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
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Pennsylvania church uses creative evangelistic event to reach community

  • September 1, 2021
  • BRNUnited
  • Latest News, Missions, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania
(Photo courtesy of BRNUnited)

Pennsylvania church uses creative evangelistic event to reach community

Revive Community Fellowship in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, partnered with Tamaqua’s Spirit of Christmas Committee and a missions team from Highland Baptist Church in Hickory, North Carolina, in hosting a Christmas in July.

The celebration experienced a couple of bumps in the road due to weather and COVID, but Revive’s Pastor Steven Gintz and his team recalibrated their plans and successfully brought the event indoors.

With the assistance of a Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey evangelism grant, visitors were treated to a photo station, candy, games with prizes, crafts, giveaways, chalk art evangelism, witness dolls and lots of food including hot dogs, cotton candy.

The gospel was seamlessly interwoven in creative ways throughout the event, beginning at the registration table where tracts and Bibles were distributed.

Since the event’s theme was Christmas in July, Revive used the birth of Christ as a tool to share the gospel — through crafts and one-on-one conversations.

‘Message of Salvation’

“The missions team made and handed out witness dolls, sharing the gospel through the colored beads on the dolls’ necklaces,” said Gintz. “There were also many individual conversations with people and opportunities to be able to share the love of Christ and the message of Salvation.”

One team member, who is a retired pastor, shared the gospel while drawing beautiful pictures of Christ with colored chalk. “During this event he explained to people watching how the Holy Spirit inspires him to draw these pictures of Christ and explained what Christ does for you when you accept Him as your personal Savior,” explained Gintz.

Revive also used prizes and a winter hat and glove giveaway to share about Christ. When visitors asked about the cost of these items, the church was able to explain that they were free, just like the gift of salvation.

The event proved to be an emotional outlet, allowing people to share how challenging this past year has been. “There was one lady specifically that was really struggling in her life. She had lost her dad a few months ago and recently just lost her mom and said was really struggling just to get back into the groove of life,” said Gintz. “We had the opportunity to sit down and talk with her and pray with her. She stated she knew Christ as her personal Savior, but was starting to lose hope. She said that by doing something like this it really showed her that people are there for her, love her and care for her. She said she now wanted to come back to Jesus by seeing this love of Christ shared with her through this event.”

Christmas in July was followed by a second missions team coming the following weekend to do evangelism.

God did some amazing work over those two weeks. “It’s amazing how God is continuing His work here in Tamaqua to reach an area that is so hurting and struggling, just sharing with them they are cared for and loves just like Christ does for them,” said Gintz.

There are so many creative ways to reach the 14 million individuals in PA/SJ for Christ. Revive Community Fellowship used Christmas in July.

BRN launched the #LovePASJ initiative earlier in 2021 with the intent to Love Pennsylvania and South Jersey.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by LaVeta Jones, communications consultant with the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey, where it was originally published.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions
    Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions
    May 22, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • 10 former SBC presidents urge avoiding ‘ultimatum’ with ERLC
    10 former SBC presidents urge avoiding ‘ultimatum’ with ERLC
    May 22, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • It’s a ‘lifestyle’: John McClendon encourages leaders to make disciples
    It’s a ‘lifestyle’: John McClendon encourages leaders to make disciples
    May 22, 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

Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions

The Court’s one-sentence ruling noted, “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court.”

10 former SBC presidents urge avoiding ‘ultimatum’ with ERLC

“Every entity — including the ERLC — should be open to critique and committed to improvement. But there is a difference between refinement and eradication. A sledgehammer is not the tool for adjusting a mirror.”

It’s a ‘lifestyle’: John McClendon encourages leaders to make disciples

John McClendon has spent his adult life helping leaders make disciples. He is executive director of the Disciple Leader’s Network, based in Tennessee, though he plans to retire at the end of the year.

DR volunteers helping residents amid deadly tornado destruction

A path of downed trees in rural Laurel County signaled where a deadly tornado likely began a path of destruction last Friday night. 

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