Tag Archives: general baptists

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October 26, 2015

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General Baptists, International Missions, Mission One Teams

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Forever Changed

By James Pratt

Jim and Kris Pratt - Forever ChangedI accepted my calling into the ministry in the summer of 1981. Since then, I have tried to share the Good News of Jesus Christ tasting death for everyone with as many people as I could. For 25 years, I have had the support of my lovely wife, Kris. God blessed us 23 years ago with a lovely daughter who is married to a minister, and they are actively involved in sharing the Good News as well.

It was with my daughter’s urging that we went on our first international mission trip to Honduras in 2007. We were forever changed. Now, after eight trips to Honduras, two trips to the Philippines, and one trip to Saipan, I have the privilege of serving as the new Mission One Coordinator.

My desire is to expand on the accomplishments of past coordinators. I want to expand the number, types, and location of teams. My desire is to equip each team with adequate pre-trip training and post-trip follow-up. I will also work with the missionaries and nationals to help them know what to expect from the teams.

It is my dream to place college interns at each of our mission locations with the hope that many of them will become career missionaries. I will also aid in recruiting people approaching retirement to serve as short-term missionaries.

I am humbled to be selected for this opportunity to take the gospel to the nations. Pray for me as I challenge others to also become forever changed.

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October 13, 2015

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Christian Life, Christian Walk, National Missions, Pastoring, Staying Connected

An Interview with Gary Baldus – Part 1

This is a two-part post of an interview with Gary Baldus, pastor of New Walk Church in Zephyr Hills, Florida.

General Baptist Ministries asked Gary several questions about his walk with Christ, his calling to ministry and church planting, the personal and ministry connections with General Baptists, and the ongoing work of New Walk Church.

General Baptist Ministries (GBM):  How did you come to faith in Christ?  Who/what influenced your decision?

Gary Baldus and family

Pastor Gary Baldus and family

Gary Baldus (GB):  It was probably through the death of my wife’s mother. She had been inviting us to a local General Baptist Church all along in 2001 but I had grown up Christian Science.  Fortunately I didn’t pay too much attention to Sunday School at the Christian Science Church but I paid enough attention to know something about Jesus.  But they so focused on worship of one God and dismissed the Trinity so to them worshipping Jesus as God was a form of idolatry.  When I came into a General Baptist Church that centered on Jesus I was dismissive of it at first.  I remember sitting in the back of the church one day and as I reflected on the death of my mother-in-law and through the preaching of Pastor Bob Harber, I came to faith in Jesus when I was 29 years old.

The teaching of the word was where it happened to me. Then getting the revelation of the truth of the word and getting the whole truth rather than just the segments of Mary Baker Eddy Christian Science teaching, made such a difference for me.  Now, over the last few years I have been able to see several people in my family come to faith in Jesus.

 

GBM:  What are your earliest memories of the church?

GB:  My background was not conducive to where I am today. My faith journey has always been a sensitive issue in some family settings.  My earliest memories were my parents taking us to that Christian Science church, which was a two-minute walk we made every Sunday.

Some things I learned in that early church experience are a cross over into full-blown Christianity.  I got some foundation there but not the whole truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus does.”

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