Church at GfBC

After about a 20 minute chase to get to a Starbucks, Dad and I rolled into the parking lot at Grace Family Baptist Church right at 10:30. As we were walking up to the entrance, I was kicking myself over having spilled some of my coffee on my white tie and blue dress shirt, but when I walked in the door, I honestly forgot all about the stains on my shirt and tie and just immersed myself within the sea of people greeting each other with firm handshakes and hugs. Just to the left as we walked in was a table with coffee and pastries, and to the right was the entrance to the sanctuary, which is a gymnasium. Everyone was so friendly and so excited to see one another. Dad and I meandered into the gymnasium where I saw two buddies I had made during the conference; one of them was a member of GfBC and the other was another conference attendee.


I stood and chatted with these guys for several minutes, talking about the conference, what we’ve learned, and about problems with the modern church. Suddenly it was time to begin. Dad and I took our seats in the middle section, somewhat close to the front, and listened to Pastor Paul Renfro welcome everyone to the service. As I listened to him speak, I sat there in astonishment. I’d so long wanted to see a family integrated church in action, and ever since I heard of GfBC, it has literally been a dream to go, and here I was! Pastor Renfro made a few announcements before opening with prayer, in which he prayed for several select families of the church, a local, state, and national leader, and an unreached people group in Malaysia (1 Timothy 2:2).


Following the prayer, Trey Baucham (Dr. Baucham's son) led the congregation in reading three portions of the London Baptist Confession (GfBC’s confession of faith). This led directly into the first song, “Let Your Kingdom Come.” The time worshiping in song was one of the most worshipful experiences I’ve ever had. All concentration was on Christ, not on those playing instruments, though they played very skillfully. The worship leader was at the keyboard, and behind him was a man on the guitar, another man on the bass guitar, and another man on some form of percussion.


Following “Let Your Kingdom Come,” A member of the church came and had everyone follow in their Bibles as he read Esther 5 for the Old Testament reading of the morning. We then sang “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story,” and “Before the Throne.” Another member of GfBC led in the New Testament reading of the morning - 2 Corinthians chapter 7. We sang two more songs, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” (Song of the month at GfBC), and “I Will Glory in My Redeemer.”


Upon the conclusion of these songs, Pastor Voddie began his message with a word of prayer. It is a tradition at GfBC, that the Sunday following the Semper Reformanda conference, a special message be dedicated to something pertaining to the conference. During the conference this weekend, GfBC announced that they are making their first church plant. Their goal is 10 church plants in 10 years. But as Pastor Voddie said, “this is our 3rd year and we are just now planting our first church.” He told the congregation to expect that these church plants might just begin to pick up!


The quesion Pastor Voddie’s message sought to answer was "Why is church planting a kingdom minded thing to do?" Pastor Voddie preached from Acts 1:6-8, which is just before Jesus ascends into heaven.


As their church has continued to grow every year, the elders at GfBC believe that it is time to plant a new church. Pastor Voddie explained that it is not God’s intention for everyone to gather together in one place, that’s why we see that God split up the early church in Acts chapter 2. Dr. Baucham put it this way, there is nothing sinful about a mega church, but it is not ideal for accomplishing God’s intended purpose for the church, and the FIC is designed for a smaller body of believers.


Dr. Baucham examined several options for GfBC. First, why not multiple services? His answer was that according to scripture we are to have “a gathering” not multiple gatherings. If we have multiple gatherings, then we have multiple churches. In addition, if they added multiple services, they would lose the fellowship and Acts 2 model of the church.


What about satellites? Pastor Voddie provided four reasons why he does not believe satellites are Biblical (at least as a long-term solution). First of all, once again we are to have “a gathering.” Second, it separates the preaching function of the elders from the shepherding function, because the main campus pastor does not shepherd. Third, a satellite is the epitome of the cult of personality. This basically means that with a mega church, the senior pastor becomes so indispensible that only he must be heard; he becomes a professional entertainer. Fourth, Baptists believe in congregational form of church government (everything is done with the local church body). There is no governing body as with the Anglicans or Catholics for example. But if a church decides to have satellites, the pastor of the main campus church becomes the head, much like a cardinal.


The last option would be to build bigger “barns.” But Dr. Baucham wisely pointed out that if a church did that, first of all, resources become a problem. If a church decides to build a bigger place, then it commits money that could have been spent on missions and benevolence, simply to accommodate the church’s own comfort. The second problem is, if the church wants to be about community, then fellowship becomes impossible.


So, what is the solution? Plant a new church, autonomous to and not overseen by the sister church. This is not the easiest, most comfortable choice to make. So, How does GfBC think about this church plant from a Biblical perspective? With these two things in mind, Dr. Baucham stated:

1) God has a purpose that is larger than you – Acts 1:6-11
“You are not the be all, end all in God’s plan!” said Pastor Voddie. We must recognize this lest we turn in on ourselves in selfishness and a desire for comfort, refusing to be part of God’s greater purposes.

2) God has a plan that includes you – Acts 1:8
We must pray that God will prepare hearts for revival and reformation, and that we would be willing to play the role God has for us in bringing it about.

3) God has a place that suits you – Acts 1:8
God has designed a particular spot where he wants us involved in Kingdom work. But how do we determine where that place is? Pastor Voddie gave at least three questions GfBC families should examine when trying to determine where God would have them serve:

a) Ask the question geographically

b) Think on it based on needs

c) Ask the question in terms of God’s calling


Dr. Baucham then said that the thing we are not to do is sit down with our favorite friends and families and figure out where they are going so we can all be together. That is not the goal. The goal is to bring the gospel to those who need it, and sometimes that requires us doing things which force us to step outside our comfort zone.


The message was so good, applying to GfBC members, but also to so many situations that we all find ourselves in; Dad and I bought a copy of it following the service! Upon the conclusion of the sermon, Pastor Renfro came and prepared for their weekly communion service. That’s right! They do communion every week, and in all honesty, I can’t think of any reason why a church should not. It forces us, every week, to make sure our relationships are right both horizontally and vertically. Scripture gives no indication as to how often communion is to be observed, but we do know that we are to do it to remember what Christ has done, and how undeserving we are to receive His precious gift of salvation.


However, GfBC observes the communion service a little differently. In accordance with the commands in scripture that we are not to partake of communion in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11), and in recognition of the fact that the father is the head of his household (Ephesians 6), Paul Renfro had all the fathers take their families aside and pray with them as a family. During this time, families had an opportunity to confess sins with one another, and to God. For about 15 minutes, families were split up in little groups all over the gymnasium, praying with one another and confessing sins to one another. But in addition to confessing sins, this also gave the father an opportunity to determine if any of his children were not in a position to observe communion. First of all, if children had not yet expressed saving faith in Jesus Christ, or had not yet been baptized, then they were ineligible to participate in the memorial service. Second, if the father found sin in any of his children that had gone unconfused, then he could withhold communion from him, and thus prevent judgment from coming on his children for participating in an unworthy manner.


After the families had prayed together, they would then go to the back of the sanctuary and give their offering as a family. All families then returned to their seats and read 1 Corinthians chapter 11. At last, Pastor Renfro directed the deacons as they gave first the bread, then the cup, and we all ate and drank together. It was truly the most meaningful communion service I have ever been in!


When all this was complete, Pastor Renfro had a final word of prayer before we moved the chairs out of the way, brought in tables, moved the chairs back up against the tables, and shared a meal together! Dad and I both agreed that it was the largest potluck lunch we had ever seen! We shared wonderful conversation around the table; we discussed the sermon, the conference, and what we hope to do in response to what we’ve learned.


By the time Dad and I got back to the car it was 3:00pm!! Yet it was one of the most fulfilling services I have ever been to in my entire life, arguably the best! It felt like a New Testament gathering of believers, and after hearing it all week, it was so refreshing to see it all in action.


Anyhow, Dad and I are home now, but neither of us will ever forget this experience. It has been such a special conference, difficult to digest but even more difficult to apply. I pray that God will grant us the grace to determine how we can apply what we have learned in our own church body!


In Him,
Josh