"Rivers in the Desert"

February 16-18, 2009
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ

Click on the speaker's name to hear the conference message.
Bruce Turner
 Sam Davison
Billy Ingram
Frank Wood
David Lydick
Marshall Stevens
Troy Dorrell
Dean Herring

Minutes of the
Global Independent Baptist Fellowship

The meeting was called to order by Moderator Frank Wood.

1. The Global Independent Baptist Missions video listing the leadership and missionaries was viewed by the Fellowship.

2. Rich Farinella opened the business meeting in prayer.

3. The minutes of the meeting at Berean Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri was read and approved. Motion to approve made by Kevin Folger, second by Terry Williams and the vote was unanimous.

4. Future GIBF meeting locations were presented:

  • Bruce Turner invited the GIBF to West Gate Baptist Church, Tampa, Florida on February 15-17 2010. Motion to accept the date made by Terry Williams. Second by Bob Stevens and the vote was unanimous.
  • Dick Webster invited the GIBF to Liberty Baptist Church, Lewisville, Texas on February 21-23, 2011. Motion to accept by Bruce Turner, second by Steve Clayton and the vote was unanimous.

5. Brother Dave Lydick, editor of the Baptist Times gave a report of the growth and needs of the paper. The Times operated in the black this year, or “on a shoe string” said Lydick as he presented the Baptist Times financial report. There is a need for new subscriptions and monthly support. A mass mailing is planned for May, 2009 “to men of like stripe” and men from different regions of the United States and Canada volunteered to gather names and send to Brother Lydick for the mass mailing. Kevin Folger and Dave Hardy made an appeal for the support and funding of the Baptist Times. Brother Frank Wood encouraged all pastors to “get on board.” The goal was to raise $12,000.00 in pledges, however the actual pledged came in by the end of the meeting at just over $16,000.00.

6. Brother Dick Webster presented a report on the growth of Global Independent Baptist Missions both in missionaries and finances. The Missions Office located at Liberty Baptist Church, Lewisville, Texas processed $1.319 million for the missionaries last fiscal year. Brother Webster announced that an offering will be received in the fall meeting.

7. The Dick Webster and Edward Oster families expressed their thanks for the support and love received in the death of little Megan Oster.

8. Brother Robert Lewis, Executive Director of GIBM presented a change in the mission policy.

Old Policy Regarding Funds/Support
One-hundred per cent (100%) of all support/gift monies designated for a given missionary/missionary family, sent through the GIBM Service Office, will be communicated to the missionary/missionary family in a prompt, routine, and careful fashion. Levels of support sufficient for the livelihood of a missionary/missionary family will be determined by agreement between the missionary(ies), the sending-pastor and GIBM Director and Executive Assistant-Director.

New Policy Regarding Funds and Support
One-hundred per cent (100%) of all support/gift monies designated for a given missionary/missionary family, sent through the GIBM Service Office, will be communicated to the missionary/missionary family in a prompt, routine, and careful fashion. Levels of support sufficient for the livelihood of a missionary/missionary family will be determined by agreement between the missionary(ies), the sending-pastor.

Motion to accept by Chad Spence, Second by Merv Goodrich, vote unanimous.

9. Brother Frank Wood asked for a report from Brother Bruce Turner regarding Florida Baptist College and Brother Sam Davison regarding Heartland Baptist Bible College, and both men said to read the reports in the Baptist Times.

10. Prayer request for missionary wife, Carol Watters who is very ill.

11. Call to dismiss: Motion by Mario Monette, second by Bill Rench. The meeting was closed in prayer.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kenneth Walters
Secretary of the GIBF