May/June 2016

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR

ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONS

MAY 8—15, 2016

The Associational Mission Emphasis week is to expose

the ministries and value of your association. We are your “first-responders” in times of strength or struggle. The week is to highlight the work of the association and the value of partnerships. It is to culminate with churches receiving an offering for the expansion of local missions. We covet the prayers of your church for Gateway Baptist Association. Our immediate goal is for our income and expenditures to be in the black every month, so we can free up savings and assets for some God-sized mission movements. Consider asking your congregation to take up a love offering on May 15 for Gateway and the needed ministries of the association. We are striving to plant 2 - 4 new works in the next 18 months. We need your prayers, churches willing to plant a new work, and funds for startup and support. Your church is our ministry! Let's focus on our community and work alongside each other for the glory of Jesus Christ! For promotional AME materials (posters, bulletin inserts, fliers, and videos), contact Amy at: (618) 254-3953 or admin@gatewaybaptistassoc.org.

Why is the Association a Valuable Asset to the Local Church?

Because of our:

1) Relationship – it is natural for the association to help a congregation that is daily relating to each other. We are neighbors and we encounter each other on a regular basis. It is easier for the association to minister to a lesser amount of churches. All other denominational organizations minister to a much larger number.

2) Proximity – it is much easier for the association to get to and assist churches in their own backyard. Other organizations would have to reach half way across the state or nation.

3) Commonality – it is far more natural for two organizations, who daily walk together, to work together. We have common environments, common needs and common struggles. It is also more likely to lead to common victories.

4) Time – we are readily accessible to

one another. We normally get the

news of a sister church faster and we

can respond faster. We are in a better

position to attend funerals, visit in the

hospitals and serve each other like

family.

Planning a community outreach event? Want to start a Bible study and need materials? Looking for a new book to read for inspiration? Want to mail a flyer to everyone in your community? Need leadership training? WE CAN HELP! Contact the association for more information on the resources we can provide you and your church for church growth, revitalization, personal development, and community outreach.

Ch

ildre

n’s

Min

istry

Da

y A total of 12 churches, 10

from our association, came together at New Life Christian Fellowship in Hamel to conduct our annual Children’s Ministry Day event on Saturday, March 19th. Our 136 children and adult one-day missionaries tackled 17 one-day mission projects in the communities of Hamel, Staunton, Worden, and Edwardsville. In addition to the beautiful weather God provided, our 136 one-day children and adult missionaries had an opportunity to celebrate our time together through song, praises, scripture reading, prayer, fellowship, and breaking of bread together. Folks, it doesn’t get better than this! Next year’s Children’s Ministry Day will be held in March at Dow So. Baptist Church. Start forming your children’s mission teams and making plans to attend now!

Please pray for the team of 23 going to Guatemala in July. In addition to your prayers, your

church or Sunday School class might consider helping by providing a financial gift to cover the expenses of the following mission projects that the team will be doing during their week there:

Painting of Two Homes: $140 for paint brushes and tools $162 for six 5-gal. paint buckets (or $27 for one 5-gal paint bucket, or $5.40 for one gallon of paint)

Sharing the Good News in Three Schools: $150 for 330 treat bags for Hunapu (or $50 for 110) $50 for pre-school snacks $50 for snacks at Mt. Sinai School $150 for transportation costs of school supplies

Love Offering for Team Members: $50 - $100 scholarships to help with trip expenses

Make checks payable to Gateway Baptist Association – Guatemala 2016 Team. For more information, please contact Greg Gomez at 618/791-2378 or greg.gomez52@me.com.

Missions Report from Greg Gomez Missions Facilitator

Gu

ate

ma

la

GATEWAY FINANCIAL REPORT

February 2016

March 2016

Year-to-Date 2016

Budget Goal $19,458.33 $19,458.34 $58,375.00

Total Receipts $14,371.42 $19,960.88 $45,940.07

Expenses $17,918.86 $17,411.71 $51,095.54

Net Income $-3,547.44 $2,549.17 $-5,255.47

Pray

Plan

Participate

Crossover 2016 is about sharing Jesus with people in our communities. To volunteer for an Illinois project, go to: www.meba.org/crossover-st-louis-2016.

INTENTIONAL INTERIM PASTOR TRAINING May 14, 2016 9 am - 2 pm, Lunch provided

What will you get from this free training?

Sometimes a church needs more than a supply preacher or traditional

interim. The "intentional interim" contracts with the congregation to be a

short-term pastor–usually a six to twelve months. The intentional interim

will function similar to a part-time pastor, but he cannot be considered

for the pastoral role in that church. It is preferable that an intentional pas-

tor have had prior expertise as a pastor or staff member, but is not totally

required. An intentional interim will be given special training in dealing

with conflict and leadership relations. You will be trained to deal with

the day-to-day issues a traditional pastor might face. You will receive

training to assist the church in identifying goals and objectives that will

make it more aware of the character and abilities they should seek in

a permanent pastor. An intentional interim will adhere to the present

governance of the church and not seek to change these, but may assist in

an assessment of the documents, programs, events and processes of the

church. He will also be trained to help a church going through the grief/

bewilderment resulting from the last pastor's departure. Please RSVP by

May 11th to 254-3953 or admin@gatewaybaptistassoc.org.

2016 SBC ANNUAL MEETING June 14—15 To pre-register, go to www.sbc.net

We want to encourage church members and staff to attend this year’s convention

The GBA office will be closed on Tues., June 14 in order that staff may attend.

**********************************

Please Pray for our Pastorless Churches . . . State Park Baptist Church, 3220 Harvard Place, Collinsville, IL 62234

Crosspoint So. Baptist Church, 4539 Wanda Road, Edwardsville, IL 62025

Dow So. Baptist is looking for a Part-time Music/Worship

Leader (approx. 12 hours per week) who will be responsible

for the development and promotion of the music program and

provide overall direction and leadership in various ministry

areas including children, youth, and adult choirs, instrumental/vocal praise

team, drama, media and other related worship ministries, utilizing volunteers as

appropriate. Please send resume and video or an email with link to an

online video of worship leading to: parsonbrown@frontiernet.net.

News from the Pews

Pastor Joshua Steely has accepted the call to serve as

Pastor of Pontoon Baptist Church. Help us welcome Pastor

Steely, his wife Kate, and his son Jeffrey to our association!

Congratulations to . . . YOU! Because of you, Gateway Baptist

Association was number 1 in Illinois in

Cooperative Program Giving for the first

quarter of 2016! Every dollar given

through CP helps fund missions,

ministry, and theological education.

Crossroads Community Church in Brighton will be holding a Family Revival on Saturday, May 14, at 6:30 pm and Sunday, May 15, at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm with guest speaker, John Croyle, founder and director of Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for abandoned and abused children. The revival will be held at Crossroads’ new location: 305 N. Maple in Brighton on Hwy. 111 (former Brighton West Grade School). This family revival will focus on raising Christian children. Childcare will be available. There will also be a Family Day on May 14 from 2 pm until time of revival including bounce houses, games, and free food.

Allegiance Trio in Concert Grace Baptist Church

2600 Edwards Street, Granite City

Sunday, 5/15 @ 6:30 pm

Concert is Free

(A love offering will be received)

For more info, call the church @ 877-6672

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