The Mission of Greater Exodus Baptist Church
Is Accomplished through Its Ministries
The mission of Greater Exodus Baptist Church is “To bring people to Jesus Christ and membership in His church, to develop them to Christ-like maturity, to equip them for ministry and life-mission in the church and community in order to magnify God’s name.
One of the most important things that a new believer in the Lord finds out is that s/he has become a part of the Body of Christ, and that s/he no longer exists for him or herself, but for the Lord, His people and His objectives. God has a purpose in His church for every believer, and He not only expects each of his children to become active in contributing to the good of the church family, He distributes gifts and abilities to make that possible, He provides the wisdom, strength and power needed for the performance of each ministry, and He is the source of the love necessary for the exercise of each gift in such a way that it brings true life and blessing.
There are two chapters in the Bible which speak plainly to this point, and they are found in I Corinthians, chapters 12 and 13. Paul makes it clear in I Cor. 12, beginning in verse 14, that “The body is not made up of one part but of many,” and that “God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wants them to be.” (v. 18) Verses 21 and following explain that every member of the body needs every other member of the body, and that all deserve respect and honor . . .”So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” Paul also explains that no one has all gifts and abilities, but that each has his or her own special gifts to present to the church for its greater good, and that these gifts are given for the purpose of service and ministry.
However, the outward performance of a ministry is not enough. It is brought to our attention in I Corinthians 13 that it would be possible for us to do something even as enormous as giving up everything we own for the poor or giving our very bodies to be burned, and yet for those acts to be worthless in the sight of God if they do not spring from a heart enlivened by His pure love. It is easy to slip into the belief, in our hectic lives, that doing the thing must mean that we have pleased the Lord. But God is the Great Searcher of Hearts and Motives. He is not just after the act of ministry from us. He is after our hearts, and we must seek to be as pure a channel as we possibly can be for His love to flow through us and onto others as we perform ministry within the Body of Christ. Our ministry must be ignited by the very love of God, or it is worthless.
Greater Exodus Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Herbert H. Lusk, II, provides an enormous array of opportunities for ministry. It is safe to assume that each child of God has been given at least one gift enabling him or her to perform ministry for the sake of the greater good of the whole Church Body. What is yours? Please look over the ministries of Greater Exodus that follow, and if you have questions about which is the best match for you, please speak with Pastor Lusk or another of the ministers in the church who would be pleased to help you in your search. You are needed and valued as a member of the church family, and if you are not yet active in some sort of ministry, please pray about it and then get involved! Not only will you bring blessing to others, but you will find blessing as well.
The Ministries of Greater Exodus Baptist Church Arranged in Categories Corresponding to its Mission Statement.
MEMBERSHIP
| Ministry Name |
Ministry Leader |
Purpose |
| Evangelism |
New Leader Being Developed |
To take the Word of God beyond the four walls of the church building and lead others to Christ. |
| Lighthouse Cafe |
Brother Jameel Rush |
An outreach ministry geared to reaching young adults for Christ by evangelizing the lost and edifying believers into Christ-like maturity by using our talents and spiritual gifts. |
| New Members |
Deacon Mark Sakil |
To assist, integrate and retain all new members of Greater Exodus. |
| Newsletter |
Sisters Carol Harvey & Sherrie Strain |
To take the good news of Christ, the ministry and mission work of our church to our membership and our community. |
CHRIST-LIKE MATURITY
| Ministry Name |
Ministry Leader |
Purpose |
| Marriage Enrichment |
Rev. & Mrs. Sydney Flores |
To detoxify, enrich and grow healthy marriages to the glory of God and the betterment of our families, our church and our community. |
| Men’s Ministry |
Deacon Keith Blackwell |
Men ministering, mending, molding and maturing by motivation through the Master’s message. |
| Children’s Church |
Sister Karlene Flores |
To create a warm, loving and safe Christ-centered environment for the children of the church. To teach and instill in God’s children a lasting sense of belonging to Christ and His church, as we minister to them with open arms. |
| Phoebe |
Sister Janice Bowmer |
To bring people to Jesus Christ with wisdom as we oversee God’s financial affairs, and to encourage His family to be obedient in our tithing and offering as we mature in our walk with Jesus Christ to further our church and to uplift God’s name in the world. |
| Youth Enrichment |
Sister Mary Autry |
To meet the specialized and individual mentoring needs of children who reside in Philadelphia and the surrounding area; to enrich the lives of children by teaching them who they are in Christ and how they can come to know Him for themselves. |
| Singles Ministry |
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To support and encourage Christian singles to be faithful to God’s Word, enable and empower singles to advance God’s Kingdom and provide opportunities to address specific issues that impact the Christian single. |
| Small Group Ministry |
Reverend Sydney Flores |
To create and maintain an interactive learning environment where God’s people can read, study and discuss His Word. |
| Women’s Ministry |
Sister Cynthia Wilson |
To transform the minds of women so they discover their divine purpose through God’s Word, prayer and fellowship of love. |
MINISTRY
| Ministry Name |
Ministry Leader |
Purpose |
| Christian Education |
Reverend Clarence Smith |
To provide a Bible-based learning experience that helps people know, grow closer to and serve God while living for and having a better understanding of God and His promises. |
| Prayer |
Rev. Robert and Sister Sherrie Strain |
To lift up the praises, thanks, concerns and needs of God’s people to the Lord. |
| Visitation |
Minister Calvin Butler |
To bring the words of healing, comfort and joy to God’s people who are in need. |
| Young Women – Daughters of the King |
Sister Kim Sakil |
To help young adult women discover their individual destiny in Christ, using the character of Esther as a foundation in reaching their full potential through fellowship, encouragement, prayer, training and discipline and God’s instruction while glorifying God using their gift of influence through health, appearance, speech and action in their daily lives. |
| Youth Ministry |
Brother James Evans |
To minister to God’s children through reading and obeying His Word, encouraging each other to practice purity in relationships, exercise spiritual gifts and communicate God’s Word to others. |
| Young Adult Ministry |
Minister Rick Butler |
To provide teaching, encouragement and fellowship for young adults looking to learn of God, find God’s will for their life and develop their full potential in Christ. |
LIFE MISSION
| Ministry Name |
Ministry Leader |
Purpose |
| Angels of Sunshine |
Sister Monteray Parris |
To bring sunshine to those who are suffering, to remove the clouds of despair in order to brighten their hope so that the sick may experience the joy of the Lord. |
| Career Enrichment |
Sister Kim Sakil |
To help GEBC members and the community discover (or confirm) the gifts, talents and passions God has given them in order to fulfill His purpose for them through their professional and personal lives. |
| Credit Union |
Sister Deborah Ware |
To promote cost effective financial services, provide micro-credit for provident purposes and to empower members to gain economic self-sufficiency. |
| Deaconesses |
Deaconess Sheree Williams and
Deaconess Renee McCray |
The Deaconess is a servant of God, and is willing to serve and assist whenever it is needed by the Pastor, Deacons, Church and the Community through edifying and witnessing with prayer, faith, love and Christian unity. |
| Deacons |
Deacon Andre Williams and
Deacon Sterling McCray, Emeritus |
To serve as the armor bearers for the pastor, servants and caretakers of the ministry and ministry members. |
| Emergency Food |
Deacon Douglas Nobles |
To make available non-perishable food for those in need. |
| Financial |
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To lead people to financial self-sufficiency. |
| Homeless |
Sister Audrey Jean-Jacques |
To magnify God’s name by sharing His blessings and Word with the homeless, and to minister to homeless people by feeding, clothing and educating them in an effort to end the cycle of homelessness that exists in Philadelphia. |
HOPE Center
Click here to see more! |
Ms. Nicole Showell |
To ensure that all women, men and families receive Christ-centered and holistic support with life decisions related to pregnancy, abortion and reconciliation. |
| Mentoring Children of Purpose |
Reverend Billy Ivery |
To provide one-on-one, life-changing mentoring for children who have at least one parent who is incarcerated. |
| Ministry of Comfort |
Reverend Sydney Flores |
To educate, assist, guide and support families through funeral arrangements and the grief process. |
| Out of Egypt |
Deacon Samuel and Sister Anita Gregory |
To provide a resource center for addiction problems and a safe place for men and women to meet weekly to share feelings such as happiness, pain, regret, resentment, helplessness, anger and sadness. |
| Prison |
Reverend Larry Thompson |
To present and teach the Gospel to those that are lost behind prison bars and convince those searching, that Jesus is the only way. |
| Senior Saints |
New Leader Being Developed |
To serve the Lord by encouraging and caring for our seniors, providing them with information, services and fellowship opportunities that enhance their quality of life. |
MAGNIFY
| Ministry Name |
Ministry Leader |
Purpose |
| Choirs |
Sister Shirlene Hughes |
While enriching the hearts and souls of people, souls are prepared to receive the inerrant Word of God. |
| Praise Dance |
Sister Fayette Coppock |
To praise, adore and exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through dance that ushers in the Holy Spirit and creates an atmosphere of worship. |
| Deaf |
Deacon Fricis Ukstins |
To provide the services necessary for those that are deaf to participate in every aspect of the ministry. |
| Drama |
Sister Theresa McNeil |
To provide the visual demonstration of God’s work at hand to raise the spiritual maturity and broaden the horizons of God’s people. |
| Guest and Member Services (Greeters) |
Sister Linda Chandler |
To welcome every visitor and member in the House of God and to assist in creating a welcoming, pleasant environment. |
| Kitchen |
Sister Regina Farrell |
To provide food service for all events, activities and ministry occasions for Greater Exodus in a Christ-like and efficient manner. |
| Mime |
Sister Roslyn Wise |
To minister and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through non-verbal expressions that will win souls, glorify our Lord and Savior and edify the Body of Christ. |
| Nurses |
Sister Michele Brown |
To edify God’s kingdom through serving His people and the community primarily during worship. |
| Phillipians |
Deacon Ronald Lavender |
To champion the vision and purpose of the Pastor’s godly direction while attending to the needs of the Pastor. |
| Sound Ministry |
Deacons Alexander and Nobles |
To ensure the audio needs of the ministry are of high quality during all worship services and ministry events. |
| Transportation |
Deacon Phillip Moore |
Purpose and/or event-driven ministry of service that enhances and complements GEBC’s overall holistic/evangelistic goals in a safe, effective, professional and courteous manner. We magnify God’s name as we transport His precious jewels from the various ministries and capacities in which we serve. |
| Ushers |
Sister Leslie Powell |
Through obedience, commitment and dedication to serve under the leadership and authority of our Pastor, staying focused, keeping order and a watchful eye that worshipers may feel safe and comfortable. |
| Video Ministry |
Brother Warren Edwards |
To provide the visual needs of the ministry through the use of spiritual gifts, technology and innovation. |
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