GABC Local Missions
Our local missions ministries make up the Jerusalem element of the Acts 1:8 Mandate. Hundreds of volunteers each month work to serve the hungry, encourage the downcast, and spread God’s love with the lost in our city. As Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 9:37, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Consider how you might be a worker in the field-right where you live.
Green Acres also partners with several local organizations to expand the work of the Lord in our city.
Other Local Partners
GABC Outreach Center
The GABC Outreach Center serves as an operations center for many local and international mission organizations. With training rooms and a large worship center, the Outreach Center provides resources that many smaller organizations may not be able to offer otherwise. Many of these organizations need volunteers and donations to keep their ministries running. Please contact the ministries below to see how you can help.
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Christian Men's Job Corps
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903-593-8857 |
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Restorative Justice Ministry
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903-593-8857 |
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Child Evangelism Fellowship
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903-526-7813 |
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Parental Care Ministry
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903-526-0499 |
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Hope for 100
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903-245-0515 |
Good Samaritan Ministry
The Good Samaritan Ministry takes seriously God’s promises to those who provide a cup of water in the name of Jesus. Five nights a week, Green Acres serves a meal to those who might otherwise not get any nourishment, and that is just one way in which the Good Samaritan Ministry ministers to the physical needs of our community. Look below to see the scope of the Good Samaritan’s services, or cal
l at 903-592-0868 to see how you can serve the Lord through this ministry. Good Samaritan Outreach Center is located in Suite 1, 200 N. Beckham Ave., Tyler, Texas, 72702.
Good Samaritan Services and Needs:
Services
Clothes Closet
Monday-Thursday
9:00-10:30 AM & 1:00-2:30 PM
Must bring Picture ID and date of birth or school ID for children. Families may come once every three months.
Soup Kitchen
Monday-Friday 5:30-6:00 PM
Must arrive by 5:30
Financial Assistance
Wednesday & Thursday 9:00-11:00 AM
TXU, Cherokee Country Electric, or City of Tyler Bills only. Call for specific instructions.
Donation Opportunities
Infants
- Clothing
- Blankets
- Bottles, etc.
Children
- Clothing (especially school uniforms)
- Shoes
- Toys
Adults
Household Items
- Bedding
- Dishes
- Home Decor
- Pots and Pans
- Furniture
volunteer OPPORTUNITIES
Clothes Closet
Monday-Thursday
9:00-11:30 AM, 1:00-2:30 PM
Spanish translators are needed to help with the clothes closet.
Soup Kitchen
Monday-Friday 5:30-6:00 PM
Must arrive by 5:30
International Ministry
Tyler is a city of international diversity. With two schools of higher education, state of the art medical centers, and two international mission sending agencies in the immediate area, internationals come to Tyler for a variety of reasons. This provides a great opportunity to minister to the needs of people who can return home to share the Good News with others in their area. What a great way to make an eternal impact in many closed countries where we could never share the Gospel. Contact the Missions Ministry at 903-525-1173 for more information.
Bible Study Times
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English as a Second Language
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Sunday Morning
International Bible Study
9:45-11:00 AM
Sunday Evening
International Bible Study
5:30-7:00 PM
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Friendship International
Thursday Mornings
(during the school year)
9:15-11:30 AM
Sarah Caton, Coordinator
903-592-5626 |
Mission Churches
Local mission churches are supported through cooperative funding with Smith Baptist Association, Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Green Acres Baptist Church. Mission churches are encouraged to sponsor works on their own by embracing the missions concept. For example, the East Texas Korean Baptist Church, a mission of Green Acres, is now sponsoring a Korean church in Lufkin; and Primera Iglesia, another mission church, is sponsoring two missions near Leon, Guanajuato in Mexico.
How can you help our mission churches? Most desperately need music assistance in the worship services and leaders to work with youth and children. If you are interested, please call the Missions Office at 903-525-1112. You may also write a letter of encouragement to the following churches and pastors to let them know you are thinking about them.
Please send correspondence to the Missions Office, 1607 Troup Hwy., 75701, and we will deliver their mail to them
East Texas Korean Baptist Church
Bong Hee Han (Bo), Pastor
11858 Hwy 155 North, Tyler, TX 75708
903-877-3992
Hillcrest Hispanic
Ray Carillo, Pastor
3001 W. Front St., Tyler, TX 75702
Good Samaritan Chapel
David Shepard, Mission Pastor/Coordinator
200 N. Beckham Ave., Tyler, TX 75702
903-597-5182
Iglesia Bautista de South Tyler
Isaac Rodriguez, Pastor
1607 Troup Hwy. (Adult Education Building) |
Primera Iglesia Bautista
Francisco Rodriguez, Pastor
1710 Church Ave., Tyler, TX 75702
God's Way Baptist Church
Derry Hinton, Pastor
2518 Garden Valley Rd., Tyler, TX 75702
Tyler Chinese Baptist Church
1316 Barbara, Tyler, TX 75701
Semilla de Mostaza
Abel Erieta, Pastor
200 N. Beckham Ave., Tyler, TX 75702
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Restorative Justice Ministry
Restorative Justice Ministry at GABC is much more than what most people perceive to be prison ministry. When a crime is committed there is a tear in the fabric of the community. Most people recognize the effect on the person who committed the crime and the victim, but there are many more people who suffer the adverse effects. The families and friends of both the criminal and the victim are directly impacted. The ripples extend to the law enforcement officers, the attorneys, the judges, the jurors and the families of each. Our goal is to be an instrument of healing and restoration to as many of these as possible. We seek to accomplish this mission by recruiting, training and coordinating with groups and individuals who have or wish to establish ministries in these areas. We are careful to align our efforts to those who hold similar beliefs and recognize Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Healer. Call 903-593-8857 for more information on volunteering with the Restorative Justice Ministry.
For many years GABC has had a devoted group of men who have made weekly visits to the Units in Palestine and Smith County Jail. There are countless numbers of men who have been led through Masterlife. Weekly, we still receive letters from inmates to Arnold Jackson and Glen Warwick, our former prison ministry leaders. Additionally, we receive letters, phone calls and reports from inmates, victims, family members, correctional officers, wardens, churches and chaplains, who tell of the miracles God has performed in their lives through those who have ministered to them in the name of Christ.
Currently, we are involved in:
- Restorative Justice Ministry Network
- Masterlife & Experiencing in Palestine & Henderson units
- Weekly visits to Smith County Jail
- Softball and basketball ministries in units throughout Texas, Louisiana & Oklahoma
- Ministry to Tyler Parole Office
- Volunteer Chaplaincy Training
- Operation Starting Line
- Angel Tree Christmas Present Ministry
- First Contact in Huntsville Prison
- Welcome Home Project in the Bradshaw Unit in Henderson
- Bridges To Life-bringing healing to victims
- Story Book Project (helping inmates develop reading skills to encourage their children)
- Faith Based Dorm in the Bradshaw Unit in Henderson
Green Acres Restorative Justice Ministry was recognized in 2006 by a local unit as the “Volunteers of the Year.” On May 24 GABC was recognized and received the prestigious “Governor’s Award for Service” at the bi-monthly board meeting of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice in Austin.
Volunteers are needed in all areas of our ministry. The basic requirement is that they have a love for the Lord and a passion to share the love of Christ. If they are going to enter any of the prison units they will be required to attend the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Security Volunteer Training. This training is offered throughout the State at various units. Additionally, the training is offered 3 times a year on Sunday afternoon here at GABC. Job specific training is provided as needed and determined by the area of service.
Specifically we now need volunteers for Bible teachers, mentors, softball players, basketball players correspondence workers, and leaders for Celebrate Recovery, Masterlife, and Experiencing God.
Local Partnerships
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Gospel Village
GABC is partnering with other churches, TISD to form Gospel Village. The vision is to unify local churches to show love oriented action to teachers, administrators, and students, through a three tiered process…village friends (impacting teachers and administrators with the love of Christ through intentional encouragement, acts of kindness, and prayer), village mentoring(forming one-on-one relationships between adult mentors and child mentees that leads to well-rounded students physically, mentally, and spiritually), and village education (providing a small group academic tutoring environment that helps elementary children learn to succeed academically).
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Bethesda Health Clinic
One Saturday per quarter, GABC members commandeer the Bethesda Clinic, a local non-profit medical clinic designed to reach the working uninsured of Smith County. GABC staffs the entire clinic, from data entry personnel to receptionists, and of course, doctors and nurses. Many of our volunteers work with the Bethesda Clinic more than just this one day a quarter, but on this special day, Green Acres members serve the Lord, and the community, together. Sign up to be contacted by our GABC Bethesda Ministry team about how you can volunteer with the Bethesda Clinic, on a "GABC Day," or any other day of the year!
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Shoes for Orphan Souls
In 2008, GABC began a partnership with Buckner Ministries Shoes for Orphans Souls ministry. Throughout the year, the missions ministry will be collecting shoes to benefit the shoes for orphans souls ministry as well as our own mission trips. This partnership will impact the lives of both orphans and the needy around the world as we work together to put shoes on the feet of children. You can’t walk a mile in their shoes, but you can make their walk a little easier! Visit their website to learn more about the work they are doing: http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org |
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Mercy Ships Medical Missions
In 2008, Green Acres Baptist Church sent our first Mercy Ships team to Monrovia, Liberia to work with Mercy Ships aboard their floating medical hospital- a ship that serves the medical needs of the people of Liberia. From doctors and nurses to cooks and housekeepers, GABC members served the patients and staff of the Mercy Ships boat during their stay. Through this trip, an undeniable bond was created and one of our own is living aboard the ship (who did not even go on the mission trip) and serving the Lord with them. Another trip is planned for 2009, but there are many needs that continue to pop up for the Mercy Ships crew. View the documents at the right to see what needs Mercy Ships may have that you can fill (both long-term and short-term). Over the years, teams have continued to travel with Mercy Ships. GABC also helps with the central office needs here in East Texas. Visit their website to learn more about their ministry: www.mercyships.org/
GABC is a Mercy Ships Anchor Church Partner
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