Green Mountain Baptist Association Holds 2009 Annual Meeting

On October 24, 2009 nearly 100 people gathered from Green Mountain Baptist Association churches and their ministry partners for the 2009 annual meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Washington Baptist Church. Rev. Jim Herod, host pastor, welcomed the group with an encouraging word from scripture. The theme of the meeting was Igniting Spiritual Passion. Terry Dorsett, GMBA Director said, "We really can't ignite spiritual passion on our own, all we can do is join God in the passion He already has for our state. But when we are willing to do that, revival comes!" Those gathered at the meeting heard exciting reports of what God was doing around the state. In  addition to the "traditional" reports that various missionaries and ministry team leaders gave, there were also some innovative reports given. George Sweet, Mission Advancement Team leader, used a "rap" to give his report, much to the enjoyment of the entire audience. The group also enjoyed wonderful congregational music led by Bob Butler in the morning session and the Praise Team of the host church in the afternoon session. The group was blessed to hear Doug Whitley portray D. L. Moody for the annual sermon in the morning. They were stirred by the fresh sound of the Taylors, a southern Gospel group from North Carolina, who gave a concert in the afternoon. All the officers who had been serving as leaders were re-elected for another year. A slightly increased budget was passed even though it contained a nearly $12,000 deficit that Bob Henley said "We will have to trust God to meet, but He is worthy of our trust." The group passed a resolution of appreciation for Dewey and Kathie Aiken who completed seven years of ministry as missionaries in Vermont. They have returned to North Carolina where they will be engaged in mission work with the Appalachian Regional Ministries. The group enthusiastically called Steve and Nellene Carter to join the staff as missionaries. They will oversee the partnership between Vermont and North Carolina. The Carters have extensive experience in working with mission teams and are well suited to leading such an effort across Vermont. They will spend part of the year in North Carolina recruiting mission teams and live the balance of the year in Bennington, VT where they will also serve as church strengtheners at Faith Christian Fellowship in nearby Pownal.