Annual Meeting 2011 Recap

^“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalms 90:10-12 ESV

In other words, let’s Live Strategically, not just in your personal lives but in our work and ministry lives as well. This is one of the reasons why I am so excited about the new Strategic Ministry direction within Converge Great Lakes. After almost two years of prayer, process, and preparation, we have identified the three core strategies that will define how we will accomplish our mission.

The GLBC exists to glorify God by strengthening churches so that they may reach people for Christ locally, nearby and around the world.

As an organization we have committed ourselves to Live Strategically by focusing our limited time and resources around the three key strategies.

·         Strengthening ministries and initiatives that can help our churches reach people for Christ locally.

·         Starting new congregations through our regional leadership teams that will equip our churches to reach people for Christ nearby.

·         Stretching group ministries such as our Compassion, Short Term, and Urban/Ethnic Ministry Initiatives that work to stretch the faith of our churches so that they can reach people not only locally and nearby but around the world.

At our Annual Meeting we were so honored to have Dr. D. A. Carson as our guest speaker. He challenged us to Live Strategically by expounding on and helping us see the centrality of the Word of God in our lives and ministries. Both of his messages are available on our website under resources-video links.

There were 89 Delegates and 91 Guests representing 66 churches and 7 Vendors present at the Annual Meeting.

The worship and hospitality facilitated and offered by our host church, Faith Community Church of New Richmond was excellent.  Pastor Mike Evans, the lead pastor, and the FCC staff along with many volunteers truly made those present feel at home.  The business meeting was a celebration of God’s goodness. Even in the midst of challenging financial conditions, Converge Great Lakes finished its seventh consecutive year in the black. We were also able to gather as a body and discuss challenging issues in a spirit of unity, love and respect for one another.

Here are some highlights:

Our pre-events on Thursday which included the Do it Right Financial Seminar, the Multi Staff Network Gathering, the Coaching/Church Planter Gathering, and the New Pastor’s Dinner were outstanding.

The prayer gathering was an amazing time of worship and prayer as we collectively sought the Throne which set the tone for the remainder of the weekend. Pastor Steve English and the worship team from New Richmond did an outstanding job as they led us into the presence of God.

Dr. Perry officially led the conference on Friday afternoon with his vision report entitled “The Power of Two” based on Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. The focus was on the importance of us being a movement of autonomous yet interdependent churches who work together for the common mission of reaching people for Christ, locally, nearby, and around the world.  Click Here to view this report!

Our Business session led by Moderator Pastor Larry Szyman was productive and God honoring.

• The new mission statement was formally approved.
• The recommended constitutional changes from the Board of Overseers were provisionally approved.
  
  • Bylaw recommendations will be sent out in May 2012 after the Board of Overseers Meeting in preparation for the delegates’ final approval of both Constitutional and Bylaw changes at the 2012 Annual Meeting in Eau Clare, WI.
• A Spirited discussion on the role of baptism and membership took place.
• The Financial report for 2010-2011 was accepted and the 2011-2012 budget for this fiscal year was adopted.
• Five new overseers were voted in for three year terms. One overseer was voted in for a one year term as the Loan and Investment representative.
• Dr. Alan Cleveland of Community Church-Oshkosh was voted in as the 2012 Vice Moderator and subsequently the 2013 Moderator.
• Jan Haralson of Grace Church- Osceola will serve as our Secretary for the 2012 Annual Meeting and her alternate will be Robin Wood of Salem Baptist Church-Eau Claire.

Pastor Tom Clyde finished his term as our Short Term Ministries Coordinator. He and his wife Tanya were officially thanked and commissioned to their new ministry by the Board of Overseers.  Brenda Hernday was officially welcomed as our new Short Term Ministries Chairperson.

Charlene Isenberger, the Director of Operations, interviewed two of our strategic partners Architectural Design Group (ADG) and Brotherhood Mutual, whom presented opportunities and services provide to our churches.

Pastor Mike Evans interviewed representatives from both our Wood Lake and Lake Ellen Bible Camps.

Pastor Ken Nabi of Community Church-Fond du Lac was formally introduced and spoke at the Strengthening Dinner as the new Strengthening Catalyst. He serves us on a part-time basis as the person responsible for working with our churches to help them and their leaders achieve maximum health and vitality so that they may reach people for Christ locally, nearby, and around the world.

The Village Church of Baldwin under the fine leadership of Dr. Stu and Cheryl Dix was officially welcomed in as an affiliated church.

Four church planting couples were commissioned along with Carol Fourman our new career missionary to the Deaf for Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan.

Pastor Mike Evans gave a compelling talk on Friday night about our new 80/20 vision. By 2016 we believe that we will see God rise up 80% of our new congregations using persons already in Converge Great Lakes churches. Click Here to view Mike's report!

Dr. Perry announced our new Strategic Partnership with Antioch School of Church Leadership. This partnership is foundational to training leaders within the church for both bi-vocational and vocational ministry.

Dr. Perry announced that Converge Great Lakes will be hosting a summit on Generosity in 2012. The summit will be held Friday, April 20, 2023 from 7 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 21, 2023 from 9 – 3 p.m. and will be hosted by Faith Community Church in Hudson, WI. You will be receiving information about this event within the next month.

Our new Compassion Initiative, Putting Hands and Feet to the Gospel, was formally introduced to the delegates by Compassion Ministries Coordinator, Pastor Rich Larson.

There were many, many, more highlights that could be listed but you get the idea of how God was able to work for His Glory.

Begin to plan now for next year’s Annual Meeting!

Oct. 19-20, 2012

Salem Baptist Church in Eau Claire, WI 

The theme is: “Back to the Basics: Sharing the Life of Jesus.”

Keynote Speaker: Reverend Paul Johnson