The Get Together began as a series of conversations between Board Members of The Gathering of Men and Barbara Elliott, President of the Center for Renewal in 2002 when The Gathering was exploring ways to encourage service to Christ-centered ministries among their members. After almost a year of discussions about the needs of grassroots, community based ministries, their needs and how business people could effectively come along side and serve them, a meeting was set up between several representatives of The Gathering of Men (Paul McDonald, Roger Wernette, Wade Mattingly, Jim McNaull, Jim Stephenson) and Sylvia Bolling, Founder and Executive Director of Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. in July 2003. Also in attendance were Barbara Elliott and Cathy Lawdanski of the Center for Renewal and Peter Forbes of the Equip the Saints Fund. From that meeting came a list of Aldine Y.O.U.T.H.’s needs and a number of ideas on how this group of businessmen could meet them.

Monthly meetings of the Get Together began in August 2003 with about a dozen business people meeting over lunch to discuss ways to meet Aldine Y.O.U.T.H.’s needs through their contacts with those who could offer expertise in a variety of fields and provide in-kind donations. Since then, the Get Together has adopted  additional partner ministries and membership has expanded to 300 business people and ministry representatives. At monthly luncheons, the business expertise and entrepreneurial energy of those in attendance are channeled into finding ways to meet the needs of the Get Together partner ministries – Agape Development, Aldine Y.O.U.T.H., Baptist Mission Centers, The Forge for Families, Gracewood, Mission Houston, Open Door Mission,  Victory Home, The WorkFaith Connection and Youth-Reach Houston.

The Get Together has been able to meet the needs of these ministries in a number of creative ways such as:
• Began The Forge Note Card Company – a for-profit business within The Forge for Families that teaches inner-city youth how to run their own business.
• Connected nonprofits with civic, corporate and church volunteer groups.
• Helped non-profit organizations start and market for-profit businesses to generate revenue and train youth in job skills.
• Started Hunters’ Harvest, a committee of The Get Together that encourages outdoorsmen to donate fish and game to organizations feeding the hungry.
• Recruited members to teach marketing, photography, interviewing and job search skills, Bible Study and wildlife classes to people served by our Partner Ministries.
• Provided micro-loans for those re-entering the workforce.
• Provided mentors for youth served by our Partner Ministries.
• Hosted weekend outings in the country for inner-city youth.
• And, called upon those in our business network to provide in-kind donations and expertise such as:

                                       Books to promote literacy
            Carpet, air conditioning, landscaping and parking lot repair
             Land planning, retail advice and computer technical support
                    Rodeo and football tickets for low income families
                                                 Sports Equipment
                                    Computers and Office Equipment
                                                    Food Donations
                                                Camp Scholarships
                              Serving Dinner at Youth Ministry Events
                                     Cleaning and Paper Supplies
                                                             Bibles


In September 2004, a contact made by GT member Gary Dunkum led to the Midway Companies allowing the volunteers from 15 Houston area ministries to salvage items that were left in the 1,000,000 square foot Town & Country Mall prior to it’s demolition. The items that were collected for ministry use were valued at $300,000+.

In Fall 2005, the Hunters’ Harvest committee was formed comprised of men who utilize their skill, expertise and love of hunting and fishing to feed hungry people served by Houston area non-profit organizations. To date, HH has provided 55,000 lbs. of meat to organizations feeding the hungry.

The Get Together expanded in 2008, adding a chapter in Northwest Houston. The Get Together Northwest had 52 people at it’s Vision Casting meeting at Champion Forest Baptist Church in June 2008. The Get Together Northwest has eight Partner Ministries – Open Door Mission, Baptist Mission Centers, Spring Assistance Ministries, CareNet Northwest Pregnancy Center, International Cultural Exchange, Mission Greenspoint, Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. and New Life Pregnancy Center. Since that time, 42 ministry needs have been met valued at $30,000 and 150 volunteer hours have been served.

Through the Get Together network, over $1.5 million in in-kind donations of goods and professional services have been provided to Partner Ministries and 30 other ministries across Texas. In addition, over 3,000 hours of volunteer service has been given to these ministries.