On Baptism Sunday (April 7) First Baptist Church DeWitt, Arkansas, baptized five believers of Christ. Two more baptisms were scheduled for the next Sunday.
“The Lord is working in our church a lot right now,” pastor Jimmy Albrecht said.
Baptism Sunday was the culmination of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention’s Spring Outreach Ministry.
Throughout March, more than 1,000 Arkansas Baptists served in 92 reported ministries as part of Serve Local. Ministries included yard work, home repairs, Easter Egg Hunts, block parties, and much more. Approximately 5,400 guests attended events where the gospel was shared, and at least 30 professions of faith were recorded.
Though First Baptist Church DeWitt held a Living Last Supper event over Easter, Albrecht attributed the baptisms to the church’s renewed focus on prayer and its growing youth and children’s ministries.
Youth ministry doubles
Over the last year, First Baptist Church DeWitt’s youth ministry has more than doubled, going from about 40 students to more than 90.
The church’s children’s ministry has increased from roughly 50 kids to more than 80.
On Baptism Sunday, Albrecht said they had 377 people in attendance.
He noted the church’s sanctuary has a capacity of about 387.
One of the attendees was the grandfather of one of the individuals being baptized. Albrecht said the man asked his son, “Is it always so spiritual here?”
“It’s the Holy Spirit visiting with us,” Albrecht said. “And baptisms are just a result of that.”
Adding to the excitement, on April 14, the church held a dedication for its new activities building. They broke ground on the building in July.
“People are just excited, they really are and it’s just flowing with God’s glory,” Albrecht said. “This is the most exciting time to be at First Baptist Church ever in DeWitt.”
Added excitement
Meanwhile, at First Baptist Church Salem, they had five baptisms on Baptism Sunday. All were elementary-aged students who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior over the last several months, said Tyler Fox, associate and senior adult pastor.
“These students had seeds planted in them from children’s church camp, AWANA, children’s church and from our pastors, leaders and their parents,” said Fox, noting they then had an adult gentleman baptized on Wednesday night, April 10.
“It is so good to see the Lord working in Salem and our prayer is that these recent baptisms will continue to plant seeds that will lead to the men and women in our community to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. To God be the glory.”
In south Arkansas at Immanuel Baptist Church in El Dorado, senior pastor Clark Whitney said they have seen 12 baptisms in the last four months.
‘God does the work’
“To God be the glory,” Whitney said. “We’ve seen the Lord do a mighty work with children, teenagers, and adults.”
Whitney shared that among those baptized on Baptism Sunday was a father and his teenage daughter.
“When God’s hand is on His people, it’s a powerful and special thing. I’m reminded of the words of Billy Graham: ‘I’m just a spectator, watching what God is doing.’ As a pastor, I feel like a turtle sitting on the old South Arkansas fencepost — I know I didn’t get up here on my own. God does the work when we stay faithful and keep the spotlight on evangelism. His Word and His Spirit are sufficient. Pastor, stay faithful and fan the flame of evangelism. There is a world that needs the good news of Jesus,” Whitney said.
To read full story and learn more about how the outreach effort impacted Arkansas churches, click here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mary Alford and Clint Ritchie and originally published by Arkansas Baptist News.
