Why gaius?
As planning took place to reestablish the Pastors Training School and Missionary Training School of Good Shepherd Baptist Missions, the Lord directed the heart of Bro. Chad Sellers, Director of Good Shepherd Baptist Missions, to the men named Gaius in the scriptures. Each of these men were found to be faithful men and were all, as it states of Gaius in III John, “fellowhelpers to the truth”. There are five different attributes found from a collective study of these “fellowhelpers” which are all found or alluded to in the man Gaius in III John. These attributes are put into an acrostic of the name GAIUS:
G - growing in grace
A - addicted to the ministry
I - interceding in prayer
U - understanding God’s will
S - steadfast in Doctrine
This forms the overall purpose of the Pastor’s Training School and Missionary Training School and teaching of Good Shepherd Baptist Missions.
Furthermore, the previous principles for training introduced by Bro. Easter and his team to GSBM years ago are timeless principles for effectiveness in Ministry. They are presented in the acrostic FLOW:
F - Full Holy Spirit Control
L - Leadership
O - Organization
W - World Evangelization
These principles are so clearly seen in the Life of Gaius in the book of III John.
Full Holy Spirit Control
Four times in the first four verses John uses the word truth to speak about Gaius. In verse 1 John loves Gaius “in the truth”, in verse 3 he says truth is “in” Gaius, again in verse 3 John says that Gaius “walked in truth”. In verse 4 John rejoices because of Gaius and the truth. Jesus said in John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: …”. Gaius had to be Full of the Holy Spirit to have such a testimony. A testimony of fulfilling the highest purpose of life - a life truly worth living.
Leadership
In verse 3, John writes about the example of Gaius to others. Again, in verses 5-6, John speaks of Gaius example as he says that the brethren and strangers have born witness of his charity. There is no greater example of spiritual leadership than leading by example. It is obvious that: Gaius was spiritual as they testified of the truth in Him; he was positive in contrast to Diotrephes of verse 9; motivates others verses 3 and 6; understands the needs of others verse 6; and is team oriented. Truly Gauis was a leader.
Organization
In verse 5 of III John, John says to Gaius, “thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest”. To read the passage is to understand the many works that consumed Gauis’ life. To be faithful in all that he did would require organizational skills that enhanced his purpose, his direction, his cooperation with others, and brought peace in the face of conflict and turmoil. Conflict not only from without the church but from within as well.
World Evangelism
The people that Gaius was helping was those who had hazarded their lives to reach the gentiles with the gospel verses 6-7. He showed charity toward those “on their journey” verse 6 who had “went forth” verse 7 for Christ’s sake to spread the truth. John declares that in doing so that it made him and all others “fellowhelpers to the truth” verse 8. They were engaged in fulfilling the duty and purpose of the church.
Gaius in III John is a clear demonstration of a man affected by F.L.O.W.
Thus with FLOW as our goal and GAIUS as our purpose we embark on our journey of presenting the GAIUS Institute as a part of the overall ministry of Good Shepherd Baptist Missions. A ministry designed to Encourage, Edify, and Equip fellow laborers to have Effective and Abounding works for Christ’s Glory. Not through a demonstration of Perfection but rather a presentation of practicality.
