Jerry and Gwen Gibson

When a plan comes together

Jerry — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:44:05 +0000

You gotta love it when a plan comes together! Like most of us, there are those moments when I’m not sure how things will all work out. I’m pleased to say, God helped us and the dream of Connect2012 became a reality last week. This media conference was about networking and growing in effective use of communication tools for one purpose, to see Christ proclaimed and people’s lives changed.

Great time connecting

So what was the point? We had three main objectives for every participant at Connect2012. We wanted people to leave with new resources for communicating with their culture in a digital world. It was our desire they would make some new friends with whom they could partner for ministry purposes and we hoped to leave them with new ideas of how they could better use media tools to fulfill the mission God has given them. You know what? I think it happened!

Here are a few things people had to say about Connect2012:

“I believe Connect 2012 succeeded greatly to network and connect ministries within and outside of Assemblies of God World Missions. You, Gwen, and the team did an outstanding job making all the logistics work—the transportation, hotel, and all the seminars. It was just outstanding.” Greg Mundis, Executive Director of Assemblies of God World Missions.

“The Connect2012 was amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing what God is doing (and will do) through IMM in the coming years. And it’ll be great to see if there are any opportunities for us to partner together on a project in the future.” James Meyer Director of GemStone ministries.

“Just want to wish you all at IMM many congratulations for the fine job you all did in putting on the 30th anniversary for IMM. It was great and the program with their respective guest speakers, a huge hit.” Gilbert Rodriguez, Area Director for Southern Europe of AGWM

Pastor Martin creating media content for Congo.

“You did a great job with the conference, and Kathleen and I enjoyed it very much. I was so impressed with your work and haven’t stopped thinking about how we can raise awareness about what you’re doing…” Phil Cooke, Author, Director, Consultant CookePictures.com

“It was a thrill for me to visit and see, firsthand, everyone and everything. Wow. Great people. I do want to follow up and strengthen the partnership between you and our teams.” Jon, Media Missionary

Seventeen nations were represented in the conference and 21 organizations with more than half not having denominational ties to our mission. At the end of the event, $55,000 was pledged to assist with “Team IMM”, a fund to help support media missionaries from other countries training and working with IMM. If you would like to help us, it would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your prayers and support as we tell the story that changes lives and multiply the storytellers! The plan is coming together.

Long hours with a sweet reward

Jerry — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:49:35 +0000

Zack has been a big help

This week we are in the studio with a very special Egyptian Evangelist, doing the Arabic version of Open the Bible: the Gospels (OTB). I’m very happy to be creating content for people in their heart language and also really please to have our MA staff so actively involved in making it happen.

Tyler Gibson, (our son) has been taking the lead for all the audio/Voice over narration. It has been a big challenge for him but he has stepped up equal to the challenge.

Zack Brackman, has also taken on a huge responsibility in the editing room and has done a stellar job of organizing and editing the content

Mike Winters, who is new with us is an amazing servant helping with make-up, time charting and doing the clapper in the studio.

Joel Arrellanes brings 10 years of professional TV experience to the project which makes this very special.

More then anything else, knowing that what we do today, will carry the witness of Christ to literally millions of people in the Arabic speaking world via internet and TV broadcast makes the long hours a sweet and delightful investment. Your investment in us is the icing on the cake!

Just a thought on my way out the Door

Jerry — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:00:45 +0000

I’m on my way to Slovenia in the morning to meet with Broadcasters in Europe. Pray it will have some divine appointments along the way.

I spoke this past sunday at the Madrid International Church. It was a really good time. I watched in peoples eyes as I spoke about a Jesus who surprises us by doing the unexpected thing. This teaching from John Chapter 5 really focuses on Jesus’ question to the lame man. “Do you want to be healed?” Better asked, “Are you ready to change?” The thought of change, even long desired change, can look nice from a distance but down right scary!

A Business axiom states “the best predictor of future behavior is past performance.” Now, I want you to know, I believe this to be true for everyone else but not for myself!” I don’t want to believe that what I have always done, I will always do. I need to believe that I am capable of change, of growth, of improvement. The truth is without Jesus showing up, we have little hope of real change on our own.

So I’m looking to Jesus to keep working in me just as he promised he and the Father would! John 5:17.

This week at IMM

Jerry — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:06:14 +0000

Prayer makes the difference often times between activity and ministry. It has been said, all ministry is God’s ministry. That if anything “ministers” then by definition it is because God is in the background of it. I will be posting an updated Vlog from time to time to ask you to pray about those things happening in real-time at IMM. Here is the first of more to come. Thanks for standing with us!

The One Thing

Jerry — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:05:52 +0000

I have been meditating on Philippians 3 this past week in preparation for our staff
devotional time. I’m awestruck by Paul’s simple, singular focus and straight forward
statements.

“I consider EVERYTHING loss….”
What do I have to lose? Honestly, I look around and there is a lot I would have a
hard time letting go of. Status, reputation, comforts - these are the superficial and
yet seemingly important. Can I consider them loss? Family, ministry position,
health - now this gets real serious and sacrifice starts to touch my soul. Really Paul,
everything? Yet when we get to the core of loss, you know what we find? Joy!
Rejoicing in the Lord is what keeps Paul going. The tenor voice coming from a dark
Philippian jail sings, “Jesus is enough for me.”

“This ONE thing I do…”
His goal is clear, “I want to know Christ!” His practice is simple. 1. Don’t look back.
Your past is not going to supply you with what you will need now. Both the trophies
and the trials of our past will only weigh us down. 2. Keep focused on the prize.
Anyone who knows me, knows I like to have a plan. I like to write things down and
then cross them off. Do I plan for my growth in Christ like I plan for the growth of
ministry? I’m challenged to do the One thing well. 3. Strain with all you’ve got. Give
yourself to the moment. Everything else is a distraction from what is needed at this
moment.

Paul reminds us that he has not “arrived” and I know I sure haven’t. Expecting
perfection of myself and others around me is insane. But I can’t let myself off
too quickly, While we should never expect perfection, we should always expect
progress.

So I ask myself, “Is Paul’s hunger my hunger?” Do I long for perfection in my
body, soul, and spirit? Do I yearn for the moment when I cross the finish line?
John Piper has said “the evidence that you have God is to want more of God.”

As the director of IMM, I want to encourage myself and our team to give all we’ve
got until we reach our goal of knowing Christ and so making Him known. Even so,
Lord Jesus, come.