Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

First Person: What better time to evangelize and baptize than Easter?

  • March 4, 2023
  • North Carolina Biblical Recorder
  • First Person, Latest News, North Carolina
(Unsplash photo)

First Person: What better time to evangelize and baptize than Easter?

One of the ways I like to encourage people is to tell them to do what you do for the glory of God, and do it strategically for the mission of God.

We might immediately associate this principle with our professional lives, but it applies to our personal lives as well.

Have you ever stopped to consider how you can leverage relationships and family rhythms for the sake of the gospel and the Kingdom? 

Years ago my wife Ashley and a group of her “mom friends” started hosting weekly play dates in a community with a large refugee population. That simple move led to new relationships, gospel conversations and ministry to a number of refugee moms and their families.

Our family is now in a stage where our kids are developing lives of their own. Last year I invited one of the coaches of my children’s sports team to church, and his family came with us to a service during Christmas. Now we’re engaged in regular conversations about faith.

‘Because you invited me’

Not long ago I was traveling and invited a person to church whom I met on a flight. He seemed interested, but we lost touch because I didn’t have his contact information. Then about three weeks later I bumped into him at church. With a surprised expression I asked, “What are you doing here?” He said, “Because you invited me.”

I know sharing the gospel can be a scary thing for some, but I’ve found people more open to such conversations than we might think or assume. Looking for ways to incorporate evangelistic conversations and invitations to church through our regular rhythms and routines can pay dividends, particularly at this time of year.

The weeks leading up to Easter are great to evangelize and invite people to church. While we live in a post-Christian culture, there still are a number of people open to having gospel conversations and attending church or some type of church function.

I talk to a lot of pastors who say they get many guests on Easter, Palm Sunday or other special events this time of year. They also see a lot of people profess new faith in Christ.

This Easter I encourage pastors to call for people to trust and follow Christ, and baptize those new believers the following week.

‘Fill the Tank’

That’s the idea behind the “Fill the Tank” baptism emphasis scheduled for April 16 on the Sunday following Easter. We’re encouraging North Carolina Baptist churches to fill their baptism tanks on that day and trust God to save souls between now and then.

The last time we did this, in the fall of 2021, about half of our participating North Carolina Baptist churches from across the state took part. We saw God move in a mighty way with more than 1,000 people baptized.

We hope that by doing this again it will spur us to pray, share the gospel and trust God to do what only He can do.

We are simply asking the Lord to stir our baptism waters, believing He will. So however your church does baptism — whether in a baptistry, in a trough or in a river — will you commit to fill the tank on April 16? You can learn more, register your church’s commitment and find additional resources at fillthetanknc.org.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Todd Unzicker, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and originally published by the Biblical Recorder.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Working through seasons of change
    First person: Working through seasons of change
    July 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Sports for the Nations uses recreational gifts for the gospel
    Sports for the Nations uses recreational gifts for the gospel
    July 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Illinois Baptist summer camps set record with 2 camps remaining
    Illinois Baptist summer camps set record with 2 camps remaining
    July 18, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: Working through seasons of change

Nothing is scarier than change. Well, maybe spiders are scarier, but I digress.

Sports for the Nations uses recreational gifts for the gospel

“We believe that sports are a gift from God to reach others,” said Alejandro Lopez.

Illinois Baptist summer camps set record with 2 camps remaining

This week, Michael Awbrey, Illinois Baptist State Association’s leadership development director, recently announced IBSA Summer Camps have set a record high attendance level — and the summer camp season isn’t even finished.

Memories of closed theme park open ‘floodgates’ for music minister

When Joseph Hudson was called as minister of music at First Baptist Church in Cleveland, S.C., in 2010, he wanted to get to know the members of his new congregation.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel