Sixth Annual Fundraising Banquet
Volume 60– April 2016 - No. 4 Gulf Coast Baptist Association Monthly Email www.gulfcoastbaptist.org
Inside This Issue . . . The Director Speaks Announcements Calendar
2
Sixth Annual
2-3 3
Fundraising Banquet Thursday, April 21, 2016
6:30 pm Silent Auction begins at 5:30 pm Lake Jackson Civic Center Making the Most of Every Opportunity
In March 2001 I joined the staff of GCBA. I cannot believe how much things have changed and how fast the time has passed. We have seen our county change in front of our own eyes. Who would have imagined the growth in the northern part of our county and the recent growth in the Brazosport area? People are coming to live in our county and we must continue to adapt to these changing circumstances. There are other things that we do not need to change. Love God The key to a long relationship is to continue to build on that relationship, to grow deeper and wider in that relationship. That is true with our relationship with God. It cannot stay where it used to be. We lose that sense of awe and gratitude to God if we do not focus on the primary relationship with Him. If we fail at this, then nothing else matters. Love People It is not easy to love people, especially those we don’t understand or that act in a different way. Jesus loved and He demonstrated that love by His actions. I see that in our churches. GCBA churches are in their communities showing the love of our Lord. Make Disciples While our area changes our mandate does not. We are still operating under the commission that Jesus gave us 2000 years ago. “Go and Make Disciples”. This is the foundation of our work. It has to be at the core of everything we do as believers and churches. I think that we lose sight of this and get real busy doing stuff that does not produce disciples. Start new churches We need to start new churches because of the diversity of the population and because of the population increase. GCBA has been aggressive in this task but we need to do more in and outside of our county. Our church planting efforts have been based on the making of new, healthy disciples. I got the news yesterday that Holli Lancaster has been put on Hospice. Holli’s husband is Dan Lancaster. He has been a good friend and fellow worker for several years. This is truly a difficult time and I ask that you pray for Holli and the family. (Update: Holli passed away on Tuesday morning.) I am grateful for the privilege of serving GCBA churches for these 15 years. Thank you. Donald
TEAM MEETING April 12 at 11:30 a.m. First Baptist Church 401 Yaupon Lake Jackson 979-297-2496
SENT Conferences—Check here for the location and date of the conference you would like to attend. Youth Ministry Lab, April 1-2, Fort Worth (SBTC) WMU TX Annual Mtg, April 8-9, Austin Congreso, Baylor, April 22-23, Register here.
Administrative Professionals Day
HISPANIC EVENTS Hispanic Evangelism Conf., April 8-9, Tyler (BGCT) Hispanic Pastors Mtg., April 12 at 7 p.m. at GCBA Hispanic Fellowship WMU Qtrly Mtg,, April 15
Hispanic Fellowship, April 17
Click for more information.
April 27 GCBA TEAM Meeting Tuesday, May 10 @ 11:30 a.m. Rosharon Bible Baptist Church 04/01-02 04/08-09 04/12 04/12 04/17 04/21 04/22-23 04/27
GCBA Pastorless Churches Brazosport Baptist Temple—Angleton Heights Baptist—Alvin Shadycrest Baptist—Pearland
APRIL Youth Ministry Lab, Fort Worth (SBTC) WMU TX Annual Meeting, Austin GCBA TEAM Meeting, 11:30 a.m., First Baptist Lake Jackson Hispanic Pastors Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at GCBA Hispanic Fellowship Texas Port Ministry Annual Fundraising Banquet Congreso, Baylor Administrative Professionals Day MAY
05/02-05 05/05 05/08 05/10 05/30
May by the Bay Adult Retreat, Texas Baptist Encampment National Day of Prayer Mother’s Day GCBA TEAM Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Rosharon Bible Baptist Church Memorial Day JUNE
06/13-16 06/13-17 06/14-15 06/19 06/20-24 06/26-28
Kamp Khaos Preteen Camp, Palacios Girls Mission Camp, Palacios 2016 SBC Annual Meeting, St. Louis Father’s Day Hispanic Youth Week, Palacios (SBTC) Convencion Bautista Hispana De Texas, Fort Worth. Click for info.
Inside This Issue . . . The Director Speaks Announcements Calendar
2
Sixth Annual
2-3 3
Fundraising Banquet Thursday, April 21, 2016
6:30 pm Silent Auction begins at 5:30 pm Lake Jackson Civic Center Making the Most of Every Opportunity
In March 2001 I joined the staff of GCBA. I cannot believe how much things have changed and how fast the time has passed. We have seen our county change in front of our own eyes. Who would have imagined the growth in the northern part of our county and the recent growth in the Brazosport area? People are coming to live in our county and we must continue to adapt to these changing circumstances. There are other things that we do not need to change. Love God The key to a long relationship is to continue to build on that relationship, to grow deeper and wider in that relationship. That is true with our relationship with God. It cannot stay where it used to be. We lose that sense of awe and gratitude to God if we do not focus on the primary relationship with Him. If we fail at this, then nothing else matters. Love People It is not easy to love people, especially those we don’t understand or that act in a different way. Jesus loved and He demonstrated that love by His actions. I see that in our churches. GCBA churches are in their communities showing the love of our Lord. Make Disciples While our area changes our mandate does not. We are still operating under the commission that Jesus gave us 2000 years ago. “Go and Make Disciples”. This is the foundation of our work. It has to be at the core of everything we do as believers and churches. I think that we lose sight of this and get real busy doing stuff that does not produce disciples. Start new churches We need to start new churches because of the diversity of the population and because of the population increase. GCBA has been aggressive in this task but we need to do more in and outside of our county. Our church planting efforts have been based on the making of new, healthy disciples. I got the news yesterday that Holli Lancaster has been put on Hospice. Holli’s husband is Dan Lancaster. He has been a good friend and fellow worker for several years. This is truly a difficult time and I ask that you pray for Holli and the family. (Update: Holli passed away on Tuesday morning.) I am grateful for the privilege of serving GCBA churches for these 15 years. Thank you. Donald
TEAM MEETING April 12 at 11:30 a.m. First Baptist Church 401 Yaupon Lake Jackson 979-297-2496
SENT Conferences—Check here for the location and date of the conference you would like to attend. Youth Ministry Lab, April 1-2, Fort Worth (SBTC) WMU TX Annual Mtg, April 8-9, Austin Congreso, Baylor, April 22-23, Register here.
Administrative Professionals Day
HISPANIC EVENTS Hispanic Evangelism Conf., April 8-9, Tyler (BGCT) Hispanic Pastors Mtg., April 12 at 7 p.m. at GCBA Hispanic Fellowship WMU Qtrly Mtg,, April 15
Hispanic Fellowship, April 17
Click for more information.
April 27 GCBA TEAM Meeting Tuesday, May 10 @ 11:30 a.m. Rosharon Bible Baptist Church 04/01-02 04/08-09 04/12 04/12 04/17 04/21 04/22-23 04/27
GCBA Pastorless Churches Brazosport Baptist Temple—Angleton Heights Baptist—Alvin Shadycrest Baptist—Pearland
APRIL Youth Ministry Lab, Fort Worth (SBTC) WMU TX Annual Meeting, Austin GCBA TEAM Meeting, 11:30 a.m., First Baptist Lake Jackson Hispanic Pastors Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at GCBA Hispanic Fellowship Texas Port Ministry Annual Fundraising Banquet Congreso, Baylor Administrative Professionals Day MAY
05/02-05 05/05 05/08 05/10 05/30
May by the Bay Adult Retreat, Texas Baptist Encampment National Day of Prayer Mother’s Day GCBA TEAM Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Rosharon Bible Baptist Church Memorial Day JUNE
06/13-16 06/13-17 06/14-15 06/19 06/20-24 06/26-28
Kamp Khaos Preteen Camp, Palacios Girls Mission Camp, Palacios 2016 SBC Annual Meeting, St. Louis Father’s Day Hispanic Youth Week, Palacios (SBTC) Convencion Bautista Hispana De Texas, Fort Worth. Click for info.
