What is the GO Global Workshop?
Go Global—how did it come about? After traveling around our denomination in services and mission conferences, we became frustrated. We found that many churches, although loving and well-intentioned, were not making the most of mission services, were often unaware of mission resources and programs available to Free Will Baptists, and were uninformed of what God is doing through our Free Will Baptist missionaries in particular.
One of our mottos at IM is “inform-inspire-engage.” So when a pastor friend suggested we hold an informational workshop, we, with the help of two local pastors, decided to do it! With each one we try to improve the content, keeping it interesting, motivational, and encouraging. The workshop is held on Saturday afternoons, followed by a meal for participants.
The workshop program consists of testimonies from missionaries and International Missions information such as the mission statement, objectives, finances, media, and programs like E-TEAM, The Hanna Project, etc. A practical session is designed to open up dialogue, help IM better serve the local church, and help churches understand how they can use visiting missionaries. The workshop ends with the Biblical Basis of Missions and our “Meet, Greet, and Eat” time. Participating missionaries are in area churches the next day.
Less than one half of our Free Will Baptist churches give to International Missions (IM) on a regular basis. Go Global hopes to help improve that statistic. We want to better inform and encourage our pastors and churches so that, together, we can better fulfill the Great Commission and glorify our Lord.
Go Global is sponsored by International Missions and the Tennessee State IM Board. We want to come to your church, quarterly meeting, or association. Below are a few comments from pastors who have participated in the Go Global workshops.
"As a pastor and moderator of the Liberty Association I appreciate so much the missions workshop that was presented by IM. This workshop opened our eyes to many ways our churches can work alongside our missionaries on the field as well as within our churches.” Pastor Kerry Higgins
"I wish every pastor in Tennessee had been at this meeting. My heart broke at times. It is difficult to be reminded that half of our FWB churches send nothing regularly to International Missions in a year’s time. Our pastors are the key to any kind of change and they need to attend a Go Global workshop. Our church will host one next year.” Bob Lewis—Chairman of Tennessee Home Missions Board
"What a privilege and honor it was to hear how God is still working throughout the world through our Free Will Baptist missionaries. They refreshed our spirits with God's Commission, opened our eyes to the basic needs of humanity, burdened our hearts that all might be saved, and challenged us to continue to pray and give as Christ did, our all. Christopher S. Castle, Pastor Phipps Bend FWB Church
Northern Quarterly, Union Association
Contact us to set up a date!
Jerry and Barb Gibbs
jerry@gibbslive.com
865-310 5433