Earth Is the Result of a Cosmic Accident: DeBunked!
Wednesday, June 25
9:00 a.m. Session 4: It’s Always Wrong to Judge: DeBunked!
10:00 a.m. Session 5: Did Dinosaurs and Man Live at the Same Time?
11:00 a.m. Ministry fair (colleges and missionaries)
1:30 p.m. Youth activity (TBA)
4:00 p.m. Dinner Break
6:30 p.m. Session 6: My Identity Is My Choice: DeBunked!
Thursday, June 26
Youth will join Plenary Session 8 and lead the worship music; a few teens will give testimonies.
Conference Extras (continued)
Kids Program Powered by RBP’s Kids4Truth Clubs
Monday, June 23
6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check-in / RegistrationCraft time as children come in
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lesson & Activities
8:00 p.m. Check-out
Tuesday, June 24
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Check-in: Games or finish up crafts
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Lessons & Activities
12:00 p.m. Check-out
1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check-in
1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Craft Extravaganza
4:45 p.m. Check-out
6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check-in
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lesson & Activities
8:00 p.m. Check-out
Family “Locker”: Each family has been assigned a place along the outside wall behind the sign in/out table—pick up/drop off supplies/items as needed.
Sign In/Out Table: Please sign your child in/out on the sign in/out sheet.
• Arrival: Have the child enter the room and join the group in the current activity.
• Pick Up: Tell the worker at the door your last name, and your child(ren) will be called.
Wednesday, June 25
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Check-in: Games or finish up crafts
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Lessons & Activities
12:00 p.m. Check-out
1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check-in
1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Game Mania Tournament and 3D crafts
4:00 p.m. Check-out
6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check-in
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lessons & Activities
8:00 p.m. Check-out
Thursday, June 26
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Check-in: Games or finish up crafts
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Lesson & Activities
10:00 a.m. Check-out
• Awards: If your child’s awards are not ready, go ahead and take your child, the cinch bag with the award patch will be waiting when they arrive for the next session.
Memory work may be recited:
• During sessions (anytime but not during the teaching lesson.)
• Upon Arrival, as time allows.
• Outside session, if they find Mr. or Mrs. Ralph.
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Workshops
Ethnic Partnerships
Clare Jewell, national representative of the GARBC, executive director of ABWE’s EveryEthnē
More than 600 people groups are in North America We can partner with immigrant church leaders to reach and disciple people from these groups . Discover how to be an effective partner of immigrant churches while sparking revival in your own church .
Four Vital Steps to Renewed Church Health
Terry Thompson, founder, Small Church USA
In this session on building church health, learn four vital steps for a church in need of renewal: urgency, hope, strategy, and leadership We will carefully walk through how to evaluate these areas and implement each step .
My Identity Is My Choice: Debunked!
Frank L. Figueroa Jr., speaker, writer, and content creator, Reasons for Hope
Is it really your prerogative to choose your identity, or do we all have God-given characteristics that we must embrace? Find out teens’ top 10 identity struggles and investigate what the Bible says about each one God designed us with certain unchangeable qualities—always gifts and never burdens when viewed from a Biblical perspective
Leading Well in Ministry: Planning for a Lifetime of Service
Mark Senseman, director of business development, Servant Solutions
Servant Solutions serves those who serve, and its vision is to improve financial security for servants of the church For over 75 years, Servant Solutions has been helping church staff and ordained ministers achieve greater financial security so ministry leaders can focus on their calling without the burden of financial uncertainty . Learn the importance of personal financial stewardship, why your role as a pastor matters, and practical steps to take for a hopeful future .
Church Comms Playbook: Effectively Communicating Internally and Externally for Growth
Jenny Cross, founder and CEO, TwoTone Creative
Great communication isn’t just nice to have—it’s mission critical Whether you’re engaging your congregation or community, clarity and strategy matter Discover the essentials of church communication, from internal messaging that unites your team to external outreach that amplifies your impact . Get ready for practical takeaways,
proven strategies, and a fresh approach to telling your church’s story in a way that truly connects .
The Henhouse and the Foxes: Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy in Safe Hands?
Doug Bookman, professor of Bible exposition, Shepherds Theological Seminary, Cary, N.C.
The dilemma before us: Many confessional inerrantists today, including the most vocal and well-known exponents and defenders of inerrancy, have embraced a concept of inerrancy that they insist has room for errors in Scripture How did we get here? What can be done about it?
What if the thing keeping you from effective ministry isn’t a person, location, or resource? What if it’s a skill you could learn? The ability to scale ministry is a key to repeatable ministry success . This workshop will teach you how to do just that .
ESL: A Tool for Building Relationships to Create Gospel Conversation Opportunities
Michael Pasquale, ESL director of ABWE’s EveryEthnē, professor of linguistics at Cornerstone University
Monica Pasquale, ESL director of ABWE’s EveryEthnē
Churches recognize the growing need for English as a Second Language ministries, but how can we use ESL not as a service alone but as a bridge for gospel conversations? Explore how teaching English can be a powerful relational tool for engaging with immigrants, refugees, and international neighbors . Learn strategies for building trust, integrating faith naturally, and creating opportunities for gospel-centered discussions while honoring cultural backgrounds and language-learning needs
How to Share the Gospel So It Sticks
Gil Thomas, executive director, Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship
The Bible clearly tells us how to present the gospel so it will stick Learn the three essentials, along with how to determine where an unbeliever is on a gospelunderstanding scale and a gospel-receptivity scale These concepts will be of great value as you share your faith with unbelieving friends
How to Share the Gospel with People of Non-Christian Faiths
Gil Thomas, executive director, Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship
Do you have friends or neighbors from non-Christian faith subcultures? Do you want a simple nonconfrontational process for finding out what they believe and getting the gospel through to them? Learn about worldview noise that interferes with our gospel communications and how to peel an unbeliever’s worldview onion to get to the core of their beliefs
From Curious to Committed in Your Church
Tim Walker, lead pastor, Restored Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
How can you help people move from being first-time guests to fully engaged members of your church? Discover principles, strategies, and a process to cultivate a culture in your church where the majority of its people are members serving on the front lines of your church’s ministry.
Reaching Your City
Tim Walker, lead pastor, Restored Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Since launching in 2013, Restored Church has never had a Sunday without new people attending, because at Restored Church, we’ve become involved and known in our city through the ways that we love, serve, and reach people with the gospel. Envision and contextualize a unique strategy that will help you reach more and more people in your city with the gospel.
Women’s Sessions
All sessions presented by Venessa Ellen, director of women’s ministry, Community of Faith Bible Church, Houston, Texas
Building Godly Relationships with Other Women in the Church
Discuss how to build godly relationships with other women in the church and potential barriers to these relationships.
Commitment to Our Sisters: Hospitality
Take a Biblical look at a Christian woman’s responsibility to show hospitality to her sisters in Christ. Additionally, explore how hospitality relates to evangelism and discipleship with our families, friends, and neighbors.
Discipleship: One of the Keys in Christianity
What is Biblical discipleship? Should discipleship be the first priority of a ministry to women? Explore these questions, and learn principles for sharing the gospel with other women and equipping them for spiritual growth.
Commitment to Our Sisters: Remind Them That God Is Good
No matter what we face in life, God is still good. Examine Bible passages that remind us of God’s goodness. The world, our flesh, and the devil may tempt us to look at circumstances and doubt God’s goodness; however, no matter the circumstance, God is indeed good.
Speakers
Clare Jewell
As the national representative for the GARBC, Clare Jewell is focused on a movement of churches proclaiming God’s Word, pursuing God’s mission, and prioritizing relationships with God and one another
Clare also serves as executive director of ABWE’s EveryEthnē His primary focus is mobilizing the church to reach every ethnic group in North America He believes every person needs to be in a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ
Clare taught missional living at Corban University for seven years and served as pastor of Lakewood Park Baptist Church, Auburn, Indiana, for 21 years He holds a BS in Bible from Baptist Bible College, an MA in social science from Eastern Michigan University, and a DMin in strategic leadership from Corban University
Clare has been married to Donna for 44 years They have four daughters and 13 grandchildren
Pat Nemmers
Pat Nemmers has served as lead pastor of Saylorville Church, Des Moines, Iowa, since 1998 His focus on personal evangelism and discipleship has produced a church that continues to experience exponential growth
In addition, Pat founded the Engage Network, a church planting fellowship of eight gospel-centered churches in the greater Des Moines area with over 4,000 people
He and his wife, Marilyn, speak at conferences across the globe He and Marilyn were both widowed when the Lord brought them together in 1997 Together they have 10 children and over 30 grandchildren
Daryle Doden
Daryle Doden is the founder and CEO of Ambassador Enterprises, a legacy-minded private equity firm investing for the glory of God Founded in 2006 and based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, AE invests in the for-profit and for-impact space for three returns: eternal, cultural, and financial
Additionally, Daryle and four partners started Ambassador Steel Corporation in 1974 with a desire to honor God, respect others, work hard, and create value ASC eventually became the largest independent rebar fabricator and distributor in the United States before being sold in 2008
Outside of work, Daryle and Brenda, his wife of 56 years, can often be found hanging out with their ten children (five by marriage) and 16 grandchildren They are both musicians and enjoy many hobbies as well as spending time with their friends
Josh Jones
Growing up in a church with a thriving youth ministry, Josh developed a passion for reaching people for Jesus as a student After completing college and seminary, he spent 14 years as a youth pastor in the Northeast Today, he serves as the lead pastor of Bridgewater Church, which has locations in both New York and Pennsylvania He and his wife, Kristin, have four children, ranging in age from 15 to 20
Mark Cizauskas
Mark Cizauskas has been pastor of First Baptist Church of Rochester, Michigan, since 2012 He previously served on the pastoral staff of West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont, Michigan, for 14 years
Mark is a graduate of Baptist Bible College and attended Grand Rapids Theological Seminary He currently serves as the vice chairman of ABWE’s board
Mark married his wife, Marsha (also a BBC graduate), in 1996, and they have been blessed with four children, three children-in-law, and one grandson In his free time, Mark enjoys traveling with his wife and spending time with his family
Tim Walker
Tim Walker is lead pastor of Restored Church, WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania He planted Restored, an urban church that is of and for the poor, with a team of friends in 2012
He married his wife, Heather (whom he met at Restored), in 2015 They have two girls, and their family loves living on mission together in Wilkes-Barre
Tim also serves on the USA National Leadership Team for The Timothy Initiative, where he leads disciplemaking, church-planting-movement cohorts with pastors across the nation focused on multiplying disciple makers, leaders, and churches
Brent Belford has been pastor of Colonial Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Virginia, since 2016 His central pastoral burden is to equip the members of Colonial Baptist Church for the work of the ministry and to build up the Body of Christ
His desire to serve the church and academies led him to complete doctoral degrees in pastoral ministries (DMin, Northland International University) and New Testament studies (PhD, Ridley College, Melbourne) .
Amid the busyness of pastoral ministry, Brent occasionally reviews Biblical resources (e g , for The Gospel Coalition, The Master’s Seminary Journal); enjoys attending academic, evangelical conferences (e g , Evangelical Theological Society, Institute for Biblical Research); and teaches Biblical exposition courses and workshops at seminaries and pastors’ meetings worldwide, including teaching in and chairing the DMin in Expository Preaching program at Virginia Beach Theological Seminary
Brent Belford
Sessions
Day/Time Speaker Message
Monday, 6:30 p .m . Clare JewellLook Up - p . 28
Tuesday, 9:00 a .m . Pat Nemmers Brothers and Sisters, Never Underestimate These Things - p 29
Tuesday, 10:00 a m Daryle DodenA Faith Unfeigned: Living Authentically in an Age of Pretension - p . 30
Tuesday, 6:30 p m Josh JonesJesus over Everything - p 31
Wednesday, 9:00 a m Mark CizauskasCaring for What Isn’t Yours - p 34
Wednesday, 10:00 a m Tim WalkerThe Mission of Jesus over Everything - p . 35
Wednesday, 6:30 p .m . Brent Belford Jesus is Greater than Angels - p . 36
Thursday, 9:00 a .m . Brent BelfordThe Blessings of Jesus’ Incarnation - p . 37
Session Notes
Look Up
Clare Jewell - Monday, 6:30 p.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
Brothers and Sisters, Never Underestimate these things
Pat Nemmers - Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
A Faith Unfeigned: Living Authentically in an Age of Pretension
Daryle Doden - Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
Jesus Over Everything
Josh Jones – Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
DOES YOUR CHURCH NEED RENEWAL AND REVITALIZATION?
Generate helps equip churches and leaders to focus on God’s mission through grants, consultation, and coaching. APPLY TODAY
THE NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD ARE GREAT—BUT NONE IS GREATER THAN THE NEED FOR THE GOSPEL.
Because of you, Regular Baptist International can make a profound and immediate impact around the world spritually and physically.
DONATETOD YA
Caring for What Isn’t Yours
Mark Cizauskas – Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
The Mission of Jesus over Everything
Tim Walker – Wednesday, 10:00 a.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
Jesus is Greater than Angels
Brent Belford – Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
The Blessings of Jesus’ Incarnation
Brent Belford – Thursday, 9:00 a.m.
Primary Biblical Text:
1 . What truths stand out to you?
2 . What are the primary points the speaker is making?
3 What did you learn from this message?
4 . What steps of application do you need to take?
34 credit hour program classes meet in one week fall and spring modules first class free to new students
10% tuition discount for those belonging to a GARBC member church
Belford
DMin Program Director Senior Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church
Find out about this program and more by scanning the code or by visiting us at vbts.edu/dmin
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Notes
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THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL IS NEEDED IN CHALLENGING PLACES.
Chaplaincy can be a great next step for pastors and ministry workers who want to bring the gospel to others in a new context.
Apply to become a chaplain endorsed by the GARBC!
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Notes
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JESUS OVER EVERYTHING
GO DIGITAL
Visit garbc.org and GARBC on Facebook for photos and audio from this year’s conference.
Posting on social media?
Use #JesusOverEverything and #GARBC25.
Interact with GARBC social media pages: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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@RegularBaptist
@RegularBaptist
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2025 Annual Report
Connections Change Everything
The mission of Regular Baptist Ministries is creating connections to strengthen and multiply leaders and churches
GARBC
Clare Jewell, National Representative
We are an association of churches that believe in the autonomy of the local church while being committed to the vital need for interdependence. As churches and pastors, we come together based on doctrinal alignment to generate a movement of churches fully engaged in evangelism, disciple-making, leader development, church vitality, and church planting. We also seek to engage churches with one another as they share resources and build relationships to fuel the transformation of lives and communities for the glory of God.
For these reasons, I’ve focused much of my time and energy this past year on church and pastor engagement. This starts with opening lines of communication. That’s why we set up a Slack network dedicated to the GARBC. Slack allows us to talk to one another; share ideas, tools, and resources; encourage one another; and pray for one another. It also provides an avenue for communicating directly with you. Within Slack are specific channels dedicated to pastors, pastors’ wives, youth ministry, children’s ministry, etc. These channels provide excellent opportunities for church leaders to learn from other people engaged in the same type of ministry. If you’re not on our Slack network, please register this week by scanning the QR code with a smartphone.
In addition to introducing Slack, we revamped our monthly RB Pulse newsletter to focus on a few vital topics. It’s easy to read and provides information to help you stay engaged with the GARBC and one another. I pray more and more pastors will take a moment to connect with what’s happening in our association.
In March we launched Engage (GARBC.org/engage), designed to connect our pastors and churches in various ways. For the four weeks leading up to Easter, we recommended praying for at least one sister church during morning worship services to demonstrate our love for one another and our desire to see more people come into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Consider what God might do if our 1,150 churches prayed for each other regularly! This fall we will encourage pastors to set up a “coffee conversation” with each other—to get to know one another, pray for each other, share ideas, and encourage and challenge one another. Imagine how this might shape attitudes and approaches to ministry!
This year we secured the rights to a coaching platform called Rev Coach for our GARBC pastors and churches. This platform will allow pastors to mentor or coach staff members, lay leaders, or other pastors within our association. These connections will help us develop and nurture leaders in our churches. If you are interested, please attend our mentor lunch on Wednesday of the conference to learn more.
To further help with leadership growth and provide much-needed pastoral guidance, we invested in a process to train interim pastors. This process will equip experienced pastors to step into the gap and help a church refocus on the mission of God as the church prepares for a new pastor to shepherd it into the future. This program will include required training (with scholarships available), as well as an application and interview to be certified for this role.
Connections do change everything! Jesus came to earth to connect us with God by grace through faith. He also came to connect us to one another as His church. So engage! Get connected, and see how it changes you and your church. ■
Regular Baptist Ministries
Kerry Watkins, Head of Operations
Connections happen best when people are aligned and focused on the same values and goals. For that reason, we have created and trained the home office staff on a new mission statement and ministry values. These will strengthen our ministry and improve our home office culture so we will be more effective in all that we do.
We have implemented new tools to help us manage some of our processes and projects better and more efficiently. We are developing strong processes for church recruitment, new pastor orientation, onboarding of new churches, and other projects that will enable us to connect pastors and churches to the resources they need.
Creating connections to strengthen and multiply churches.
• A Culture of Dependence on God
• A Culture of Collaboration
• A Culture of Continuous Improvement
• A Culture of Delight
We have also created a “Connect with Us” link at GARBC.org to help us serve our constituents more effectively. A simple online form allows anyone to reach out for any reason and get a prompt response. As of March 2025, we have responded to 94 inquiries.
Another tool we recently created helps churches and pastors connect to fill pastoral vacancies. At GARBC.org/pastor-referral, churches can post their pastoral openings, and pastors can see all the openings and submit their résumés for positions of interest. This tool works significantly better and is far superior than the old system.
This past spring, we connected with state and regional association leaders through a three-day retreat at Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center in Hillsboro, Indiana. Jon Beight, executive director of both the camp and
Crossroads Fellowship, and the staff at Twin Lakes were great hosts. The retreat was a helpful time to strategize how to stay connected and collaborate. We also benefited from valuable training during our retreat’s meetings.
We thank God for new connections! As of this writing, six churches are set to join our association in June. We have only had 12 in the last five years. Praise the Lord for this growth, and please connect with these pastors and welcome them into our fellowship. We are excited about the processes and tools in place to help us grow this number in upcoming years. Adding churches is always exciting!
To stay connected with our pastors and churches, the home office staff held 34 prayer meetings in 2024 focused on church ministry needs. We also pray regularly for our college, university, and seminary partners and all the state fellowship leaders.
Looking forward, we want to continue growing our Connections ministry. We believe this is the future of our association. Our vision is an association of churches working together to plant churches, revitalize churches, and help each other with ministry needs. Our greatest asset is our churches, and working together is a great way to see more done for the cause of Christ.
We continue to connect with ministry partners aligned with our beliefs and mission to better serve our association’s needs. Shepherds Theological Seminary is attending this conference for the first time. This is a great connection; we hope you will talk with them. We are open to creating additional partnerships to strengthen our ministries and build our association. ■
Regular Baptist International
Darrell Goemaat, Coordinator
By God’s grace, Regular Baptist International connects with partners who minister to hurting people while facing their own hardships. Despite the challenges of natural disasters, food shortages, and persecution, people are being saved and baptized. New congregations are being planted and built.
With the support of churches and individuals, Regular Baptist International connects our international partners with the resources they need. This year we awarded 25 grants totaling more than $42,000. These grants are vital to our partners’ ability to care for the material and spiritual needs of their ministries, church members, orphans, and widows.
A grant from Regular Baptist International helped the Community of Free Baptist Churches of Congo finish building a church in the village of Bugamba. The congregation had been meeting in a rented house for several months. “I want to warmly thank you for your generous funds,” says Safari Munyakazi, president of the Congo association. “Your donation allows us to continue to carry out our projects and achieve our objectives. God bless you.”
Nang Za Thawn in Myanmar is rejoicing over a church planted in a remote village where people had never heard the gospel. “The Lord has done great things in the heart of the people in Thayar Gone village,” he says. “Nothing is sweeter than seeing people come to faith in Jesus.” Recently he baptized 24 people, including a 78-year-old woman. A house church was established, and the people acquired land to build a church.
Another grant fed 54 orphans under the care of Joshua Masaba, president of the Eastern Uganda Baptist Association. Joshua sent us his appreciation for our ministry’s donors. “May God bless you abundantly for saving the lives of these innocent souls.”
One more grant provided relief to the surviving family members of 13 church members who drowned when a passenger boat capsized on a lake in Congo. Ndiho Pascal, president of the Community of Baptist Churches of Central Africa, says, “This grant was a testimony of your love, compassion, and care, showing the unity that exists in the body of Christ. Thank you so much to the donors. God bless you abundantly.”
Connections do change everything!
To improve our connections with these international partners and serve them more effectively, we sent a survey to them this spring. We plan to host online quarterly meetings with our partners for spiritual encouragement. The sessions will feature Biblical teaching by Regular Baptist Ministries leaders, prayer, and time for sharing testimonies.
Please pray for God to enable us to leverage these connections to accomplish His global purpose. ■
Regular Baptist Chaplaincy
Manning Brown, Director
This year has been exciting for Regular Baptist Chaplaincy. We currently endorse 38 community service chaplains, 19 institutional chaplains, and 29 military chaplains, for a total of 86 chaplains. These chaplains are uniquely positioned to connect with people who are often in harm’s way and to comfort and encourage them with the truth of God’s Word.
We saw several retirements this past year but endorsed five new chaplains. We are thankful for these new connections! Our military chaplains continue progressing up the ranks, with Army chaplain Randy Curry pinning on full colonel, Army chaplain Mark Worrell pinning on lieutenant colonel, and Air Force chaplains Brad Kelsey being selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel and George Kahl being selected for promotion to major. These promotions testify to their professionalism and skill as both officers and chaplains.
Seeing interest in workplace chaplaincy and sports chaplaincy has also been exciting. This interest demonstrates that chaplains intersect lives with truth in times of their greatest need, no matter the setting.
My travel has included a field visit to one of our Air Force chaplains and speaking engagements at churches to help connect them with the chaplaincy ministry. This year marks my 10th year as director of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy. I am honored and humbled to serve in this capacity to recruit and encourage our chaplains and their families. ■
Generate
Clare Jewell, Director
The mission of Generate is to fuel the health and reproduction of GARBC churches and their leaders. We primarily do this by connecting churches and pastors to the resources they need to take their next step forward.
Generate connected with Bridgewater Church in northeast Pennsylvania this past year to initiate a residency partnership. Bridgewater has an outstanding track record of equipping pastors and connecting them with local church ministry opportunities. Generate will help fund the development of even more pastors over the next several years to help lead and plant GARBC churches. We are also working on a similar partnership in Iowa.
Generate is also connecting with Regular Baptist Ministries’ plan to train interim pastors to help shepherd churches during their transition to a new pastor. Generate will help fund the training to equip experienced men to do this vital work.
In addition to these new initiatives, Generate provided the following grants:
• $15,000 to New Community Baptist Church, Avon, Ohio, to renovate a new property that allows its ministry to grow.
• $15,000 to Clear Lake Baptist Church, Clear Lake, Iowa, to renovate a facility the church gained through a “church swap.” Even more exciting, this church baptized 20 people in the past year!
• $20,000 to Memorial Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio, to renovate space for a vibrant youth ministry.
• $1,500 to CrossPoint Fellowship Church, Jasper, Indiana, for church renewal.
We thank God and our giving partners for the opportunity to connect these churches to the resources they need to keep moving forward in their efforts to share the gospel, transform lives, and impact communities.
Connections change everything! ■
Regular Baptist Press
Matt Olmstead, Director
We are working hard to form healthier connections with our customers. Part of that process is diligently working to reduce customer attrition, which has been on a 20-plus-year decline. Our team actively investigates the root causes and implements manageable strategies to improve retention and customer satisfaction.
Our business intelligence tools are being leveraged to inform ministry decisions. These tools provide valuable insights that help us make datadriven decisions to serve our community better. We want to improve these connections continually.
Orders from GARBC churches have continued to decline year over year. We recognize that many great resources are available today, unlike in decades past. Historically, GARBC churches have comprised a minority of RBP’s revenue, and we are exploring ways to better connect, support, and engage with our association churches.
We have implemented several improvements to our existing systems to ensure product quality. These enhancements are designed to maintain high standards and deliver exceptional products to our customers.
Our efforts to recruit excellent authors are ongoing, and we are excited about the talent we are bringing into our pipeline. These authors will contribute to the richness and diversity of our offerings. Please let us know of any authors we should connect with!
We would love to connect you with some new products. Lord willing, Romans, the second volume of the New Testament Exposition Commentary, will be available for the conference. Additionally, we have several new products in the pipeline, including Dorothy Davis’s Revealed, our first full-color women’s Bible study. This product is expected to enhance the study experience for women. Other upcoming releases include Jay Lucas’s book Meant to Be Free and Bill Abernathy’s book on pastoral transitions. We also have several new authors writing books and Bible studies. Please stay connected with our social media for more information as it becomes available.
We are continually seeking to connect with new customers. We generate new leads and work to improve our follow-up system to convert those leads into new customers. A dedicated sales force will be vital to this strategy. Please pray for the resources to make this a reality.
Key Strategies for the Year
Brand Awareness: Enhancing our brand presence and recognition
Customer Satisfaction: Ensuring our customers are delighted with our products and services
Production Efficiency: Streamlining our production processes to maximize efficiency and quality
Future Plans: Updating our branding, website, and online buying experience by December 2025
Thank you to all of our current customers! If you are not currently using RBP material, please connect with us so we can have a conversation about how we can best serve you and meet your ministry needs.
