GBC Community Update: What is the 'Fruit of the Spirit' and how can I get it?

​Good morning!  Thank you for taking the time to recognize my ministry here as part of Pastor Appreciation Month on Sunday. I felt…well…appreciated!  It’s a joy to serve and I love the people here. God is moving at GBC despite all the distractions we face and I’m happy he allows me to be part of this.
 
 
Ministry Update: Youth
The youth ministry has been gathering now for nearly two months and has solid a core group of teens who come out. Caroline Alac and David Lewis, two youth alumni, have stepped up and are starting to provide leadership which has been very exciting for me as I get the chance to come along side them and help them to develop the gifting God has given them.
Unfortunately, its not been all good things this fall.  Due to the lockdown in the spring and the cancellation of Oasis Camp in the summer we’ve lost connection with most of the community youth who were regularly attending early in the year and actually made up over half the group in March. Some have not returned due to Covid fears but others have just drifted away.
I’d ask that you pray for these youth that we’d have the opportunity to reconnect and for the Youth Leadership Team that they not become discouraged due to all of this. Thanks!
 
 
Wednesday Prayer
Join Jacob and Karen Ginter for a time of prayer on Wednesday afternoons at 3pm here at GBC in the Side Auditorium.
For questions or further details please contact Jacob at– [email protected] or text 519-803-4453
 
 
Thought for the day: What is the Fruit of the Spirit and How Do I Grow It?
If you’ve been around the church for a while you’ll likely have heard of the Fruit of the Spirit.  The Fruit of the Spirit is comprised of the following character traits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and we find it in Galatians 5.
But what is it?
It’s like a rubber band ball tightly woven together, each band interconnected.  The only way to produce the Fruit of the Spirit though is to have the Holy Spirit in you. This initial step happens when we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  If a person doesn’t have the Holy Spirit, they don’t belong to Jesus, it’s really that simple.  The key here, if this is the case,  is it’s impossible to grow the fruit of the Spirit in one’s life if you don’t have that connection. We receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, when we make a conscious decision to follow Christ and let Him be the Lord of our lives.  Then, through the Holy Spirit, you can begin to grow in the Fruit of the Spirit.  We’ll look more at this in the days ahead.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris