No one will ever be able to
put specific numbers to the Find It Here evangelistic emphasis promoted among
North Carolina Baptist churches over Easter, but testimonials posted on the
www.ncbaptist.org web site and word of mouth indicate those churches that
engaged in intentional evangelistic outreach found significant blessing.
“I just want to praise God
for what our churches did in preparation for Find It Here,” said Milton A.
Hollifield Jr., Baptist State Convention (BSC) executive director-treasure who
indicated this was the first phase of a three-year emphasis that will include
discipleship and mission mobilization.
He said people who read the
testimonies of Find It Here participants will be encouraged to
participate next year, and will be motivated to action now.
Among those testimonies,
Chadwick Tucker said Living Stone Baptist Church in Nashville used no
gimmicks or giveaways, but “authentic personal invitations” brought more
visitors and regular attenders than members on Easter.
Welcome Home Baptist Church
in North Wilkesboro focused on two weekend events, including an Easter musical
and a community egg hunt, which produced a record turnout.
Josh Hyde, pastor of
Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sylva led teams to pray “over every seat and every
space in the parking lot.”
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They utilized local
advertising and attendance of 500 was 25-30 percent above average and they
baptized four.
Of the 150 at Campfield Memorial
Baptist Church on Easter, 18 were visitors.
Providence Baptist Church in
Providence averaged 83 last year, but had 153 for Easter and baptized three,
according to pastor W. Lee Cook.
Kellum Baptist Church
baptized six on Easter. Pastor Jody Yopp said Kellum has has 11 converts and 14
new members since it started promoting Find It Here. BSC Board member and
pastor of Moon’s Chapel Baptist Church Scott Faw said the church had a record
crowd.
John Green, pastor of Mt.
Zion Baptist Church in Hudson, called the Find It Here emphasis “a great
blessing.” His church saw seven professions of faith and 19 visitors among its
405 in worship.
Donnie Paschall said Oakton
Baptist Church in Fairmont baptized the first African-American in the church’s
100-year history. Four others await baptism because in the past 40 days they’ve
accepted Christ. On Easter, Oakton had four visitors, which is more typically
an annual statistic.
Easter attendance of 221 was
the highest in Brandon Ware’s three years as pastor of Walker Road Baptist
Church in Morganton.
“In preparation for Sunday,
each week we sent teams out into the community knocking on doors, sharing the
gospel, and inviting people to church,” he said.
Grace Community in Marion
had attendance of 930 with eight people seeking salvation. Members had written
the names of 320 family and friends they wanted to bring to Grace.
Michael Shumate was
skeptical of the Find It Here challenge to have baptism on Easter, but “I do
believe in miracles,” he said.
They saw five decisions for
Christ in their Good News Club at the neighboring school and because one of
those was by a child in their church, they had an Easter baptism.
Shumate said because of
their increased awareness of the lost their prospect list has doubled.
Mark Caldwell said Find It
Here efforts brought the best service in his tenure at North Canton Baptist
Church, including the best offering and a dramatic confession that he believes
will lead to revival.
“Thank you Don
McCutcheon for listening to the Holy Spirit,” Caldwell said, referring to
the BSC executive leader for evangelization.
Smyrna Missionary Baptist
Church blitzed a 10-mile area with information about the church and had
attendance of 90; up from the average of 20 three years ago when Mike Willard
became pastor. Mount Olive Baptist Church in King prayer walked the community
two weeks before Easter and passed out 1000 Find It Here cards in neighborhoods
of members. They prayed for 450 and had 570 plus and baptized four on Palm
Sunday.
The River Church in
Fayetteville had a celebration Sunday April 11 because on Easter four made
professions of faith and eight others joined the church. Pastor Todd Brady said
he utilized many of the Find It Here resources such as the website,
logos, bookmarks/prayer cards, theme, banner, and he even made powerpoint
slides to match his sermon outline.
Hephzibah in Wendell
normally runs 450 and had 645 for Easter, the second highest attendance in the
church’s 200-year history.
Interim pastor Aaron
Wallace, who was instrumental in promoting the day as a member of the
evangelization committee of the BSC board of directors, said the church
borrowed the mobile baptism unit from the Raleigh Baptist Association and for
the first time in 13 years baptized 11 in the Family Life Center in the morning
services.
Baptisms have been in the
old worship center during the evening service because that’s where the
baptistery is.
Ten others made professions
of faith that day.
Pine Ridge in Haw River,
which is about four years old, opened its new facility on Easter weekend and
had 653 people, including more than 65 first time guests and 21 decisions for
Christ, according to pastor Tadd Grandstaff.
First Korean Baptist of
Raleigh baptized 10, including three college students. The largest crowd in
Josh Benge’s two years at Harris Chapel Baptist Church in Hudson of well over
200 saw six people ask Jesus into their life.
You can read more and fuller
testimonies at the www.ncbaptist.org web
site, under Find It Here.