About Gospel Light Baptist Church

MISSION STATEMENT:
"Spreading the Gospel Light of Jesus Christ here and around the world through evangelism of the lost, empowering growth for the believer, encouragement to the hurting, and exaltation to our God in the spirit of excellence!"

GOSPEL LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH'S VISION AND HISTORY

Where Has The Church Been?

Gospel Light Baptist Church has a tremendous heritage in the Winder, Bethlehem area. Over thirty two years ago God burdened a young couple from the Winder area to start a ministry to reach their home town. Rodney and Celeste Queen, followed God's leading and with a small band of believers formed Gospel Light Baptist Church. Through the years God has blessed and challenged His people here at Gospel Light proving time and again that what He, (God) orders, He, (God) will take care of. Property was purchased on Hwy 8 / 29 in Winder where the Church met until the late nineties. Desiring relocation to a property and facility that could serve the Church for outreach and the new anticipated growth of the community, the existing property was sold and a relocation process began to Gospel Light's current location of 1250 Tom Miller Road in Bethlehem. Gospel Light Baptist Church has always been a friendly, welcoming fellowship with "a passion for people to know Jesus Christ and grow in their walk of faith." With this motivation or passion, ministries are designed to share the Gospel Light of Jesus Christ and help families and individuals grow in their knowledge and service to our Lord. From infant to Sr. Adult, everyone is someone special at Gospel Light with ministries in place to aid and encourage every stage in a person's life. Located on nearly twenty acres with beautiful facilities and ball field, Gospel Light Baptist Church is poised to reach out in even greater ways and continue to make a difference in our community and around the world.

Where Is The Church Now?

Gospel Light Baptist Church is fast becoming a ministry of influence in the eastern expansion of the Metro-Atlanta areas of Barrow, Gwinnett, and Walton Counties. Gospel Light has always been a Church with a heart for people in the small town rural area of Barrow County, but with strategic planning of the church's leadership, and God's providence and grace, the Gospel Light family is poised to respond to the growing needs of its community through an excellent location and cutting edge facilities and property. Having the blessing of a dynamic staff with multiple decades of combined leadership experience, combined with dedicated caring servants of Christ through a team approach, Gospel Light's ministries are thriving. Gospel Light sees the "Great Commission" as its mission, with a theme of "Sending the Gospel Light Into All The World." The Gospel Light Family is growing tremendously averaging around the 120 mark at present with goals and strategies for doubling in size and impact every two to three years. Seeing ministry as more than just numbers, Gospel Light Baptist Church desires to see the entire family know and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ, viewing Bible Studies and Sunday school as its primary tool. Missions is a dynamic part of the ministries of Gospel Light Baptist, supporting 30 Missionaries and Mission related projects as well. Having developed a strong foundation of ministries ranging from infants, Awana, student ministries through seniors, people from all walks of life and backgrounds can find common ground and meaningful encouragement. Music and drama play a vital role in the worship at Gospel Light Baptist Church preparing hearts for the powerful message of hope from God's word. With a powerful lay leadership team and a balanced experienced pastoral team, the direction and future of the Gospel Light family is certainly bright.

Where Is The Church Going?

Gospel Light Baptist Church has had a tremendous history and is experiencing an exciting present, but has an outlook to the future. Using the building process as an analogy, a strong foundation has been framed and poured. Leadership development, training and discipleship, and committed servants of Christ serving in the passion of their spiritual gifts have been key ingredients into this foundation of teamwork. Powerful worship, relevant dynamic preaching committed to the timeless truths of God's inspired, inerrant word, strong outreach, and relational small groups and Bible studies are the ministry concrete in this foundation. Now walls are being raised to support a ministry of excellence in our community. A new sports ministry with T-Ball and soccer leagues for youth, as well as, softball and flag football for adults has begun. Along with the sports ministry, a summer day camp is scheduled, and a new pre-school ministry is set to begin in the fall of 2009. Building on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and the core ministries, additional ministries are raising the walls and roof of the Church Christ is building here. Each of these ministries will continue the team leadership approach developing more leaders and workers, while carrying on the "Great Commission," keeping the main thing the main thing. Utilizing the laws of Sunday school and Church growth, Gospel Light's strategy is one of doubling in Sunday school every two years. A part of the strategic planning at Gospel Light includes short term and long range property and building usages. Trustees and Deacons serve along with the pastoral staff, utilizing talented people in the congregation and their expertise in the area of maximizing the property and building for ministry space. A site usage plan is being drawn up to chart the course of future land plans and buildings on the current property. A firm commitment to retire existing debt through debt service and capital funds raised within the congregation is a vital part of this strategy. A Building fund has been established to build an emergency savings reserve, as well as prepare for the future building needs with a debt free mentality. This strategic planning under the Holy Spirit's direction, will guide the Church in proper stewardship, and allow more resources to flow into ministry and mission vision. Gospel Light Baptist Church is poised to seize the opportunities Christ brings and to have major impact on our community and world.