Our Values

We Are Family

The Great Commission Association of Southern Baptist Churches (GCA) provides pastors and their families the support they need to build healthy relationships and healthy churches. Established in 1947, it has 120 ministries and member churches from San Mateo to Solvang and from Monterey to Milpitas. More than anything, we are a family fostering powerful, loving relationships to advance the Great Commission together.

Dr. Michael Stewart has been the director of GCA since 1997. Since that time, GCA has invested strongly in new outreach strategies that have proven effective. Nearly 60 new churches have been planted. The first of our Hearts and Hands Christian Preschools opened in 2003 in partnership with member churches. Parents have consistently voted them the best preschools in the Bay Area. In 2015, GCA began the Building Healthy Churches initiative. The Great Commission Training Institute (GCTI) and the Great Commission Prayer Initiative (GCPI) launched in 2021.

We believe in connecting churches for a Greater Harvest. We are committed to providing the Right Relationships and the Right Resources at the Right Time to dramatically improve the outlook and performance of God’s pastors and His churches. At GCA, we are committed to investing in the health and happiness of our pastors and ministry wives and their families –and providing the resources they need to build strong churches.

GCA APPROACHES ALL OF ITS EFFORTS THROUGH THIS SET OF VALUES: 

Love – This is the foundation of all that we do.

• Doing everything out of Love of God and Love for our neighbor (Mt. 22:37-38)

• Love being our ultimate measure of success (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Wisdom – This is how we make decisions.

• Surrendering to God’s wisdom by practicing reverent fear of Him (Proverbs 9:10)

• Seeking God’s wisdom knowing that He freely gives (James 1:4)

Integrity – This is how we engage everyone.

• Being truthful and trustworthy as we practice transparency and accountability (Prov. 11:3, 12:22)

• Always speaking, responding, and relating the truth in love (Ephes. 4:15)

Courage – This is how we adapt to challenges and changes.

• Being strong and courageous as we stand on the Word (Joshua 1:7)

• Standing courageously in faith as servants of the Lord Almighty (1 Cor. 16:13)

Excellence – This is how we honor our Heavenly Father.

• Doing everything in excellence as if we are serving the Lord (Ephes. 6:7)

• Practicing excellence as we meditate and reflect on His Excellence (Phil. 4:8-9)

Dr. Michael Stewart
Executive Director of Missions