By: Jeff Gipe, Leader of Local and Global Outreach
As I reflect on my first year on staff at Fellowship Bible Church, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s been an incredible journey—one that has far surpassed my expectations. Yet, all the glory belongs to God. I am humbled to have witnessed and participated in His work over the past year.
A Spirit-Led Journey
Before joining the staff, I often felt God’s Spirit nudging me in the same direction as He was leading Rob and Lloyd. I distinctly remember sitting in a church leadership meeting when Rob said something from the stage that echoed a conversation I’d had with my wife, Teresa, earlier that day. I turned to her and said, “Didn’t I just say that this morning?” It felt as though God had been preparing me for this role long before I officially stepped into it.
Ambitious Goals and God’s Timing
One of my initial goals was to visit every one of our global partners in my first year. I knew this was ambitious, but I felt it was important to truly understand the amazing work God is doing through these partnerships—and how we as a church could better support them. While I’ve made tremendous progress, my journey isn’t quite finished. I still have two more partners to visit in Africa this November, with only one I won’t be able to meet this year.
While reflecting on the global work God is doing, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible ways He is moving right here in our own community. With a few global visits still ahead, I decided to focus for now on the remarkable developments happening locally. The global stories will come after my November trip.
Igniting a Passion for Service
Another major goal has been to inspire a passion for service, both globally and here at home. As I thought about our Country Champions—those who connect our congregation with our global partners—I realized we needed something similar for our local outreach. Thus, we formed a team of Community Champions, committed to making a tangible impact in our neighborhoods.
God had already been aligning the right people for this role. Many of them were individuals I had met before joining the staff, people who shared a desire to see more of our congregation serving both locally and globally. These passionate individuals became the foundation of our Community Champions team.
Discovering God’s Work in Our Neighborhood
To my delight, this group didn’t just bring ideas to the table—they brought stories. Stories of individuals they knew within our church who were already making a significant impact beyond the walls of Fellowship. God had been moving long before we even began.
Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with 21 different ministries that are directly serving our local community—and I’m certain there are many more quietly doing transformative work.
A Light Shines Bright: The Community Fair
In one of our Community Champions meetings, we started discussing how to raise awareness of these local ministries. That’s when the idea of a Community Fair was born—a way to showcase these ministries under one tent for the entire church to see. When I shared the idea with Rob and Lloyd, they were not only excited but wanted to tie it into the Third Way Series, focusing on 1 John 3:18: “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
What followed was nothing short of miraculous. Our Community Champions team sprang into action. As I watched their enthusiasm turn into creative, actionable ideas, I found myself amazed. Time and again, someone would suggest something that I would never have thought of on my own. It was clear that God’s Spirit was at work.
A Remarkable Team Effort
With the plan in place, our outreach and communications teams kicked into high gear. They took care of every detail—the tent, tables, food, QR codes, website, and much more. Meanwhile, I was in Peru visiting one of our global partners, feeling a little anxious about whether everything for the fair was coming together. But when I returned, I found that not only had it all been taken care of—it had far exceeded my expectations.
Encouragement from the Stage
The final piece fell into place on the day of the event. My hope had been that our teacher would encourage the congregation to engage with these ministries. The tent was set, tables were decorated, food was ready, and our community champions and partners were stationed at their booths. Now, we just needed people to show up.
As I listened to Lloyd conclude his message, he said something that felt like the perfect capstone. He reminded the congregation that we are the recipients of a love we could never earn or deserve. After the Lord’s table, he added, “When I dismiss you in a moment, don’t head for your car or rush to pick up your kids from the Learning Center. Instead, head to the tent between the buildings. There you’ll find over 20 ministries—vehicles of love—ready to transfer our ‘worldly goods’ to those in need. But they need people who are willing to lay down their lives for others. Think of them as conduits, helping us to extend God’s love to those who need it.”
Building a Culture of Service
What followed was a beautiful outpouring of connection, excitement, and commitment. People engaged with the ministries, learning how they could serve. It wasn’t just about talking anymore—it was about putting love into action.
Our mission is to build a culture of service that extends beyond the walls of Fellowship. Through intentional leadership and clear communication, we’re inspiring every person who walks through our doors to make a difference—whether it’s in our own neighborhoods or across the globe.
Stories of Transformation: Testimonies from the Field
“The ministry fair at Fellowship Bible Church was unlike any I’ve ever attended. The missions team’s thoughtful planning, combined with the pastor’s willingness to not only challenge the congregation to serve locally but to also dedicate time from the service for people to explore the ministry tables, made all the difference. We experienced some of the best engagement we’ve ever had at a church event. I’m excited to see how God will work through the people of Fellowship Bible!”
Margaret Jane Strelecki, Path United
“When the big world around us gets a bit overwhelming, I try to look close to home for places I can contribute. The ministry was perfectly timed! I can’t remember the last time Fellowship brought options to us to learn about and figure out where we can connect some of our family’s passions to places that serve and interact with others. We’re eager to jump in!”
Kristen Hayner, FBC Brentwood Member
“GraceWorks depends on more than 270 volunteers each week to accomplish the mission of offering food, shelter, and support to our neighbors in need. We couldn’t serve our community without the help of our volunteers, so we are very grateful that many of you in our FBC family signed up to serve!”
Nancy Allen, GraceWorks
If you are interested in learning more about ways to get involved with our local partners, please visit our website here!
