Gulf South Leadership Institute’s Executive Director, Wimbai Mutonono, offered support during the congregation’s lead pastor transitional period by providing pulpit fill

services this Summer. Gulf South Leadership Institute welcomes Mark and Linda Wright to Mandeville Christian Church, Louisiana.

Over the last year and a half the Institute has been consulting for Journey Christian Church’s Lead Pastor and the Church’s leadership team by offering insights into

strategic planning, structure, as well as functions of ministry leaders and teams. In addition to consulting, the Institute’s Executive Director, Wimbai Mutonono is now

serving as Journey’s Interim Pastor this Fall.

Early this year Community Christian Concern invited the Institute to conduct an Organizational Assessment of the agency and a staff development training for the

agency’s staff team. This consulting project is still in progress, and is facilitating effective operation and ministry for the agency.

For two and a half years the Institute has been assisting Hillside Discipleship Church’s lead pastor and leadership team. Gulf South Leadership Institute continues to

provide guidance, tools and resources to facilitate continued ministry effectiveness and growth for the congregation.

Gulf South Leadership Institute

promotes strong, creative and

safe communities through

leadership education and

guidance.

To ignite innovative, vibrant, and

progressive leadership and

management practices within a

given community.

“ I n s p i r i n g L e a d er s h i p ,

Bu i ld i n g C om m u n i t i e s ”

BO ARD OF DIRECTORS:

Pastor Paul Ernewein Board Cha i rman Gera ld Knighton Treasure r Ger i Ki t te l Bookkeeper Karen Gould Sec re ta ry Amanda Hover Board Member Patr ic ia Brown Board Member Bishop W el l ington Board Member Dale Nunner y Board Member

Gulf South Leadership Institute has inspired

ministry leaders and leadership teams over

the last five years. Reflecting on the impact

that the ministry has had over the last five

years only facilitates gratitude for what the

Lord had done through willing and available

servants.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Advisory

Board, and volunteer staff I would like to thank you,

our ministry partners, for your prayers, your

financial support and your moral support for the

Institute’s Vision and Mission over the last five

years. Your support and partnership has made it

possible for us to inspire and empower a number of

ministries within the Greater New Orleans Region

and beyond.

Reflecting back on these last five years of service,

we realize that Gulf South Leadership Institute has

served a total of nine (9) Ministries, and 140 plus

leaders from various ministries within Greater New

Orleans and beyond. The above mentioned impact

was through the programs and services offered by

the Institute, namely: classes, seminars/workshops,

and consulting.

To date Gulf South Leadership Institute has delivered

eighteen (18) ministry leadership classes, seven (7)

workshops and seminars, and ministry consulting to aid

five (5) ministries. Consulting services continue with

three (3) of the five ministries. It is encouraging to see

better functioning leaders, leadership teams, and

organizations as a result of GSLI’s training programs.

SHIFTING GEARS:

Studies on the life stages of a nonprofit reveal that

each stage of development is critical, yet vital to the

organization’s success. The process of shifting

gears is a common part of life, both for individuals

and organizations. The last five (5) years have

essentially served as defining years for the work

and ministry of Gulf South Leadership Institute. As

the shaping of the Institute continues, a shifting of

gears which is characterized by growth and

continued inspiration of various churches and

ministries is taking place .

Armed with the lessons that the organization has

learned in the past five years, the vision is to move

forward with the goal of inspiring and empowering

more and more ministries in our community. More

impact calls for more support, and we trust that the

Lord will continue to move the hearts of many to

facilitate new and additional partnerships for Gulf

South Leadership Institute’s work and ministry.

You maybe receiving this newsletter as an existing

partner or a potential partner. Will you prayerfully

consider increasing your partnership level, and if

you’re not a current partner, please consider joining

the Gulf South Leadership Institute partnership

circle.

(Executive Director)

GSLI NEWS & UPDATES Issue - 5 Year Edition November, 2014

Your donation of

$ 2,015

will subsidize for the cost of Facilitating a leadership team retreat for a ministry or

small nonprofit

Your donation of

$ 201.5

will provide a student’s scholarship for LEGACY Summer Institute’s Jr

High and High School Career mentoring workshops

Your donation of

$ 20.15

will cover the cost of one Student’s Participation in LEGACY Institute’s

Once a month workforce Readiness workshops

Gulf South Leadership Institute is an exempt organization as described in section 501 (C) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service.

For federal income tax purposes, you can deduct as a charitable contribution the donation amount given to this campaign.

After playing the instrumental

role of inspiring the vision of

Gulf South Leadership Institute

Todd and Kandi Petty and their

kids (Raychel, Kyle, and Tyler)

moved back home Lapeer, MI

to work with Bearinger church.

After serving Bearinger Church

for two years, the congregation

outgrew its facility. While In the

process of discussing our next

steps to solving the facility

problem word got out in the

leadership circles that an older

congregation across town was

struggling and was considering

closing its doors.

GSLI: What dynamics Inspired the

merger?

Todd Petty: “We knew beyond a

shadow of a doubt that God was not

calling us to engage in a building

campaign. We had a strong desire to

plant a congregation from within, but

we fully recognized that we weren't

going to be able to reach an

attendance that could sustain a

church plant in the current

facility. Across town was a church of

Christ that was without a preacher

and was considering closing their

doors. We approached them and

asked if they would be willing to

prayerfully consider our ministry

relocating to their facility and joining

us on the journey. And the rest of

the story was simply a powerful

demonstration of God's desire to see

Unity in the Body of Christ.“

entirely new congregation familiar

with the ministry of Hillside. We are

at a point now where we very rarely

look back or compare ministry events

or situation with previous ministries.

The environment is healthy and

growing and is a clear demonstration

that partnership in ministry is a win

for the Kingdom.”

In reflecting on the shift

of ministry in a merger

environment, Todd Petty

shared that it has been

a challenge to transition

from a very small church

to a larger and growing

congregation.

“The two churches shared a common

doctrine, but had very different styles

of ministry. There are always people

that will decide a ministry is not for

them and there will always be others

who jump on board. As we approach

the third anniversary of the merge it

is encouraging to have the majority of

members of both congregations

worshipping with us, as well as an

Pastor Todd Petty

suggested that the

five major lessons

from the experience

of merging would be:

Everything rises and

falls on Leadership;

Faith and finances are

two sides of the same

coin; Leaders choose whether to lead

or to be liked; Prayer cannot be add

on; and We tend to over-estimate

what we can do in a year and under-

estimate what God can do in five

years.

Todd Petty is the Lead Pastor of Hillside Disciple-

ship Church. He is married to Kandi and they have

three kids: Raychel, Kyle and Tyler. They have

served as long time supporters and friends of Gulf

South Leadership Institute. Todd was instrumental

in the founding of the Institute, and served as the

first Board of Directors Chairman.

“The institute put

together a ministry

policy handbook to

guide ministry

structure and

growth at Hillside”

Inspiring middle school and high

school students for future careers

has been a rewarding mentoring

model for Gulf South Leadership

Institute’s LEGACY Youth Institute.

Some of the intended objectives of

the program include:

Encouraging continued pursuit of education and career goals;

Developing skills necessary for success.

Facilitating career awareness.

LEGACY Youth Dev. Institute has

continued to grow and attracts a lot of

community support. We are excited

to be partnering with the professional

men and women in our community to

inspire future leaders, businessmen,

business women, future engineers,

and future celebrities.

Popular workshops featured in 2014

include: Future Engineers; S.T.E.M.

Discovery, The Hi-Tech Generation,

Capture The Action, Health, Wellness

& Fitness, and Design Technology.

The feedback we receive from the

participants, parents of participants,

and workshop facilitators confirms the

need as well as the effectiveness of

the program. With the help of local

professional educators and some of

our committed mentors we are in the

process of creating a LEGACY Youth

Development Institute Mentoring For

Careers Curriculum. With this clearly

defined curriculum, the Institute will

be able to deliver a specific selection

of specialized experiences.

The task of Inspiring Future Careers

is not an easy one, and we value all

the partnerships we are able to have.

We invite you to partner with us as a

financial or program supporter.

Gulf South Leadership Institute has been an incredible partner in helping us accomplish our mission and vision as a church. In the past year Wimbai Mutonono of GSLI took the time to move through various ministries within our church to help us make them become more functional. Here are a few benefits of GSLI’s services:

They helped us implement healthier lines of communication amongst

leadership

They helped us shape policies and procedures within each of our ministry

settings

They helped us develop the best strategy to accomplish our mission and

vision with our time, energy, and resources.

They offered leadership development by facilitating training sessions

They worked with our leadership on an individual basis to help leaders

gain a better focus in regard to specific roles and responsibilities

They provided feedback in regard to Journey Christian Church’s ministry

leadership strengths and weaknesses, as well as follow-up application

Summer 2012 Gulf South Leadership

Institute launched a career mentoring

and workforce readiness initiative to

inspire junior high and high school

students to stay engaged in school.

To date the program has impacted

the lives of many young people and

assisted a number of families.

Rodney, Betsy, Avery and Levi Michael

Todd, Kandi, Raychel, Kyle and Tyler Petty

LEGACY Youth Development Institute: legacy@gs-li.org facebook.com/LEGACYNOLA twitter.com/LEGACYNOLA

Website: www.legacy.gs-li.org

Gulf South Leadership Institute: info@gs-li.org facebook.com/GSLINOLA twitter.com/GSLINOLA

Website: www.gs-li.org