Steve Looker and The Refuge Church are on a mission to reach 55,000 souls in Zanesville, a community in the Appalachian region of eastern Ohio.
But the story of the two-and-a-half year old “replant” began seven years ago …
On her knees in the midst of the dirt and debris left behind in her flooded home, Saphina Khalfan cried out to God for help.
Within a minute, she heard voices outside. They were Texas Baptist Men volunteers coming to help.
According to the latest Pew Research, the “Nones” are growing. These unchurched individuals aren’t actively seeking a church, which means engaging them requires a careful and thoughtful approach.
As the Texas-based worship band 317 Collective leads worship around the state, the band’s goal is to help students gain a deeper understanding of Scripture and practical application for their lives through their message and music.
“He came back and said, ‘I’m going to steal five things from y’all.’ I said, ‘Good thing, because I’m stealing five from y’all,’’’ said Baptist Campus Ministry leader Daniel Johnson.
“God was there. I’d never seen that many people in a gathering in Emanuel county before. It was awesome,” said Billy Brinson, missions strategist in the Emanuel Missionary Baptist Association.
Enlisting volunteers early in the year and providing teaching resources are important parts of VBS preparation. In order to be successful, volunteers need to receive more than a leader guide.
Both blessing and challenge make up a church. To utilize those differences for unity, the Discipleship/Sunday School department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board offers Synchrony training.
“You can observe a lot by watching” is a Yogi-ism credited to the legendary baseball player Yogi Berra. I watch a lot of associations. They are the best part of denominational life…