The GBA Connection: October Edition
October Newsletter
The GBA Connection
Strengthening cooperation and celebrating God's work across Grayson County.
September and October flew by faster than banana pudding at a Baptist fellowship meal! From celebrating the launch of a new church plant to gathering with fellow believers at our Associational Annual Meeting and the SBTC Annual Convention, these past two months have been filled with opportunities to celebrate, connect, and encourage one another!
As the fall season rolls on, we are grateful for the many ways God continues to work through our churches across Grayson County. What a blessing to come together, celebrate all that God has done, and look forward with excitement to what He continues to do!
Dr. Bart Barber addresses messengers and guests during the 127th Annual Meeting of the Association.
The Association in Action
A Snapshot of September
September was a wonderful month of churches coming together for encouragement, equipping, and Kingdom impact! During our September Executive Board Meeting at Forest Avenue, church leaders explored practical ways to navigate rising insurance costs. Since then, several churches across Grayson County have taken proactive steps to review their insurance providers and explore more cost-effective options. The result? Churches have reported a whopping $110,000 in estimated combined insurance premium savings for 2027! What an encouragement to see churches making wise financial decisions that allow more resources to remain focused on ministry! A special thank you to Forest Avenue for hosting and Kings Cover for sharing their expertise and valuable insights.
The month concluded with an incredible gathering at Parkside Baptist Church, where 10 churches came together for a See You at the Pole (SYATP) Rally! What an encouragement to see churches united in reaching and investing in the next generation!
ALL IN across Grayson County
This fall has been one of the most energizing seasons of ministry, filled with incredible reasons to celebrate!
We’ve had the privilege of witnessing the hard launch of Hope Community Church, participating in the ordination of ministers at FBC Whitesboro and deacons at FBC Luella, and celebrating the many ways God continues to work through our local churches!
What a joy to see God at work in so many different ways across Grayson County! And the excitement didn’t stop there, as we gathered with fellow believers for two incredible celebrations of Gospel partnership: our very own 127th GBA Annual Meeting and the SBTC Annual Convention!
An Annual Meeting to Remember!
What an incredible evening celebrating 127 years of Gospel partnership at our GBA Annual Meeting! Churches from across Grayson County gathered for a wonderful night of worship, fellowship, and renewed vision for what God is doing through our association!
A special thank you to Georgetown Baptist Church for graciously hosting, our ministry vendors for sharing valuable resources, and Jonathan Davis (FBC VA) and Ryan Dusek (Georgetown) for leading us in worship with an amazing team! We are also incredibly grateful for our wonderful Moderator, Pastor Steve Rice (Calvary Baptist Church), for his faithful leadership throughout the evening!
Perhaps one of the most exciting moments was sharing just a glimpse of what we are eager to see God accomplish in the days ahead! We believe the best is yet to come, and we can’t wait to see how God continues to use our churches as we move forward together!
2026 GBA Teams
Women on Mission in Grayson County
Our Grayson Baptist Association WMU recently celebrated another wonderful year of missions and ministry at their Annual Meeting! From mission studies and prayer gatherings to collecting supplies for local shelters and pregnancy centers, these faithful women continue to make a tremendous Kingdom impact both locally and around the world!
This past year, our WMU ladies supported numerous ministries across Grayson County, including assembling Blessing Bags for local homeless outreach ministries, collecting essential supplies for families in need, and encouraging missionaries serving across the globe!
We are especially thankful for our very own Terry McLaughlin, GBA WMU Director, and the incredible team of women who faithfully serve behind the scenes! Join us in praying for our WMU as they continue seeking strategic ways to serve our communities, support missionaries, and share the hope of the Gospel across Grayson County and beyond!
Upcoming Job Openings!
This fall has brought some bittersweet news for our association as two beloved members of our ministry team prepare for new chapters in their lives. Debra Clark, who has faithfully served our Grayson College BSM for more than 28 years, and Deborah Rice, who has dedicated more than 11 years to Grayson Baptist Association, have both sensed the Lord leading them in new directions. Both will conclude their service at the end of this year.
We are incredibly grateful for the countless ways these two ladies have invested in our churches, students, and ministries over the years! While their presence will certainly be missed, we are prayerfully seeking the right individuals to step into these important ministry roles.
We invite you to help us spread the word! Those interested in either position can learn more and submit their applications using the buttons below or by visiting our GBA website. Please join us in praying for Debra and Deborah during this transition and for God’s guidance as we seek the next members of our ministry team!
Baptist Student Ministry
Leading Students Deeper in their Faith and Walk
The Fall 2026 semester is off to a wonderful start! Being back in the BSM building has provided an incredible opportunity to connect with more students, build relationships, and share the gospel across our campus!
We have seen an encouraging increase in student involvement at Navigate Lunch Bible Study, Wednesday Free Lunch, and Summit. These gatherings have been full of fun, fellowship, and meaningful conversations. More importantly, they have served as wonderful doorways into deeper relationships and opportunities for ministry.
During Summit this semester, we have spent time exploring our true identity in Christ. As we grow in our understanding of who God is, we begin to understand who we are in Him. From this foundation, we have shifted our focus toward seeking His face through prayer and the study of His Word.
One of the most encouraging things this semester has been seeing students move beyond simply attending events. Students are asking meaningful questions about the Christian life, seeking biblical answers, and reaching out for prayer and encouragement. Our Life Groups have been going strong, with 14 students actively engaging in intentional discipleship, accountability, and Bible Study!
Looking ahead, we are excited to take a group of students to PASSION 27 in Arlington at the end of December! This conference will be an incredible opportunity for students to grow in their faith and be challenged to live boldly for Christ. However, several students need financial assistance to attend. If you or your church would be interested in sponsoring a student, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out to the BSM at Grayson College for more information.
We are incredibly thankful for the churches, pastors, and individuals who faithfully support this ministry through their generosity and prayers. Your partnership makes a lasting impact in the lives of college students. Please continue praying with us as we trust God for salvation and revival on our campus!
God hears, He sees, and He answers!
Be sure to follow our page online to stay up to date with what God is doing on & off the College Campuses!
Lake Retreat & Campground
Follow us on Social Media for More!
As the fall season settles in and cooler temperatures arrive, the GBA Lake Retreat & Campground is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful getaway, a church retreat, or a time of fellowship surrounded by God’s beautiful creation!
Our dorm remodel and other improvements are continuing, and we are still looking for church groups and skilled teams who would like to help with projects around the property. Even while improvements are underway, the campground remains open and ready for reservations!
We are incredibly blessed to have this unique ministry resource available to our GBA churches!
We want to say a special thank you to Joel and Naomi Lightfoot, our volunteer hosts, for the incredible job they continue to do caring for the property and welcoming our guests. We also appreciate the new volleyball net and tetherball equipment recently added for everyone to enjoy!
Start planning your fall getaway at the GBA Lake Retreat & Campground!
Upcoming GBA events
Upcoming Prayer Breakfasts
GBA Pastors & Ministers are welcome to join us each Monday at 9:30am in the GBA Office. Our next Meeting dates are:
Nov 2 | 9:30 AM
Nov 9 | 9:30 AM
Executive Board Meetings
GBA Pastors, Ministry staff and elected messengers are welcome to join us for our monthly gatherings! The next meetings are at 10 AM on the following dates:
Exec Board | Dec 7 | 10:00 AM
@ Ida Baptist Church
Our Next Leadership Network Meeting (Formerly Executive Board)
FALL D-NOW | 2026
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