Director of Missions

Family Picture at Bambi Lake Camp ('03)

Andrew barely keeps his sled on Tube Hill ('03)

Robert shoots down Tube Hill at Bambi Lake Camp

Bobby & Brenda teach a VBS class

Brenda teaches 5th & 6th Grade VBS class

Bobby presents the Plan of Salvation at VBS

Andrew has his face painted ('03)

Bobby shares the plan of salvation at an evangelistic block party ('04)

Andrew helps with a game at an evangelistic block party

Robert paints FLAMES at the face painting booth of a block party

Robert & Andrew have enjoyed entering the annual racer derby

Bobby Gilstrap has been the Director of Missions for Huron and Southeastern Baptist Associations since January of 2001. As the Director of Missions he is called to be a mission strategist for the two associations. He leads out in the area of church planting as the associations seek to reach the lost population of the area through new churches. In addition to being a mentor, supervisor and consultant for numerous church planters, he encourages pastors and church leadership in approaches to reach their communities through church planting. Click here to review some of the available resources developed for new churches.

He also seeks to model and train church leadership in the areas of outreach and evangelism. He develops evangelistic resources and tools that can assist associational churches in fulfilling their vision to reach their communities. Gilstrap also works with professional graphic designers on behalf of associational churches to design church logos and other image-building tools that are used to build a church’s visual identity in its area.

Finally, Gilstrap strives to be a church growth and health consultant to the churches, assisting them with strategies that will aid them in growing and reproducing. Numerous church growth resources are available by Clicking HERE.

Prior to serving in Southeastern Michigan he served as the pastor of several Southern Baptist churches in Texas and Oklahoma and in associate positions for churches in Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas. He has been a part of starting new churches in Oklahoma and Michigan.

CLICK HERE to read Gilstrap's spiritual story

CLICK to read Acts 5:29 BLOG or bobbygilstrap.com

CLICK for Personal Calling Statement

He was married in August of 1988 to the former Brenda Wallace of Elmer, Louisiana. Brenda (birthday: March 5) is a preschool teacher at Daycroft Montessori School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Louisiana College (1985) and a Master of Arts in Religious Education degree with an early childhood concentration from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (1992).

Bro. Bobby was licensed to the ministry by Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church in East Point, Georgia in November of 1981. He was later ordained to the gospel ministry by First Southern Baptist Church of Guthrie, Oklahoma in February of 1985.

The Gilstrap's have two sons: Robert (born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on November 1) and Andrew (born in Denison, Texas on May 5).

Gilstrap has a broad educational and professional experience. He graduated with his Doctor of Ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri in May 2004. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Oklahoma Baptist University and an Associate of Arts degree from Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia. In addition to more than 25 years of ministry experience, he has started several photography businesses, and has been in management and sales for several media, retail and marketing businesses.

In addition to his missionary service in Michigan, Gilstrap volunteers on the national executive leadership team of the Network of Baptist Associations. He serves as the Communications Team Leader.

Bro. Bobby's favorite pastimes include photography, collecting ceramic lighthouses, camping, riding Go-Karts with his sons and other outings with his family. His family enjoys sightseeing, board games, playing X-box games, fun museums and most anything that allows them to have fun together. Many of the family outings are highlighted on BOB'S BLOG Archive (or Missionary Journal Archive). Click HERE to visit the ARCHIVE ... then scroll down the page. You can also read devotional thoughts and assorted ideas on church and ministry on www.bobbygilstrap.com which is Gilstrap's ACTS 5:29 BLOG.

Gilstrap splits his time serving and resourcing both associations from a consolidated office in Monroe, Michigan. He may be contacted during normal business hours as follows:

Huron & Southeastern Baptist Associations
Monday - Thursday
734.457.3040