GNJ September Update

📣 SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE

This past month has overflowed with opportunities to inspire the lost to be saved — and the saved to be sent. From Edmond to OKC, Enid to Tulsa, Wynnewood to Cordell, Porum to Putnam City — and far beyond…  the Lord opened doors for GoodNews Journey to proclaim the Gospel and equip believers to share it boldly!

✝️ Evangelism & Gospel Proclamation
The highlight was UNITE OKC at Bricktown Ballpark, where around 6,000 people gathered for worship and the Gospel. I trained and organized a Decision Team of 120 volunteers, who guided attendees through spiritual commitments. The Lord moved powerfully, and many lives were transformed!
I also led seven evangelism sessions at the Juvenile Center, where lots of young people placed their faith in Christ.

🛠️ Training & Equipping Believers
Alongside preaching, I trained and challenged believers at PCBC, Garland Road Baptist, First Baptist Wynnewood, the Energize Conference, and the Big God, Little Church Conference. I focused on Gospel –> Urgency, Fluency, Strategy, Mobilization, and Philosophy, encouraging believers to be equipped and unleashed for ministry. Two in-person Decision Team trainings at Olivet Baptist (OKC) prepared volunteers for UNITE’s incredible ministry.

🗺️ Statewide & Expanding Reach
September stretched GNJ across Oklahoma and connected us beyond the state. Conversations with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board may have opened doors for future partnerships, and Zoom planning with Alaska missionaries and church planters set the stage for our 2026 mission trip, with a prep trip in October. With Alaska added, our 2026 lineup now includes Alaska, Guatemala, Portugal, and Cambodia. Want to come with us?!?! Learn more HERE. Seriously… Reach out to us for questions! 

👩‍👩‍👧 Youth & Next Generation Engagement
Mobilizing the next generation was a heartbeat this month through events like the See You At The Pole Rally, Truth Rising at Oklahoma Christian University, and Juvenile Center ministry. Our GNJ coaching call with Rick Eubanks, founder of SYATP, reminded us of the importance of rallying a generation to prayer and mission.

🤝 Strategic Partnerships & Vision Casting
The bold vision remains: 50,000 Trained • 7,000 Sent • 100,000 Saved. Thousands are being inspired, equipped, and unleashed through preaching, training, and Gospel proclamation.

🙏 Gratitude & Support
Thank you for praying, giving, and standing with us. Through our new partnership with WatersEdge, GNJ donors can now give in creative ways — including stock, charitable rollovers, endowments, and even single charity funds for streamlined generosity. Most supporters continue to give one-time or monthly gift on our website, and every prayer and gift — no matter the form — fuels more souls being saved and believers being sent. The ripple effect is growing! As year-end giving approaches, please keep GNJ in mind! 

Serving with you,
Brian Baldwin

GNJ August Update

🌟 GoodNews Journey: AUGUST UPDATE

This summer has been full of Gospel opportunities, unexpected twists, and God’s grace at work!

📻 Exciting News!
GNJ was invited to lead an evangelism radio campaign on The House FM called “Share the Gift of Christ this Christmas.” For about 40 days in a row, we’ll be on air sharing 30 evangelism tips, posting that content on The House FM and GNJ social media reels, and joining 3 morning show interviews—equipping thousands to talk about Jesus this Christmas! They start airing on Nov 17, so stay tuned… literally! We’re praying this can be used at other radio stations.

🎤 Speaking & Training
This month we had the privilege of being in several churches and ministry settings. At Capitol Hill Baptist Church (OKC) we taught Equip Classes 3–5, covering When to Have Gospel Conversations, 4-Chair Discipleship as a clear pathway for multiplying disciple-makers, and how to understand and engage other worldviews. At Edmond Community Church we preached on the importance of evangelism and trained in Sharing Your Story. At South Tulsa Baptist (YEC Tulsa) we joined in the event and outreach and led an Apologetics Training on answering 9 common objections to Christianity. At FBC McAlester we spoke for their Back-to-School event that inspired students and families to live on mission. At FBC Hulbert we preached and trained in evangelism, teaching on Gospel Urgency and the GOODNEWS Gospel Conversation Strategy. Being with people and in places like these this month has been such a blessing!

👥 Coaching & Leaders
We gathered 18 ministry leaders from five states for a group coaching call, along with several one-on-one sessions. Together we unpacked insights from the Gospel Advancing Insider Report, the three key ingredients transforming youth ministries, and practical ways to live out the seven values and five stages of a Gospel Advancing Ministry. These coaching times are sharpening leaders and fueling Gospel-centered movements nationwide.

🙏 Evangelism Ministry
We led seven sessions at the OKC Juvenile Center—and at nearly every one, young men came to faith in Christ! Every person that says yes to Jesus, and yes to sharing Jesus, reminds us why this ministry exists—to inspire, equip, and mobilize God’s people to share the Good News.

🤝 Networking for Gospel Movements
God opened new doors for collaboration this month. We partnered with leaders in OKC through The Hope Gathering, joined the NXT Move North America call to strategize on reversing the decline of Christianity, and connected with pastors and ministry leaders to strengthen Gospel movements both locally and nationally.

⚾ UNITE 25 Update
Momentum is building for the outreach at Bricktown Ballpark on September 28. Over 100 volunteers have signed up for the Decision Team, but we need 100 more. Would you consider joining us? We’ll train you, and you’ll be part of seeing many hear and respond to the Gospel. 

🌐 New Tools & Content
We launched the official GNJ Facebook Page—filled with blogs, videos, and equipping content. Please take a moment to follow, like, comment, and share our page—it really helps the ministry! The resources on it are designed to help spark a movement of everyday evangelism.

✈️ Missions
We met with Trinity Baptist Church in OKC about hosting a GNJ in-state project serving a low-income apartment complex. More details are coming soon. Meanwhile, we continue preparing for GNJ mission trips to Guatemala, Portugal, and Cambodia in 2026.

🏠 Family Update
We tried a quick getaway before school, but Jonah needed an emergency appendectomy in Houston. Praise God he’s recovering well! Mackenzie also started college at SNU, and while we’re excited for her new season, Candace especially feels the change of not having all four kids at home. And after months in the shop, Mackenzie’s car is finally running again! First time since December! It’s a very meaningful victory in a family of six!

📣 The Bold Vision
50K Trained | 7K Sent | 100K Saved by 2030. At our third-quarter GNJ Board Meeting, we celebrated progress and prayed toward this vision. This season has been about helping believers know when to share, how to share, what to say, and how to engage others with confidence. From classrooms to pulpits, blogs to radio, coaching calls to jail ministry—the Gospel is advancing! Thank you for praying, giving, and encouraging us. Together we are seeing the Good News spread! 💙

 

GNJ July Update

🔥 JULY UPDATE: Jesus. Everywhere. All Month!

What. A. Month. 💥 We preached, trained, traveled, and networked—all to help more people know and share Jesus.

FAVORITE MOMENTS:

🙌 Leading Jace to Christ just hours into Cimarron Youth Camp—his family said it was destiny. He stayed on fire!

🙏 Sharing the Gospel with Vivian—she’s so close to trusting Jesus. Pray for her!

🔥 Preached Luke 15 at the Juvenile Center—nearly a full pod of boys got saved!

🫶 Community Baptist students prayed over me and encouraged me deeply at the end of my time there.

👣 Watching families in Amarillo apply the evangelism training door-to-door. So refreshing!

🏘️ Mission work in South OKC among undocumented families—it gave me so much hunger for grace.

⚾ At Bricktown Ballpark dreaming about the thousands who’ll hear the Gospel at UNITE OKC in September!

💒 Helping one of the most important churches navigate a hard season—what a joy.

🎯 TRAINING

We trained believers in Amarillo, Coweta, and OKC with our GOODNEWS Gospel Conversation Training 🙌. We also kicked off a 🔥 5-week evangelism series at Capitol Hill Baptist.

✈️ MISSIONS

Mission trip signups launched for Cambodia, Portugal, and Guatemala 🌍 Want to come with us or help spread the word? Details HERE. Made a mission trip site visit to South OKC to serve with Emmaus Baptist. Challenged 75+ missionaries at Church-Inside-Out to live on mission.

🧭 COACHING

Strategized with the NXT Move North America Team. Mentored lots of young leaders—including Coweta’s new youth pastor and students who co-led youth messages there with me. Regular non-summer coaching calls resume soon! 💪

🎤 SPEAKING

At Cimarron Youth Camp, I preached 6 times, led an apologetics Q&A, and saw students saved and sent—most of the campers said “yes” to future mission trips! Also preached in Tulsa, Amarillo, and OKC on Gospel urgency 🔥.

🙌 AND MORE…

More salvations at the Juvenile Center! Helped lead executive planning for UNITE OKC (expecting 10K+). I’m leading a 200-person Decision Team—want to join? Sign Up HERE. Participated in a planning meeting for the YEC Tulsa training and did some strategic networking at Falls Creek.

We’re moving full speed toward the goal:
📣 50K Trained | 🌍 7K Sent | ✝️ 100K Saved by 2030. Let’s keep going… TOGETHER!

 

So In Love

6 Months of Mackenzie & Kade!

I think it's safe to say they are in love! =0) 

 

Slippin' & Slidin'

GMa got Jack this new slip-n-slide for his birthday, so we figured the 4th of July was the perfect day to try it out! It was so much fun! GMa, Daddy, and even Momma (although there are no pictures to prove it!) got in on the action too! Thankfully nobody got hurt!

Mackenzie was still recovering from having her wisdom teeth out, so she had a good excuse...but Madi and Jonah were just party poopers and didn't want to play on the slip-n-slide. I think Jack would have stayed out there for hours if we would have let him...he loved it!

Golf Lessons from Poppa

Jonah and Poppa had a little golf lesson on the 4th of July! Pretty special to have your Great-Grandpa teach you how to golf! Jonah picked it up pretty good...maybe he will be a golfer someday. He liked it, except for the part where you have to pick up all of the balls! 

Fireworks Phares's and Frogs

We have spent a lot of 4th of July's with the Phares's over the years! It has been a while since we have been able to do that though, so we decided it was time to bring back this fun tradition. We had burgers and hung out and caught frogs at Jamie's house, and then when it started to get dark we went over to Thomas and Sierra's to watch fireworks. Jack had the time of his life with the frogs!

Just a few short years ago...feels like yesterday!

Ewwww---I can't believe she did this!

His face...hahaha! 

We even got to hang out in the White House for a while and show the kids where we used to live!