GBA Information

GIBSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, INC

The Gibson Baptist Association is a family of Churches working together to fulfill the Great Commission. This document includes GBA’s Mission Statement, Purpose Statement, and Statement of Faith.

In addition, it includes information about Gibson county as well as some facts about Gibson Baptists, and how they seek to fulfill Christ’s mission. The Final page provides a ten-year profile of GBA churches. This profile will give you an idea of how ministry is trending in Gibson Baptist Association.

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to share the gospel, shape leaders and strengthen Churches.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the association shall be:

To promote fellowship, harmony, and cooperation among the churches.
To assist churches in their work.
To promote missionary work at home and abroad in cooperation with the Tennessee Baptist and Southern Baptist Conventions.
To encourage Christian education and enterprise for the spread of the gospel and the inculcation of morality consistent with the Word of God.
To counsel with churches in difficulty.

Statement of Faith

This association subscribes to the doctrinal statement: The Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.

Information

Gibson Baptist Association serves primarily Gibson County with one church in Carroll County. Gibson county is a Rural County in West Tennessee. The following is a compilation of Quick facts about GBA. The information is from the 2024 church year:

Gibson County Population - 54,000
54 churches
34 churches have a Bi-vocational pastor
8 churches are currently without a pastor
We currently have one Hispanic work but are actively seeking to start more.
4,609 is the average weekly worship attendance for all GBA churches
2,916 is the average Sunday School attendance for all GBA churches
$756,724 is the Cooperative Program funds given by all GBA churches
The 2024 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering was $102,478
The 2024 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was $135,034
The 2024 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions was $61,044
GBA has a pastors’ conference every Monday at 10:00am
GBA has an active WMU
GBA has an active Senior Adult group
GBA has set aside monies (Wingo Fund) to help individuals go on mission trips.
Grace Gentry has served GBA as Ministry Assistant for 5 years.
GBA Has enjoyed 3 Associational missionaries over the past 51 years.

Ken Sparkman - 26 years
Roger Stacy - 15 years
Mike Kemper - 7 years first term – 3 years second term

GBA Strategy

GBA seeks to fulfill its mission through strategic teams. These teams can create affinity teams as needed to accomplish their tasks. The AMS/DOM and the GBA moderator are ex-officio members of all teams.

GBA currently has the following priority teams: Send team, Seek team, Strengthen team, and Strategic Leadership team. Each priority team has five elected members, but anyone who has a passion to serve may be a volunteer member of a priority team at large without voting privileges. All team leaders will work with the Associational Missionary Strategist (DOM) to fulfill the mission and vision of the association.

The association has given these teams the following assignments:
The Send Team mobilizes churches and volunteers to be on mission in their setting and around the world. (Matthew 28: 19 “Go, therefore…”)
The Seek Team leads the association of churches to evangelize the lost and reach the unreached for Christ. (Matthew 28:19 “make disciples of all nations...”)
The Strengthen Team helps churches to be vibrant, healthy, revitalized growing disciples of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all things...”)
The Strategic Leadership Team is composed of the priority team leaders, the GBA moderator, and the assistant moderator. The Strategic Leadership Team helps all the teams to coordinate their work in order to pursue the mission of God for GBA churches.

ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONARY (AMS)
GIBSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION (GBA)
JOB DESCRIPTION

The AMS, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, shall provide leadership for Gibson Baptist Association so that the association can fulfill its mission.

Calling:
The AMS must be committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and must demonstrate the reality of that relationship through his life and testimony.

The AMS must be a God-called man and be able to articulate clearly his call from God to the unique ministry of associational work.

Education:
The AMS must possess the experience and/or the educational qualifications that will enable him to effectively carry out the responsibilities listed in this document.

Experience:
The AMS:

Should be a man of unquestionable Christian Character, meeting the qualifications of Christian leadership set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-13.
Should be a man of spiritual maturity and virtue as described in Galatians 5:16-26.
Must affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
Must have a thorough understanding of associational work in the context of Southern Baptist Life.
Must possess a working knowledge of current technology and modern methods of communication.
Should provide leadership which is marked by mature judgments, spiritual discernment, and a cooperative spirit, all of which flow out of a deep walk with Christ.
Must have a love for people and a heart of concern for God’s churches.
Should be able to relate to and communicate with persons and leaders from all walks of life and across the spectrum of Southern Baptist work.
Must undergo a comprehensive background check to be employed by GBA.

Service:
A Call to serve as the AMS will be extended upon receiving a three-fourths vote of the GBA in an Annual or Special-Called Meeting.

Relationships:

The association will be the final authority in all matters pertaining to the term of service of the AMS.
The AMS shall work under the direct supervision of the GBA Executive Board with the Personnel Committee serving in an advisory capacity.
The Personnel Committee will meet with the AMS as needed to discuss any concerns the AMS or the GBA has.

Responsibilities:

The AMS will be a servant leader who works as a missionary within the geographical area of GBA.
The AMS will seek to build relationships with every GBA pastor and church. He shall visit in the worship services of the churches and missions on a regular and an equal basis. He shall be available to the pastors at other times apart from the worship services in their churches. He shall be a source of encouragement, support, and help to pastors and church staff.
The AMS will work with the GBA to develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan, which includes, but is not limited to, encouraging churches to cooperate in increasing Baptisms, discipleship participation, Sunday School attendance, missions involvement, revitalizing churches, and planting new churches/missions.
The AMS will work with current GBA teams, and when needed, develop other effective quick-action missions and ministry teams. When necessary, he shall help individuals and committees to request needed funds. He shall work with the GBA Nominating Committee to staff all associational positions. He shall serve as an ex-officio member of all GBA committees, teams, and organizations.
The AMS will seek mission opportunities that will engage GBA churches with possible partnerships locally, nationally, and internationally and nurture current mission partnerships.
The AMS should work to help pastors equip their congregations by offering training to associational leaders, officers, committees, and churches in order that they may more effectively serve the Lord and participate in the cooperative work of the GBA.
The AMS will seek to enhance partnerships and communication among GBA churches.
The AMS will look for ways to encourage churches to increase giving to GBA and the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The AMS will provide oversight and supervision to the associational office and all GBA ministries.
The AMS will perform other duties as assigned by the Personnel Committee or the Executive Board of the GBA.