The two tables were filled with persons from the GDVA preparing for the night meeting of the executive committee.  The year has started with a great deal of ministries being planned for the association churches.  New life has come to our ministries and persons are excited about the new ideas that are being considered for 2009.

There will be information placed on our FACEBOOK location and we are seeking persons from all our churches to join FACEBOOK and get involved in the actions of the association.  If you need assistants with this, feel free to speak with Wes Allen, pastor at Central Baptist Church of Palmyra. 

Toni Benecchi, moderator of the GDVA came with a wonderful report of the ABCNJ Council that recently met and of a meeting that the moderators of the eight associations had in January as they consider changes in how the ABCNJ Council and the various associations do our ministries together across New Jersey.  There is a lot of work yet to be done but there appears to be a strong desire to address the issues which are needing changed or updated.

Though we're not ready to report out the details of all our work, we have addressed several important aspects of ministry at our executive committees meeting.  Time was given to looking at the associations response to the Health and Faithfulness Pastoral surveys being conducted by the Region staff and those present took this survey to get some idea of what is involved so that churches can again participate.  They addressed plans for the spring Annual Meeting, and are considering the theme and location for this years gathering of the churches.  A great deal of time was given to share information concerning our 2nd Annual Work Weekend at Camp Lebanon on May 1st and 2nd. We want to have another great time together preparing the camp for the summer activities.

The Camden Area Fund committee also reviewed applications which were received and will be making recommendations to the ABCNJ Council for their consideration and adoption.  We have had four applications which were received from our GDVA churches for 2009.

The Church Officers and Leadership Training Event (COAL) was talked about and those present were encouraged to contact others and especially their own officers and board members to come to this training opportunity to be held on March 7th at the Alpha Baptist Church in Willingboro and again on March 28th at the First Baptist Church of Westfield.  Registration forms have been mailed to everyone of our churches across the state and additional information will be posted here on the website.