September Ministry Spotlight - The Get Together Bay Area - Strength in Connection

I was introduced to The Get Together Bay Area by one of their board members, John Sloan, right after I joined KJIC’s amazing staff team. He had visited the station to meet with our team, and as soon as I heard the vision for The Get Together, I began looking forward to attending my first event.

The Get Together Bay Area is a unique networking opportunity modeled after a group in Houston with the same goal—connecting the needs of Christ-centered nonprofits with individuals and businesses who have the resources to meet those needs. I remember sitting at my first luncheon thinking, “This is brilliant! Why haven’t I ever heard of this before?” That’s exactly why I’m excited to share it now with our KJIC family.

According to their website, the mission of The Get Together Bay Area is to engage business people in serving Christ-centered ministries using the gifts God has equipped them with—their professional expertise, networks of contacts, and life experience.

What makes it so unique is that it’s not about fundraising, but about connecting people with the resources and skills to meet very practical ministry needs.

I sat down recently with Brooke McGowan, Executive Director, and John Sloan, to hear more about how the Bay Area group began, what happens at a typical luncheon, and the incredible impact they’ve seen so far. John put it so well when he said, “The purpose of The Get Together is always to use networking, to use your contacts, to fill specific needs.”

Imagine this:

A children’s home wanted to take the kids who live there on a trip to the zoo. The only problem—they had no way to transport everyone and no budget for buses.

That need was shared at a Get Together event. Someone in attendance had a business connection to a company that provides buses for workers at chemical plants. He reached out, and the company agreed to provide transportation for the kids—free of charge.

No money exchanged hands. No donations were asked for. Just a connection that turned into a blessing. And because of it, the kids got to enjoy their zoo trip and the ministry’s budget was stretched further.

This is exactly how co-founder Thomas Brinsko first experienced the Houston group, and it’s what led him to help launch The Get Together Bay Area.

That’s the beauty of The Get Together. Since the Bay Area chapter launched in 2013, more than 1,164 businesses and individuals have helped meet over 3,050 ministry needs, served more than 4,250 volunteer hours, and provided services valued at over $1.6 million. And while those numbers are impressive, they don’t come close to measuring the eternal impact that happens when ministries are strengthened to reach more people in need.

When you attend a Get Together, here’s what you can expect: The group meets every other month at South Shore Harbour Country Club. The event begins with 30 minutes of networking, followed by lunch and presentations. Two ministries are featured at each gathering, sharing about their work and their current needs. Each table has a host, and every guest receives a printed list of the year’s partner ministries and their needs. Attendees can check off which needs they can meet directly or connect someone else to. The organization then follows up, ensuring the connection is made.

I’ve seen needs as simple as diapers or janitorial supplies to professional services like printing, legal help, or construction needs. And every time, God uses someone’s “yes” to meet the need of a ministry that otherwise might not have been filled.

Over the past year, I’ve heard powerful presentations from ministries serving children and families, walking alongside people in crisis, and meeting needs right here in our community. I've been encouraged, inspired, moved to tears, and even personally convicted about how I could do more. I’ve also met business leaders and professionals from industries like legal, petrochemical, trucking, construction, and marketing. Each month, attendees are encouraged to invite someone new, which keeps the group fresh and continually growing in its reach.

As I spoke with Brooke and John, one message stood out: their desire to see this model spread to other communities. The Bay Area is just one portion of our KJIC listening area, but imagine the impact if groups like this started in every community!

If you’d like to learn more about The Get Together Bay Area, or even explore starting one in your community, their leaders would love to connect with you. Your “yes” could be the answer to a ministry’s prayer—and the spark that helps meet needs in the name of Jesus.

You can register for the next luncheon, on October 14th, here. I'll be there too! Find me and let's get a picture together.

If your interested in learning more about starting a Get Together in your community you can reach out to Brooke McGowen at Brooke@thegettogetherbayarea.org

And to our listeners and supporters: Thank You.

Because of your partnership with KJIC, we’re able to share stories like this, connect people to ministries, and highlight the ways God is at work in our communities. Together, we’re extending hope, offering support, and inspiring lasting change.