Great Commission Report - Nov. 2024

By Dr. Mike Stewart

The Bible reminds its readers to change their focus from what is wrong with this world to what is wonderful about God.  There is no problem so big that God cannot solve it!  Here are five of my favorite verses to help me remember this truth.  After you read each verse, pause and give thanks to God for one thing that comes to mind that you are grateful for in this season.

1.       James 1:7

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Pause and Pray

2.       Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Pause and Pray

3.       Psalm 100 1-5

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Pause and Pray

4.       Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Pause and Pray

5.       Psalm 9:1-2

To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Pause and Pray

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

By Dr. Mike Stewart

I asked the question in my remarks to the GCA churches gathered at the annual meeting, “Are we currently on a spiritual offensive with the Gospel in our communities, or are we playing defense?”

Every pastor and church is tasked with the expansion of the Kingdom of God. This always starts with our own community, but the Great Commission always pushes us beyond to the next unreached community or people group.

We need a spiritual offensive bathed in prayer, evangelism and Gospel cooperation among our churches to see a new generation of believers.  GCA ministry staff are currently discussing a new focus on a cooperative mission advance embraced by many churches to work together to make an eternal impact.

There are multiple communities in our association that have no Gospel-preaching church to reach them.  There are churches that need help to establish key ministries to reach children and youth with the Gospel.  There are opportunities for every ministry leader within our association to invest in a missional opportunity to give outside of their own ministry setting for the glory of God. 

Please pray for our GCA staff, pastor and churches to be united in the work of God to seek and save the lost, together.  Let’s start playing offense in 2025!

Every qualified GCA church is asked on a rotating basis to send a representative to serve on the GCA Executive Board, as noted on the rotation schedule you may find on the 2nd page of the 2024 Book of Reports. If your church received an email or letter this month, inviting your church to be represented on the Executive Board, please mail the response postcard back or email office@gcasbc.org by Dec. 31st. (Sooner is better!) Eligibility requirements apply and are listed in the letter.