Following Doug Ledford’s retirement in May of this year, a search committee began the process of finding our next Director of Missions/Associational Missionary. Dr. Tony Chester officially started on September 15th after receiving a unanimous vote from all pastors and church representatives present at a called meeting of the Executive Committee. Here are a few words from Tony about his vision and plans for the future. Remember, he’s new and will need some time to settle in. Let’s continue in pray for our new Associational Missionary, our association of churches, and the communities in Gordon County we serve.
A Word From Tony Chester
Dear Fellow Servants,
I am delighted to be your new Associational Mission Strategist and look forward to building deep friendships as we serve the Lord together! I am convinced that ministry is about truth and relationships! We model that to the world in our own gospel-centered fellowship while asking God to enlarge our influence and impact for the Gospel.
Of course, we have just begun to get to know one another and I look forward to learning all I need to know to become effective as your Associational Mission Strategist. Please feel free to contact Ann at the office and schedule a “get acquainted” sit down. I would love that.
My approach to this role will come with a three-fold focus. First, I will work hard to build a partnership with each of our pastors. Most of my investment will be in praying for them, dreaming together about future ministry blessings, and being a trusted confidant to them in every season of ministry. My conviction is that most pastors are quite lonely in a public role and I want to invest in real fellowship with our guys in Gordon County.
Second, I will emphasize the “strategic” nature of ministry and join with our churches in understanding the past, present and potential future of each church. We all know that Gordon is burgeoning with new commercial construction and that signals more jobs, families, needs and opportunities for every Gordon Association church! Let us work together to claim the fruitfulness that the Lord will bring our way.
Also, I will work to increase awareness of our association in the region by building upon our wonderful community investments like Blewer Food Center and Good Samaritan Ministries to enlarge our impact and continue to be known as people who care!
I believe the Lord has wonderful things in store as we keep our focus on Jesus, our knees bent in prayer, our feet burst taking the gospel to all who will listen and hearts tender and open to broken lives we meet along the way.
May the name of Christ be magnified in all things!
Tony Chester
Associational Mission Strategist
Gordon Memorial Baptist Association
Unity Baptist Church 