On Mission Magazine - Evangelism Resource Guide 2020 by North American Mission Board

Evangelism Resource Guide

2020

contents

NAMB is a SBC entity supported by the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.® The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.® Postmaster: Send address changes to: On Mission, North American Mission Board, PO Box 292, Williamsport, PA 17703-0292. Because of your valued support of the Cooperative Program, we are able to offer you a free copy of On Mission. To subscribe, call toll free 800-431-7571 or visit namb.net/ OnMission. On Mission grants permission for any original article to be photocopied for educational or church use. Include the following credit: “Used by permission of On Mission, North American Mission Board, ©2020.” For special requests, email us at help@namb.net or call 800-634-2462.

Art Director Shawn Elledge

Executive Vice President Carlos Ferrer

Designer Steve Beaver

Chief Marketing Officer Adam Hollingsworth

Photo Editor Gentry Parks

Senior Creative Director Adam Bain

Section Editor Tony Hudson

Editor K. Faith Wroten

On Mission Magazine 4200 North Point Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022

Associate Editors Gabriel Stovall SharDavia Walker

Contributors The Brave Union Joel Byman Matt Carson Hayley Catt Brandon Elrod Johnny Hunt J.D. Greear Samuel Greenhill Mark Kelly Dhati Lewis Meredith Lyons Patricia McCarty Tobin Perry Catherine Renfro Harold Smith III Alexandra Toy Meredith Yackel © 2020 ON MISSION

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY THE BRAVE UNION

On Mission highlights missionaries, chaplains and churches working to reach North America and the world for Christ. On Mission is a publication of the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

NAMB President Kevin Ezell

winter 2 020

14 16

2 Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter

4 The Pulse

9 Because You Give

10 The Five

12 Q&A

14 Neighborhood Portrait: Ashland

16 Simple math 22 The Prodigals 30 Immersed in faith

38 Is the gospel of first importance for you?

42 Recommended

46 Regional convention evangelism resource guide

57 My Turn

Your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter OfferingÂŽ give missionaries the resources they need to spread the gospel across North America. Give online at AnnieArmstrong.com/Give. volume 23 | number 1

presi dent’s letter

What will your one do? By Kevin Ezell, NAMB president (@kevezell)

hen we are faithful to share Jesus with others, not only are we being obedient to the Great Commission, we also get to be part of the bigger story God is writing in the world. That’s what the Who’s Your One emphasis is all about—a willingness to find one person for whom you can pray and with whom you can start gospel conversations. Thirty years ago, when I pastored First Baptist Church Hartsville, Tennessee, David Brown was my one. I had the privilege of leading him to Jesus during his junior year of high school. David was a star linebacker on the high school football team and helped lead his team to the state championship in 1990. He also went on to lead several of his teammates to Christ. In fact, six of the starting 11 members of the team eventually attended our church, thanks to David. This past October, I traveled back to Hartsville to be part of the church’s 150-year anniversary celebration, and I got to see David. He is still serving the church and has continued to share his faith all these many years. Seeing David reminded me that when we are faithful to share Jesus with the one He has put on our hearts, we have no idea how God will use that person to impact His kingdom in the years to come. On my own, there was no way I would have

been able to lead David’s teammates to the Lord. But God had him strategically placed in their lives. Once he accepted Christ and started sharing with those around him, God used him greatly. This is one of the mysterious, amazing things about how God uses us to help reach the world. Some of that impact we won’t know this side of eternity. But I am grateful for the David Browns in my life and for the glimpses God gives me that if I am just obedient to share Him, He will use me to change lives in miraculous, meaningful ways far beyond what I could ever dream. 2

What might you be missing out on by not sharing your faith with others? Who in your life is waiting to hear? Who’s your one?

Learn more about Who’s Your One and download free resources for your church at WhosYourOne.com.

Subscribe to the Evangelism with Johnny Hunt podcast!

Do you have questions about leading your church in evangelism? Johnny Hunt sits down with NAMB president Kevin Ezell to answer questions and give practical solutions to evangelism challenges faced by pastors and congregations across North America.

Send your questions to evangelism@namb.net

the pulse

Heard More invitations than personal evangelism

Learning the 3 Circles drawing has been one of the most impactful tools for giving me boldness in evangelism.” Jen Huntley, church planter wife Source: @namb_sbc Instagram in comments, August 20, 2019

55% of people who attend church at least once a month have not shared with someone how to become a Christian in the past six months. However, 55% say they have invited an unchurched person to a church service or program in the past six months. Source: LifeWay, April 23, 2019

My prayer is to see a movement of God and a revival among students. I want to continue to preach to the next generation and help churches think through how to reach them.” Shane Pruitt, director of next-gen evangelism for NAMB Source: Baptist Press, October 17, 2019

Do you trust me?

vangelicals hold a higher-than-average view of police officers (86% of evangelicals

consider them caring vs. 79% of Americans). They’re also more likely to believe information from

police (81% of evangelicals vs. 74% of Americans) and military leaders (72% of evangelicals vs. 66% of Americans). Evangelicals trust members of the media at rates 10–15 percentage points less than the average adult, though. Source: Christianity Today, September 30, 2019

The gospel is why we come together. It is the basis of our unity. I really believe that if we demonstrate that together, along with our state and associational partners, our best days are ahead.” J.D. Greear, SBC president Source: SBC Executive Committee, September 17, 2019

Bible reading among regular Protestant church attenders

Measured Burnout breaking point A recent study of pastors found that many are at risk of burnout.

12%

84%

5% 32%

11%

Say theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on call 24 hours a day

80%

Expect conflict in their church

12%

27%

54%

Find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming

53%

Are often concerned about their familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial security

32%

read the Bible every day

27%

read the Bible a few times a week

12%

read the Bible once a week

11%

read the Bible a few times a month

read the Bible once a month

12%

rarely or never read the Bible

Source: LifeWay, July 2, 2019

43%

Often feel the demands of ministry are more than they can handle

21%

Say their church has unrealistic expectations of them Source: Christianity Today, October 18, 2019

the pulse

Teens and religion 4 in 10 teens who attend public schools say they commonly see other students praying before sporting events at school. About a quarter of teens who attend public schools say they often or sometimes see students invite other students to religious youth groups or worship services. Source: Pew Research, October 3, 2019

Shifting percentages 6

65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12% fewer than a decade ago. Religiously unaffiliated now make up 26% of the population, up from 17% in 2009. Source: Pew Research, October 17, 2019

65%

Age of evangelism

oung adult and middle-aged churchgoers are more likely to have shared with someone

how to become a Christian in the past six months than older churchgoing adults. Source: LifeWay, April 23, 2019

Noted High-volume tweeters national politics came from just 10% of users.

Social engagement

Source: Pew Research, October, 2019

American twentysomethings who prioritize

97% of tweets from U.S. adults that mentioned

religious and spiritual life are more likely to engage in: marriage, parenthood, college graduation, employment, voting, community

Coming-of-age exodus

early two-thirds of U.S. 18–29-year-olds who grew up active in church have withdrawn from church

involvement as an adult. Source: Barna, September 4, 2019

engagement and social involvement. Source: Christianity Today, September 25, 2019

Aging population In 2034, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that older adults will outnumber children. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, October 8, 2019

Suicide in U.S. jails Twenty-five percent happen within the first 24 hours

Doubting common

of incarceration and 50% within the first two weeks.

Two-thirds of American Christians have

Almost a third of all deaths in jails are caused by suicide.

experienced or are currently experiencing

Source: The Week, August 30, 2019

doubts in their faith.

Over 300 people commit suicide each year in U.S. jails.

Source: Relevant, September 16, 2019

Just ask Digital vs. print

en are more likely than women to finish Bible reading plans on an app, but they don’t retain

as much information as they do reading a hard copy. Women retained about the same amount of information

45% of churchgoers say they haven’t invited an unchurched person to church in the past six months. 31% say they invited one or two individuals. Hispanics are the most likely to have invited someone (71%).

and completed a similar amount of reading on both.

People who attend church four or more times

Source: Christianity Today, September 23, 2019

a month (58%) are more likely to say they have invited someone to church in the past six months than those who attend less frequently (47%). Source: LifeWay, April 23, 2019

TOUR with Johnny Hunt

2020 JAN 12-13 JAN 26-27 FEB 9-10 FEB 16-17 FEB 23-24 MAR 1-2 MAR 8-9 MAR 22-23 MAR 29-30 APR 19-20 APR 26-27 MAY 3-4 AUG 2-3 AUG 23-24 AUG 30-31 SEP 13-14 SEP 27-28 OCT 11-12 NOV 1-2 NOV 8-9 NOV 15-16

Birmingham, AL Baton Rouge, LA Clearwater, FL Knoxville, TN Frankfort, KY Hampton, VA Indian Trail, NC Spartanburg, SC Des Moines, IA Brandon, MS Gulfport, MS Broken Arrow, OK Wake Forest, NC Plant City, FL Louisville, KY Austin, TX Birmingham, AL Dublin, GA Nashville, TN Las Vegas, NV Highland, CA

more to come

WhosYourOne.com #WhosYour1

the pulse

Because you gıve… Church Planting

People in communities across North America are hearing the gospel in church plants you support through your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® and Cooperative Program.

27% 41% 1:12 20% 71% 18%

More than 27% of all SBC churches outside the South have been started since 2010. In New England, 41% of SBC churches have been started since 2010. Church plants baptize an average of one person for every 12 attendees. In 12 state conventions outside the South, at least 20% of all baptisms come from church plants. In Canada, 71% of all reported baptisms come from Canadian National Baptist Convention church plants. Across the entire SBC, more than 18% of all reported baptisms come from churches started since 2010.

Thank you for your gifts to plant churches everywhere for everyone! Help church plants reach more people for Christ by giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at AnnieArmstrong.com.

the five

5 Ways

to share your faith at work Two-time Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Tony Dungy shares five ways for believers to share their faith and represent Jesus, even in places some would think are antagonistic to the gospel.

1 10

Remember Colossians 3:23.

they are and the ability not to be easily offended if they don’t always agree with what we have to say. In those tough cases, we should remember the grace God had on us and give that to others.

Always be ready to demonstrate.

When you demonstrate, it makes your points very clearly. Once I demonstrated to my players I was in their corner, they listened to what I had to say—not just about

That’s the verse that anchored me. “Whatever

football, but life, the Lord and everything

you do, do it as unto the Lord.” Whether playing,

else. Sure, we had our team goals. When we

coaching, being in my neighborhood or on my

were in Tampa, we wanted to make a Super

job, whatever I do, I’m serving the Lord. I keep that

Bowl and win it. But we also wanted to make

first. Yes, I have employers and players I serve. But

Tampa a better place to live. But you had to

I’m serving the Lord first. If I keep that in mind, no

show them that you were real first. And when

opposition can harm me, and I know I’m going to

you did that, they’d listen to you about other

be okay.

things.

Don’t forget about grace.

Do what Jesus modeled—balance truth and grace. The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love, but we also have to have the grace to see people where

Keep respect as a staple of all interactions.

You have to understand that, yes, I’m a Christian, but everybody doesn’t have my views. I want people

to respect me for my beliefs, but it’s going to have to be mutual, and I’m going to have to demonstrate that grace as well as tell people what is true. If you do it that way, you let people know it can be done. You can have and share your beliefs and still demonstrate God’s love even in the midst of disagreement.

Be ready to be the example.

There’s so much hatred and vitriol out there in all of our public discourse. But as believers, we can’t afford to do that. In fact, the world is watching us, and Jesus says we have to be different. As more hostility sets in, it’s going to cause Christians to make a decision. Are we going to serve the Lord and show people the Christlike example of how to handle disagreements, or are we going to give in to the hostility? We can’t do that if we’re going to be Christ’s example. Tony Dungy is a former professional football player and coach in the NFL. He is now a football analyst and speaker.

See sports figures telling their Who’s Your One stories at WhosYourOne.com

Who should baptize new believers in church? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One tour attendee

Hear more evangelism tips and strategies on the Evangelism with Johnny Hunt podcast at namb.net/Podcasts.

Johnny Hunt

or many, it’s a local church decision, understanding that each church has

local autonomy.

Catherine Renfro

esus’ command in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all

nations …” is often referenced when it

Dhati Lewis

think maybe some of our church traditions have inadvertently made this

question more confusing to pastors and

comes to encouraging every believer to

congregations than Scripture makes it.

However, many of our Southern Baptist

share Jesus with those around us. But the

Are you a Christian? Then you are able to

churches allow those who led the

command doesn’t stop there; Jesus goes

baptize a new believer! In fact, baptizing

individual to Christ to do the baptizing;

on to say, “baptizing them in the name

a new believer is an incredible joy and

this includes men and women. As for

of the Father and of the Son and of the

privilege—a privilege that I hope every

the New Testament, I do not know of a

Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey

Christian gets to experience in their

passage that would forbid such, but I’m

everything I have commanded you …”

lifetime. One of the greatest joys in life

quick to mention that I honor the local

Because the Bible doesn’t delegate the

is to be used by God to lead someone

church’s decision. While on this subject,

act of baptizing to a specific role, I believe

to faith. And just as God can use anyone

might I be quick to add, may nothing

that just as every Christian has the ability

to lead someone to Himself, He also

deter us from celebrating the conversion

to lead someone to faith in Christ, any

opens up the privilege of baptism to any

of the individual from a life of lostness to

believer can also baptize a person who

Christian.

a radical new life in Christ. May we keep

has surrendered their life to Jesus.

the main thing the main thing.

I am always encouraged when we get to There is nothing more exciting than

see one of our members baptize a new

Easter has been set aside as our next

being part of someone’s faith journey,

believer. It serves as a powerful reminder

Baptism Sunday. I am in great hopes that

from evangelism to baptism to disciple-

to the whole congregation that God is

thousands of SBC churches will celebrate

ship. Each part of the process fans the

alive and active and working through the

spontaneous baptism on Resurrection

flame of excitement to live out God’s call

lives of each of His children—not just

Sunday. May the Lord use each of us to

on our lives to know Him and make Him

those who are in full-time, “professional”

reach more for Christ.

known.

ministry.

Johnny Hunt is senior vice president of

Catherine Renfro is the evangelism strat-

Dhati Lewis is vice president of Send

Evangelism and Leadership at NAMB.

egist at NAMB and speaker on practical

Network. Hear from Dhati and church

Learn how to conduct Baptism Sunday at

evangelism on the Who’s Your One tour.

planters on the field on the We Are Send

namb.net/Baptism-Sunday-Resources.

Find tour stops at WhosYourOne.com.

Network podcast at namb.net/Podcasts.

Ashland 14

n e igh bor h ood portrai t

PHOTOS BY SAMUEL GREENHILL

he chipped-paint greeting is profound in what it does not say. The sign reads, “Welcome to Ashland, a proud past, a bright future.” People in Ashland, Kentucky, are indeed proud of their coal mining heritage and excited about what might come next. But in a community where 40% of the residents are unemployed, it’s not surprising that Ashland’s city-limit signage spotlights its past and future but leaves the present unaccounted for.

Where it started

Hope Central began almost by accident. Renee Parsons would give people rides to places where she believed they could find help. That’s where it all started.

Where it led

Amber Sammons was an ex-con, suicidal heroin addict when she came to Hope Central. Renee Parsons helped her find a place to live, then helped her find a reason to live.

Where it ended up

Amber Sammons is now the executive director of Hope Central. Faith in Jesus and the people at Central Baptist Church have brought her a long way from where she was.

“Yeah, it’s eastern Kentucky,” says Renee Parsons, founder of an Ashland ministry called Hope Central. “As far as poverty goes, it’s the way it is for a reason. But it doesn’t have to stay like that. We tell people real hope is not in economics. Real hope is in Jesus.” Renee and her husband Rob moved back to their hometown 10 years ago. Ashland’s Central Baptist Church was dying and had asked for their help. “They were at that time about nine people strong,” Renee says. “But now on any given Sunday morning, I can look out and see 50 people in our church, and I can tell you how each one of them is serving the Lord.” “Serving the Lord” is what fueled the resurrection of Central Baptist Church. In 2013, they started Hope Central to help people find food, clothes, homes and jobs. “That started to change everybody’s perception about Central Baptist Church,” Renee says. “It really opened things up.” Hope Central gave Central Baptist a platform for building witnessing relationships. Now, people here who’ve given their lives to Christ don’t have just a proud past and a bright future, but a transformed here-and-now. “We wanted to give them what they didn’t have and that’s Jesus,” Renee says. “That’s what we told them—He’ll supply all your needs.”

To hear how Amber and Renee learned to use squash, tomatoes and peppers to share Christ with people in Ashland, visit the Stories of Hope podcast at SendRelief.org/Ashland.

Simple

math

It starts with the smallest number: one. Share the gospel with one person. But when thousands and thousands of Christians each commit to reaching one, the numbers add up, and they add up fast. These are testimonies of the everyday believers and churches all over North America who took the Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One challenge and watched God transform lives and communities as a result.

Terry came to know Christ after service yesterday! She was Gary’s one! –Michael B. • Pretty awesome day today; my 8 year old committed to her one! Can’t wait to help her get started praying! –Chris R. • Had the wonderful privilege to baptize my one last Sunday. And it all started by a simple presentation of the gospel. –Tim A. • We had over 150 today commit to praying for and evangelizing their one! We are praying God’s blessing on this movement! –FBC Grayson • Since Oak Grove Baptist began our Who’s Your One emphasis a week ago, we have had

People all over the nation and around the globe are reaching lost neighbors, friends and family members with the gospel. Here are a few of their Who’s Your One stories.

two confess Christ as Lord. –Nicholas C. • Just had lunch with my one. They brought the gospel up in the conversation—not me! God always does the heavy lifting! –Daniel T. • This morning I met the sweetest elderly lady who, with a smile that could light up a room, said, “I need you to know that I just identified my one, and I’m going to tell him about Jesus!” Catherine R. • 24 baptisms since our Who’s Your One Sunday! –Mark P. • Had a wonderful visit with my one today. It’s a stark contrast from last week. He even asked me questions about the Bible! God is working in his 99-year-old heart! –Lois C. • I just had lunch with Tony D. who told me about a massive Who’s Your One initiative he’s leading in Wake County prisons that has resulted in several professions of faith by current inmates! –J.D. Greear • We had 63 cards returned for

My one trusted Jesus as Savior and agreed to be discipled! - Marc H.

Who’s Your One this past Sunday. Excitedly praying for the God stories to come from this. –Scott D. • Just heard a sweet testimony of one of my elderly members having shared Jesus with her one. The Lord is kind! –Michael E. • Launched Who’s Your One today at our church—57 commitments to pray and counting! –Jonathan T. • Blessed to lead

my nephew Tommy to Jesus tonight! He was my one. –Scott W. • We are excited about how God is using Who’s Your One at Center Baptist. We’ve already seen the Lord save some of our folks’ ones! –Michael W. • We started focusing on our ones at the beginning of March and have seen it begin to impact our thought process. Who’s Your One is changing the way our people see evangelism. –Penia Baptist Church • Emmanuel Baptist Church is using Who’s Your One here in Kentucky. Over 118 names laid on the altar two weeks ago, and already three high schoolers have accepted Christ. –Douglas T. • Launched Who’s Your One this Sunday at Jonesville Baptist. Fantastic response—excited to see what the Lord will do! –Corey C. • Our pastor challenged us last year to make just one disciple. My sister moved in with us from rehab, and I began to disciple 18

her. She surrendered her life to Jesus, was baptized on Easter and continues to walk in His ways. –Cissy S. • Had a young family over for dinner last night, and the dad prayed to receive Christ. I’m baptizing him Sunday. –Brad G. • Tonight I texted my one to let him know I’m praying for

My friend Adam gave his heart to the Lord tonight at New Hope Baptist’s men’s event. - Ellis D.

him. He asked me to call, and I had a gospel conversation with him. No decision yet, but God is

Heard on #WhosYour1

My one was my father, and he accepted Christ shortly before he passed away into the arms of Jesus! - Conrad A.

at work. –Rodney B. • Two church members are currently standing outside my office talking about their ones and what they’re doing to reach them. I’m very encouraged that people are catching on. –Andrew K. • My community group leader just created a prayer schedule to pray for each other’s ones. Intentionality is the difference maker in effective disciple making. –Spence S. • Had lunch with my one. We had a great gospel conversation. –Patrick S. • We had 100 commitments today at Sanford Hill Baptist to pray for one specific person to know Christ. –Shane C. • My one just accepted Christ. I guess I’ll go get another one! –Brian H. • Today, I have talked to three men at Quail Springs Baptist Church who are praying for their

one and taking opportunities to share the gospel with them. So thankful for soul winners in our churches! –Stephen R. • Talked about the gospel until 2 a.m. last night with my one. Boldness to jump into that territory and the simple opportunity to have that conversation were huge answers to prayer. –Kynzie S. • I had the incredible honor of helping another church member lead their one to faith in Christ today! –Wade W. • Just heard the 83-year-old mother of one of our deacons got saved today. She’s from a Buddhist background, and we’ve been praying for her for many years. –Donald A. • I am having coffee with my one next week! –Amy S. • Our Who’s Your One emphasis kicked off at Arapahoe

Just talked to a man tonight who said, “My one was at church last Sunday.” - Stephen R.

Road Church. 63 responses—that’s 63 souls being prayed for to come to Christ. –Matthew

My wife and I have invited a young mom over tonight to have a gospel conversation. - Michael C.

P. • 100+ names of our ones were laid on the altar last Sunday. What fills a pastor’s heart with joyful expectation? Knowing 100+ are praying for God to open doors. –Rob P. • We just started Who’s Your One last week, and so far we have two salvations! –David G. • Yesterday at church, one of my church members shared with me that his one prayed to receive Christ and was baptized last Sunday! I rejoiced with him and encouraged him to begin praying for another one! –Dwayne N. • After service, I lead our first one to Christ. –David G. • We had a young sixth grader in VBS who brought his one last night. His friend trusted Christ as Savior! –Ancel P. • Just had a great gospel conversation with my one a few minutes ago. God is at work. Let’s keep on praying, sharing and believing. –Shaun P. • Since we began Who’s Your One, we have seen five ones come to Christ and four ones baptized. –West Ripley Baptist Church • The last

several weeks, we’ve baptized somebody who was someone’s one. –Michael C. • A young lady at church camp today told me she had received Christ as her Savior! Someone soon said to me, “She was my one!” –Mark C. • Today, the steps of the platform were covered with well over 140 Who’s Your One cards with many members’ and visitors’ one. Stoked! –Matt H. • A teen met me at the door of the church enthusiastic to share his one was his younger brother. His smiling little brother then shared how he gave his live to Christ because his brother shared! Yes! –Rob P. • My sister’s one came to church this morning! –Cissy S.

Hashtag

Lighting up the map They are more than dots on a map. Each point represents somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one. Each represents a prayer and gospel conversation happening now. 20

Add your dot to the map.

WhosYourOne.com

Share your Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One story on social media using #WhosYour1.

yourself and quipchurch Eyour for EVANGELISM AND UNITY

Who’s Your One is a tool created to challenge every church member to live on mission by selecting one person from their circle of influence and seeking opportunities to share the gospel with that one. The kit includes sermons from J.D. Greear and Johnny Hunt and a 30-day prayer guide designed to propel all followers of Jesus to actively participate in the Great Commission.

The 3 Circles Evangelism Kit is designed to assist pastors in leading a multi-week evangelism emphasis for their church. The kit includes a trainer manual and a trainee manual for small group discussion, a pack of life conversation guides and a flash drive loaded with an overview for the pastor, sermon resources, videos and more. This training course will equip you and your small group to share the saving truth of the gospel with your friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers. We recognize that the thought of having gospel conversations with others intimidates many people, so if you’re feeling apprehensive, don’t worry. This three-week module and accompanying The Best News card will simplify the process and give you the confidence you need.

THIS

Live This is a three-week series created to equip pastors with resources and tools so that they can train their church members to clearly articulate the gospel with unbelievers. Week one illustrates how to share the Good News through the model of Christ. The second week outlines and defines the gospel through passages in Scripture. The final week shows how to teach the gospel message.

Learn more at nambstore.com

The Prodigals j By Tony Hudson

ust like thousands of other people who grew up in the projects of Memphis, Tennessee, Barron Martin and Roderick Shaw ran away. But unlike most everyone else who left, something pulled Barron and Roderick back home. name is Barron Martin. In Frayser, a community

whole world, it seems, is sleeping off whatever sin

where the main export was and still is prodigals,

it got into the night before.

Barron, or “Pharaoh,” was once a famous man.

He’s come carrying armloads of winter coats and

“But for all the wrong reasons,” he says. “My own

baby diapers and microwave ovens. He came last

mama was ashamed of me. I was wicked.”

month, he comes this month, he will come next month, bringing peace offerings to a place that

This is a story about not one, but two prodigal

knows no peace.

sons, Barron Martin and Roderick Shaw. Barron came first. It had to be that way. He had to be

“There are hundreds of churches in this com-

ready when Roderick’s time came.

munity,” he says. “And yet this is one of the most violent places you can be.”

“You ever seen somebody that’s reduced down to nothing?” Barron asks. Barron Martin has. Twice.

“Pharaoh”—that’s what everybody in this North

Once 30 years ago when he looked in the mirror.

Memphis neighborhood used to call him. His real

And then once again when he met Roderick Shaw.

PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA TOY

He’s not afraid. Saturday mornings are safe. The

Barron Martin and Roderick Shaw serve together at a clothing distribution event in the same community where they once lived as prodigals.

One Faith Christian Center celebrates the baptism of a new believer.

Sometimes, it takes a prodigal to know a prodigal.

“She taught me about faith,” Barron says, “And she taught me about the Bible.” She also worked two

It Happened One Night

jobs to try and keep them one ladder rung above the poverty line. Barron’s mother did all the right

They tore down Henry Oates Manor a long time

things, except find a way to escape Henry Oates.

ago. But Barron Martin is pretty sure anyone who 24

watched enough Memphis, Tennessee, TV news

“The way the system was set up, she made too

back in the day will remember the name. “There

much money to get government assistance,”

were gun shots, stabbings, crack cocaine,” he says.

Barron remembers. “But she also didn’t make

“And the strange thing about it is the community

enough money to move us out of the projects. She

was close, but violent. It was just like, if you didn’t

was stuck in the middle. And she wasn’t the only

grow up there, you weren’t allowed there.”

one. Other people there were stuck, too. I think that’s why everybody turned to burglary or armed

Barron Martin, for better and for worse, did grow

robbery or dealing drugs. That’s the only way they

up there, and his mother did her best.

knew to get what they needed.”

She and my grandmother always took me to church. Every Sunday,” Roderick says, “And always, my mother would tell me, ‘You’re not going to be in any gang. You’re going to be somebody.’”

Back then, that’s what Barron would tell himself—

religion, and when you ask him how it happened,

that his mother needed just a little extra money,

he’ll blame bad decisions, he’ll blame bad luck,

just enough to get them out of the projects. That’s

but he’ll never, ever blame his mother. Roderick

why he started selling drugs, because he wanted

Shaw’s mother was a saint. If you don’t believe it,

to help his mom. That’s what he believed—that

just ask him.

the road from “church kid” to “drug dealer” was paved with good intentions.

“She was always pushing me to be better,” he says. “She and my grandmother always took me

“I actually went to my mother when I was 16,” he

to church. Every Sunday. And always, my mother

remembers. “I told her, ‘Mom, I just want to let you

would tell me, ‘You’re not going to be in any gang.

know that I’m selling drugs.’ And she said, ‘Why

You’re going to be somebody.’”

would you do something like that?’ And I said, ‘Because I want to help you.’ And she told me,

Roderick’s mother had to shoo him away from

‘That ain’t going to help me!’”

gangs because, as Roderick says, “She left one ghetto just to move to the next one.” Roderick

If it’s possible to become a prodigal in one night,

spent half of his childhood in South Memphis and

that was Barron’s night.

the other half in South Central Los Angeles.

“I told my mother, ‘But I’m good at it,’” he says.

“I wasn’t a bad kid,” he says. “But in South Central,

“And she told me, ‘Well, seeing as how you’re

I couldn’t help it. I was around gangs. You know

good at it, you go get your stuff and get out of

the saying, ‘Whenever you’re in Rome, do as the

here.’ And she put me out of the house.”

Romans do’? To survive, you had to get along.”

Barron Martin went prodigal one night in 1990.

Roderick joined the Army when he turned 18, and

Sometimes it happens like that. But then other

they shipped him off to Germany. Five thousand

times, the distance between good kid and prodigal

miles away from whatever positive influence his

son is a 50-year-long slow fade.

mother might have had, “getting along” became his new, go-to philosophy.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

“We went out almost every night, partied a lot, did drugs a lot,” Roderick says. “And my religion fell

It took Roderick Shaw a long time to lose his

off the shelf.”

“I was devastated,” he says. “Whatever you can

here are not many big, small, old or new churches

build up, I lost.” That’s when Roderick Shaw finally

that have baptized as many new believers as One

had enough. He went all-in prodigal. Or as he puts

Faith Christian Center. Since Barron Martin started One

it, “Sometimes you fall in; sometimes you fall out.”

Faith in 2017, they have baptized more than 170 people, many of whom they met at Frayer’s Westside Elementary

The Way Home

School parking lot when Barron and his congregation were there distributing clothes and food. Barron says the Who’s Your One strategy, which encourages every believer to identify one lost person to pray for and share the gospel with, is partly responsible for all those baptisms.

Barron Martin knew just what he was looking at when he saw Roderick Shaw. “You ever seen a prodigal son?” he says. “That’s what he was. He was a broken man.”

“When we go out in the community, when we stay con-

Barron and Roderick ran into each other last year.

sistent, God brings us people,” he says. “Then, I just have

They’re old friends and fellow prodigals. And that

to reach one soul at a time. That’s why we started doing

made Roderick just the kind of person Barron

Who’s Your One because I knew that was how we could

was looking for, because Barron had become a

put an emphasis on evangelism and making disciples, by

prodigal pastor.

asking our people to just reach their one.” Shortly after his mom kicked him out of the house for selling drugs, Barron went to see a movie— That was when the back and forth began. The next 26

The Passion of the Christ.

40 years for Roderick were filled with Sunday morning stops and starts.

“When I saw that depiction of what happened to Jesus, something happened to me,” he remembers.

“I actually got introduced to the Lord in ’85 or ’86,” he says. “And my life changed a little bit.” But after that “little bit” of change, there was a marriage,

“I was like, ‘look what He did for me.’ I couldn’t stop crying. And when I came out of that theater, I wasn’t Pharaoh anymore.”

and then children, and then grandchildren, and then retirement. Then there was the murder of his grandson. Then there was divorce and drinking. He lost his home. He lost his health.

One good thing led to another, and years later, he and some friends started a church for all the prodigals he once knew.

A volunteer from One Faith Christian Center folds and sorts clothes at a distribution in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood teens find treasures on the tables of the clothing distribution ministry event.

When I saw that depiction of what happened to Jesus, something happened to me,” Barron remembers. “I was like, ‘look what He did for me.’ I couldn’t stop crying. And when I came out of that theater, I wasn’t Pharaoh anymore.”

“People in Frayser know what kind of an animal I

almost all of them are prodigals, just like Barron

was before Christ,” he says. “And this blows their

and Roderick used to be. But these people are

mind because my life was changed. I can say, ‘Jesus

not prodigals because of where they live or what

did it for me, He’s going to do it for you.’”

they’ve done. They’re prodigals because no one’s told them the truth.

That’s how one Sunday earlier this year, Roderick the prodigal finally came home.

“There are people here who don’t even know who Jesus is,” Barron says. “That means you’re talking

“This is the man who didn’t want to have anything

to people who have no hope.”

to do with God,” Barron says. “And to see that man come to our church and fall on his knees and ask

Barron plans on spending the rest of his post-prod-

God for forgiveness, and repent and receive Jesus,

igal life changing that. “When you don’t believe in

and now he’s the first one to church and the last

anything, that’s when you’re dangerous. But when

one to leave—that’s a success story to me.”

you have Jesus, man, you have hope. We have got to communicate that to people here, that when

“We all want somebody to love us no matter what

they accept the gospel, their life is changed,” Bar-

we do,” Roderick says. “And that’s God. He met

ron says.

me in all my dirt with the agape love that you don’t get from just anybody. And man, that was powerful.”

“Everything we do, we have to help people understand that. The blood of Jesus Christ changes

Prodigals Like Me

everything.”

The fourth Saturday of every month is Barron’s

Tony Hudson writes for On Mission.

favorite Saturday. That’s the day he and his church, One Faith Christian Center, go to the local elementary school and hand out donated food and clothes. More than 100 people normally show up, and

Hear more of Barron and Roderick’s story on the Stories of Hope podcast at SendRelief.org/Podcasts.

A Chronicling of Baptism Sunday Experiences

When SBC President J.D. Greear and NAMB VP Johnny Hunt teamed up to launch Who’s Your One a year ago and promoted the second Sunday in September as Baptism Sunday, they probably didn’t know any of the people you’ll read about here. But there’s no doubt that these stories are the kind of fruit for which they and thousands of Southern Baptists across the country were praying.

By Gabriel Stovall

Road Trip Baptism

ark Hoover is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Hayti, Missouri. His brother Dusty still lives in their old northeast Mississippi

stomping grounds near Tupelo. Dusty was the first person to cross Mark’s mind once he got wind of Who’s Your One. “My one was my own younger half-brother, Dusty,” Mark says. “I witnessed to him long distance.” Given the circumstances of Dusty’s life, some may have considered the younger brother’s salvation a long shot. But not Mark.

Mark Hoover embraces his brother Dusty after baptizing him on Baptism Sunday.

The two brothers shared the same father, but not the same home. In fact, paternal lineage aside, Mark and Dusty’s lives were about as opposite as opposite gets. “We met when we were teens,” Mark says. “Our father tragically killed (Dusty’s) mother, then killed himself with a gun. I was raised by my mother in a Christian home. I was a friend to my little brother, and he was to me—despite leading completely different lives.” Mark says his brother has had “many heartaches,” including a recent divorce. But as it often happens, Dusty’s pain pried open a door for Mark to share the

gospel. “He was extremely depressed,” Mark says. “But God used my brother’s valley and turned it into an awesome witnessing opportunity. I prayed for my one, and God put my brother on my heart.” The relationship Mark began with Dusty while face to face with him in Misssissippi transformed into a more digital one as Mark moved away to accept the pastoral call. But Mark’s determination to see his brother come to Christ never wavered.

Fast-forward to Sunday September 8, 2019. Dusty is making the three-hour drive from Mississippi to Hayti while Mark is making sure the water in First Baptist’s baptistry won’t freeze them to death. “Through phone calls and social media, I shared Scripture and encouragement with him,” Mark said. “Dusty really started reflecting on God’s Word and got saved. And then he drove all the way to Missouri for me to baptize him on Baptism Sunday.” It can probably go without saying that Mark immersing Dusty’s body into baptism waters on that September Sunday morning was the highlight of their relationship with each other. Mark says it also added a priceless level of depth to their bond—the kind that goes far deeper than family blood lines. “I am very blessed to have a brother who is now my brother in Christ as well.”

Adriana gave her life to Christ at Macedonia Baptist

Checking Both Boxes

Church. Twelve days later, she was baptized in Lake Chatuge on Baptism Sunday.

otivated by both a general desire to see more people come to salvation in Christ, Dr. Wade Lott, senior pastor of Macedonia Baptist

Church in Hiawassee, Georgia, crafted a Who’s Your One sermon series that climaxed with Adriana giving her life to Jesus and being baptized on Baptism Sunday. Adriana was somebody’s one, and now, as a new believer, she’ll identify and pray for her own one to follow her example.

A Family Affair

hile Adriana was stepping into new life in Christ near the GeorgiaTennessee border, Pastor Chase Smith of Trinity Baptist Church in

Farmersville, Texas, was watching a family lineage of faith grow right before his eyes. On Baptism Sunday, nine people stepped into a muddy pond near Smith’s church to follow Jesus’ example in water baptism. But it gets better. Pastor Chase took to Twitter to share what made his Baptism Sunday experience so extraordinary. “We had nine baptized today,” Smith wrote on Twitter. “Dads and grandpas baptizing their families made for a powerful afternoon. Plus, we got to baptize in a pond and almost got stuck in the mud.”

Pastor Chase Smith with those who were baptized at Trinity Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, on Baptism Sunday.

Pastor Chase, himself, was part of that extension of spiritual lineage as his daughter was one of the nine. Meanwhile, in Cleveland, Tennessee, an entire family consisting of a mother, father and two boys were baptized by Pastor Jordan Easley at First Baptist Cleveland. Two men, representing two completely different generations, were baptized at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid, Florida. “So thankful that we were able to be a part of Baptism Sunday,” Ray’s Chapel

pastor, Nathan Brown, wrote on Twitter. “We baptized an 8-year-old and an 84-year-old.”

Coming in Droves

icah Fries has seen a lot of ministry in a lot of different places. Before taking on the pastorate of the Brainerd Baptist Church in Chatta-

nooga, Tennessee, Fries served as a senior pastor in Missouri and as an international church planter in Burkina Faso, West Africa. He also had a stint as the vice president of LifeWay Research. But still, what he witnessed at Brainerd during Baptism Sunday was enough to leave him speechless. “What. A. Day.” Fries wrote on Twitter. “56 people were baptized today, publicly declaring their faith in Christ! It’s hard to put into words what happened today at Brainerd Baptist. I can’t even remember as much excitement as we saw today across all of our services. Thank you, Jesus.”

One of 56 new believers in Christ to be baptized on Baptism Sunday at Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga,

For Fries, this particular Baptism Sunday came on Sunday September 29, about

Tennessee, celebrates her transformation after coming

three weeks later than the set-aside date of September 8. But perhaps that simply

out of the water.

undergirds what Pastor Marshal Ausberry, Sr., pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax, Virginia, had to say about what Baptism Sunday may have ignited. “I sense a tremendous momentum coming out of Baptism Sunday that will energize our entire congregation to reach the lost,” said Ausberry in a September 9 article published at wordandway.org. The day before that article published, Ausberry celebrated 10 people baptized in his congregation while four more gave their lives to Christ during the service and were slated to be baptized at a later time. Ausberry, who at the time, served as first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and president of the National African American Fellowship of the SBC, called Baptism Sunday something potentially bigger than just a day. “I walked away thinking that it would be an awesome move of God if Baptism

Sunday morphs beyond the SBC,” he said in the article. “The purpose is not for another Hallmark card day, but to help God’s Church to stay focused on the main thing, winning souls to Christ.”

Small Numbers, Big Win

hat brings a diehard Tennessee Volunteers’ football fan out of the comforts of his stable ministry job at a megachurch smack in the

middle of the Bible belt?

Pastor Chris Phillips of Journey Point Church in Denver,

Lostness.

Colorado, encourages his congregation to be active in sharing the gospel during a recent worship service.

That’s what coaxed Pastor Chris Phillips away from what many would consider a “dream ministry job” at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, to Denver, Colorado—a city with just one Southern Baptist church for every 32,000 people. And on Baptism Sunday, Chris and his wife Libby saw one of the most confirming signs that God’s hand was squarely on their lives and ministry. On September 8, Chris rejoiced as three people were baptized at Journey Point Church, the Denver church plant he started in June 2017. Were there churches across the country that baptized more on Baptism Sunday? Yes. But that wasn’t

the point. “Of course, on a day like Baptism Sunday, you want to be able to say you baptized 100 people,” he said. “I baptized three. And you might be tempted to say, ‘Well, that stinks.’ But when you start to compare it and realize you’re in a place that’s 92 to 95 percent lost, you start realizing that there’s a great work being done in those three.” One of the three is the pastor’s son, Rhett Phillips. But the other two—a motherdaughter pair named Elena and London Malloy—are the main characters in a

story he loves to tell. Like most new church plants, Journey Point is portable. It meets in an elementary school, and Chris, his wife and whatever volunteers he can find work hard to put together and tear down their worship setup each week. He isn’t complaining though, considering his relationship with the school is responsible for two thirds of his Baptism Sunday story. “My wife has a background in early childhood education,” Chris said. “We used that to open up a door here, and we just started serving.” After a season of serving the school’s population, the school’s principal, who wasn’t a churchgoer, opened their doors to the Phillips family and Journey Point. From there, the principal started visiting, and Phillips’ wife was able to minister to a first-grade girl and her mom—the Malloys. “My wife got to give London the first Bible she ever owned, and they started

After being baptized herself, Elana Malloy baptized her

coming to our church,” Chris said.

daughter, London, during Baptism Sunday at Journey Point Church.

Soon, visits turned into regular attendance, and regular attendance turned into both mother and daughter trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. And on Baptism Sunday, after Chris baptized his own son and Elana, he then allowed Elana to baptize London. “That was just an unbelievable experience to see a part of that family come show their faith to Jesus on the same day and in that way,” he said. The Malloys are two of the more than 40 people who have come to faith at Journey Point since 2017, and Chris has been able to baptize a little more than half. But the Baptism Sunday trio is the kind of fruit that reminds Chris of why he doesn’t mind the rigor of doing ministry in a place like Denver.

The next Baptism Sunday will be this Easter. Learn how to plan a baptism service for your church at namb.net/BaptismSunday.

This article is an excerpt from Above All by J.D. Greear

Is the gospel of first importance for you? Evangelical Christians have always been gospel people, of course. After all, it’s in our very name. The word evangelical is a transliteration of the Greek word gospel. So in that sense the gospel has always been our “brand.” It’s been the heart of Christianity from the beginning. It’s what gives our faith life. By J.D. Greear

longer is our first priority.

ut now it seems like we are tempted to

We must turn back to the gospel of God’s grace in

turn elsewhere for renewal and for life.

Jesus if we want to go forward in mission.

You foolish [Evangelicals]! Who has cast

a spell on you?…Are you so foolish? After begin-

None of our goals for personal growth will take off

ning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the

without the gospel. None of our calls for renewal

flesh? (Galatians 3:1–3)

will endure if they are not grounded in the gospel. The fire “to do” in the Christian life comes only from

Our failure to see renewal isn’t a result of holding

being soaked in the fuel of what has been done.

the gospel so tightly that we’re rusty on modern techniques. Rather, it’s a result of holding

A quick note to my fellow pastors: this has to start

techniques too tightly and getting rusty with the

in the pulpit. Every sermon should be grounded

gospel. We’ve removed the gospel from its place

in the good news of what Jesus Christ has done.

of first importance. It no longer is supreme. It no

Charles Spurgeon once said that in every one of his

sermons, he would “plow a trough” back to Jesus.

Since Jesus claimed all of the Scriptures point to

I used to think that meant he thought we should

him (Luke 24:27), this shouldn’t be too difficult for us.

give a gospel invitation at the end of every talk. But

Just as the point of the Bible is to exalt His name,

Spurgeon meant more than that. Spurgeon meant

the point of every sermon should be the same.

that the water of life necessary to do whatever the Scriptures commanded us to do flowed only from

To paraphrase D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the goal of

the finished work of Christ. Apart from faith in that,

a lecture is that people leave with information; the

we preach a powerless religion, and our calls for

goal of a motivational speech is that they leave

renewal—however creative, innovative and win-

with action steps; the goal of a sermon is that

some—are as dead as the stone tablets in Moses’s

people leave worshipping. Gospel preaching will

hands. Every story, every command, every principle

always have Christ-exalting worship as its aim.

in Scripture should point to the finished work of Christ. If we don’t do this, we remove the life from

When people in our communities think about and

the Book of Life.

talk about us, they should think and talk about the gospel. It should be both the ultimate point and the

basis of every ministry and endeavor of our churches.

Apart from the gospel, self-help strategies will only lead us to pride (if we succeed) or despair

Think about your own church for a moment: what’s

(if we fail). After all, “Ten Steps Toward a Healthy

the one thing your church is about?

Marriage” won’t transform your marriage nearly as much as learning, understanding and meditating

Is the gospel what you leave your church talking

on the ten billion steps Jesus took toward you will.

about? What does this mean for us and our churches? It Or do you talk about your pastor’s insights, your

means it’s possible to lead people astray not just

great worship band, your guest services, your

by teaching wrong things but also by giving true

massive pipe organ, your care for the poor or

things—good things—too prominent a place.

your courageous proclamations against sin? Do others see your church as that place that gives

We’ve covered your church, but what about you?

really practical, helpful advice about life? Or as

What’s the one thing you are about? What is of first

a classroom with theologically robust, original-

importance to you? Are you leading others astray

languages-savvy preaching?

by putting emphasis where it doesn’t belong?

There is nothing wrong with most of these things,

The devil would like nothing more than to divide

but none of them are the power of new life. They

and distract us with secondary matters.

can be means of responding to or living out the power of God, but none of them are the raw

We have a gospel too great and a mission too

power of God. Only the gospel, according to

urgent to be distracted by any secondary thing.

Scripture, is power.

Everything we do in our own lives and in our churches must be run through the filter of how well

Apart from the gospel, our ingenious life-change 40

it enables and deepens our gospel mission.

strategies will lack staying—and saving—power. Apart from the gospel, our kindness to the poor

J.D. Greear is pastor of The Summit Church and

will only make people comfortable for a while

president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

before they perish eternally. Apart from the gospel, the world we reshape through our politics will be every bit as bad as the one we are trying to reform.

Learn more about this book and other Gospel Above All tools at Lifeway.com/GospelAboveAll.

HAVE YOU ADDED YOUR TO THE MAP? Imagine the impact if every Christian had ONE person they prayed for and shared the gospel with. Who are you committing to pray for? 41

Join thousands of others in praying for your ONE. Visit WhosYourOne.com to add your ONE to the map.

#WhosYour1

r ec ommended

Ministry Our Witness to the World Tony Evans (Moody Publishers, 2020) Evangelism doesn’t seem as easy as it used to be. In a cultural climate that continuously seems to fall somewhere between being wholly antagonistic to Jesus Christ and the gospel to simply being too busy for the gospel, effective evangelism has become increasingly daunting for pastors and churches. In Our Witness to the World: Equipping the Church for Evangelism and Social Impact, Tony Evans cuts through the opinionated static to draw believers away from social, theological and cultural divisiveness in order to usher us back to easily identifiable Christian commonalities: a focus on evangelism and discipleship that triggers deep spiritual transformation through Jesus is the only surefire way to trigger authentic social transformation. Tony writes: “Clearly, the content of the gospel message is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripture is plain that it is personal faith in the finished work of Christ that brings people the forgiveness of sin, a personal relationship with God and eternal life. The gospel’s scope, however, reaches further into sanctification, within which are the concepts of justice and social impact.”

Instead of using cultural issues and narratives to reshape the gospel, Tony shows how the gospel should reshape how we see and respond to these issues and narratives. He doesn’t brow beat, but he also doesn’t sugar coat. It’s a must-read for those desiring to be equipped to do effective, relevant, gospel-centric outreach that proves spiritual and social impact can exist together without distorting the gospel message. Gabriel Stovall writes for On Mission.

Gospel The Best News James Merritt (North American Mission Board, 2019) You’d need to be living under a rock to miss the dreadful evangelism stats impacting the larger evangelical world and Southern Baptists in particular. Most churches struggle for ways to not only get people into their buildings but to share the good news in a winsome, biblically faithful manner. Many are realizing that the best approach today isn’t to just get people into their churches to hear the gospel but also to train the congregation to have gospel conversations and make disciples wherever they are. But to mobilize your congregation to do this, you need a way to train them. Most available resources take a deep commitment of time and still never get to the practical help most of our churches need. The Best News is different. Your church can do the entire training in just three weeks. It covers everything your congregants need to effectively share the good news with people in their sphere of influence, from why evangelism is important, to the contents of the gospel, to the nuts and bolts of how to begin and finish a gospel conversation. Taught by former Southern Baptist Convention president James Merritt, the curriculum includes three training videos, a leader guide and a learner guide. It also includes a card with a short, clear gospel presentation that learners can lean on when they’re sharing their faith with their neighbors. If you’re looking for a simple, effective evangelism training to help your congregants fulfill their Great Commission mandate, The Best News is a great fit. Tobin Perry is a writer in Indiana and a member of Center of Hope Church.

Leading Gospel Fluency Jeff Vanderstelt (Crossway Publishing, 2017) Why is the gospel good news? What does it do for us? How does it change our lives? On Sunday, it’s easier to see the gospel’s implication for our lives, but does it have anything to say for how we live Monday through Saturday? Most of us would say, “yes!” but sometimes the practicality of how the gospel speaks to our everyday circumstances is hard to decipher. This is gospel fluency—it is the ability to apply the gospel to everyday life and circumstances. In Jeff Vanderstelt’s book Gospel Fluency, he refreshingly teaches readers how to apply a gospel lens to our thinking, our actions, our evangelism and what other people and our culture says. In doing so, he ushers readers into a deeper understanding of how the gospel changes who we are and how we live. As Vanderstelt explains, the gospel has implications for the afterlife, but it also teaches us how to view and understand this life—our families, money, sexuality, non-Christians and a host of other everyday stuff. Gospel fluency is vital. For the sake of evangelism and the souls of those who do not know Jesus, we 44

must become gospel-fluent people with the ability to clearly and simply communicate—not in catchphrases and snippets— the good news of Jesus. “It may not be good news to our hearers if we don’t take time to listen, understand and then speak the gospel to the real brokenness and longing of their souls in a way that they can hear—a way that sounds like the good news of Jesus for them and their present situation,” Vanderstelt writes. “We must do better at this…We have to become gospel-fluent people.” Shar Walker writes for On Mission.

Mission Who’s Your One? 40-Day Devotional (North American Mission Board, 2019) We know the simple gospel, and most of us know how to explain that simple truth to others. Yet, a shocking number of Southern Baptists rarely share the best news anyone ever heard! Why? Perhaps we hesitate to offend people close to us. Maybe we’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of lost people and don’t know where to start. Or it could be that we’re just lacking passion. The Who’s Your One? 40-day Devotional guide is designed to address all those issues. This excellent resource encourages a believer to focus on just one person, intentionally build a relationship and pray for them, asking God for an opportunity to share the gospel and invite them to trust Christ. Big numbers impress us, but it’s the single digit—one friend, one family member, one coworker—that makes the difference. Who’s Your One is designed to draw a believer into a place of deep passion for just one soul. It works on the premise that when God breaks your heart for someone, he’s also going to engineer opportunities for you to share the gospel with them. 45

As Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, as Philip brought Nathaniel, one becomes two, two become four and so on—and that raises the possibility of a genuine evangelism movement among Southern Baptists. Visit WhosYourOne.com to find resources designed for the individuals—including this one—as well as a full-featured campaign pastors can use to lead their churches in Who’s Your One. Mark Kelly is a freelance writer in Georgia.

Regional Convention Evangelism Resource Guide S

ending the hope of the gospel is at the heart of everything Southern Baptists do. We believe the gospel should be at the center of all we do and that every one should have an opportunity to hear and respond to this life-saving news. This simple resource guide is a listing of contacts and resources used by conventions throughout North America.

Baptisms increase/decrease 21,416 17,355 12,615

Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions State Executive Director Rick Lance

Baptisms in 2018 12,615

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:387

State Director of Evangelism Daniel Wilson

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -6.20%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.44

Population of state 4,887,871

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, 3151, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, The Best News, Extending an Effective Evangelistic Invitation

SDOE email dwilson@alsbom.org SDOE phone number 800-264-1225

2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 517 402

391

Alaska Baptist Convention State Executive Director Randy Covington

Baptisms in 2018 391

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:1,886

State Director of Evangelism Jimmy Stewart

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -3.9%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.68

Population of state 737,438

Primary evangelism tool N/A

SDOE email jimmy@alaskabrn.com SDOE phone number 907-344-9627 2009

2014

Number of congregations in 2018 3,265

2018

Number of congregations in 2018 117

Arizona Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director David Johnson

Baptisms in 2018 2,490

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,880

State Director of Evangelism Edward Pearson

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -5.0%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.45

SDOE email eddy@azsbc.org SDOE phone number 480-945-0880

Population of state 7,171,646 Number of congregations in 2018 463

State Executive Director J.D. “Sonny” Tucker

Baptisms in 2018 8,962

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:336

State Director of Evangelism Marcus Brown

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -12.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.89

Population of state 3,013,825

Primary evangelism tools Who’s Your One, 3 Circles, VBS

SDOE phone number 501-376-4791

2,623

2,516

2,490

2009

2014

2018

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Rooftop Evangelism, MY316, Conversational Evangelism, The Best News, Bible Story Plotline

Arkansas Baptist State Convention

SDOE email mbrown@absc.org

Baptisms increase/decrease

Baptisms increase/decrease 12,427

8,962

Number of congregations in 2018 1,538 2009

Baptist Convention of Iowa State Executive Director Tim Lubinus

Baptisms in 2018 933

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,383

State Director of Evangelism Tim Lubinus

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -9.10%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.82

Population of state 3,156,145

Primary evangelism tool N/A

SDOE email tlubinus@bciowa.org SDOE phone number 515-809-2819

2018

933

638 527

Number of congregations in 2018 112

Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware State Executive Director Kevin Smith

Baptisms in 2018 1,228

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:5,708

State Director of Evangelism Mark Dooley

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -15.60%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 2.8

Population of region 7,009,889

Primary evangelism tools Who’s Your One, 3 Circles

SDOE phone number 800-466-5290, ext. 260

2014

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

SDOE email mdooley@bcmd.org

11,273

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 2,579

1,704 1,228

Number of congregations in 2018 595 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 1,875 1,606 1,246

Baptist Convention of New England State Executive Director Terry Dorsett

Baptisms in 2018 1,875

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:7,922

SED email tdorsett@bcne.net

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +2.8%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.58

Population of region 14,853,290

Primary evangelism tool My Hope

SED phone number 508-393-6013, ext. 224

Number of congregations in 2018 347 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 2,603

2,434

1,481

Baptist Convention of New York State Executive Director Terry Robertson

Baptisms in 2018 2,434

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:10,544

State Director of Evangelism Terry Robertson (Interim)

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +11.9%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.18

Population of state 25,663,829

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, The Art of Neighboring

SDOE email trobertson@bcnysbc.org SDOE phone number 315-433-1001

2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 4,252

1,806 1,395

2009

2014

Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey State Executive Director Barry Whitworth

Baptisms in 2018 1,395

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:11,178

State Director of Evangelism Larry Anderson

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -11.70%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.69

Population of region 15,593,960

Primary evangelism tools N/A

SDOE email landerson@brnonline.org SDOE phone number 717-652-5856, ext. 10

7,116 5,351

2,827

Baptist General Association of Virginia State Executive Director John Upton

Baptisms in 2018 2,827

Baptism-to-population ratio* 1:980

State Director of Evangelism Wayne Faison

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -7%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 3.08

Population of state 8,517,685

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, More to Life, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, Faith Evangelism

SDOE email wayne.faison@bgav.org SDOE phone number 804-915-5000, ext. 6232

2014

Number of congregations in 2018 311

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

Number of congregations in 2018 510

2018

Number of congregations in 2018 1,270

*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of BGAV and SBCV for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma State Executive Director Hance Dilbeck

Baptisms in 2018 10,596

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:372

State Director of Evangelism Bob Mayfield

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -8.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.12

Population of state 3,943,079

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, One Great God, One Great Hope, One Verse Evangelism, Can We Talk

SDOE email bmayfield@bgco.org SDOE phone number 405-942-3800, ext. 4327

Number of congregations in 2018 1,773

Baptisms increase/decrease 14,619 11,979 10,596

2009

Baptist General Convention of Texas State Executive Director David Hardage

Baptisms in 2018 23,181

Baptism-to-population ratio* 1:838

State Director of Evangelism Leighton Flowers

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -8.90%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.10

Population of state 28,701,845

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, TrueLife.org, One Verse Evangelism

SDOE email leighton.flowers@texasbaptists.org SDOE phone number 214-828-5120

Number of congregations in 2018 5,359

*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of BGCT and SBTC for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned

Baptist State Convention of Michigan State Executive Director Tim Patterson

Baptisms in 2018 852

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:11,732

State Director of Evangelism Mike Durbin

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +20.20%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.11

Population of state 9,995,915

Primary evangelism tools Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, 3 Circles, The Best News kit

SDOE email mike@bscm.org SDOE phone number 248-631-7154

Number of congregations in 2018 311

State Executive Director Milton A. Hollifield, Jr.

Baptisms in 2018 17,511

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:593

State Director of Evangelism Brian Upshaw

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -2.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.27

Population of state 10,383,620

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Regional Gospel Conversation Training

SDOE email bupshaw@ncbaptist.org SDOE phone number 800-395-5102, ext. 5632

Number of congregations in 2018 4,373

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 35,344

32,214 23,181

2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 1,237 904

2009

Baptist State Convention of North Carolina

2014

852

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 24,266 18,655

2009

2014

17,511

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 12,135

12,496

12,212

California Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director Bill Agee

Baptisms in 2018 12,212

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,239

State Director of Evangelism Pete Ramirez

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +27.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.76

Population of state 39,557,045

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles

SDOE email pramirez@csbc.com SDOE phone number 559-256-0844 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 979

1,054

836

Canadian National Baptist Convention Executive Director Gerry Taillon

Baptisms in 2018 1,054

Baptism-to-population ratio 1: 35,104

Director of Evangelism Cesar Parra

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +9%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.0

Population of region 37,000,000

Primary evangelism tools Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story, D5

SDOE email cparra@cnbc.ca SDOE phone number 403-932-5688 2009

2014

1,834 1,663

Colorado Baptist General Convention State Executive Director Nathan Lorick

Baptisms in 2018 1,834

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,106

State Director of Evangelism Tim Corbin

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +23.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.45

Population of state 5,695,564

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Four Fields

SDOE email tcorbin@coloradobaptists.org SDOE phone number 720-372-7310 2009

2014

208 181

Dakota Baptist Convention State Executive Director Garvon Golden

Baptisms in 2018 181

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:9,074

State Director of Evangelism Garvon Golden

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -12.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.77

Population of region 1,642,312

Primary evangelism tool N/A

SDOE email garvon@dakotabaptist.com SDOE phone number 605-877-1163 2009

2014

Number of congregations in 2018 362

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 182

Number of congregations in 2018 410

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

1,540

Number of congregations in 2018 2,284

2018

Number of congregations in 2018 88

Florida Baptist Convention State Executive Director Tommy Green

Baptisms in 2018 26,162

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:814

State Director of Evangelism Wayne Briant

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +5%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.72

Population of state 21,299,325

Primary evangelism tools Regional evangelism conferences, ethnic evangelism conferences, 3 Circles, local church revivals, Acts 2:41, baptism emphasis

SDOE email wbriant@flbaptist.org SDOE phone number 904-396-2351

Number of congregations in 2018 2,994

Baptisms increase/decrease 58,401 46,381

26,162

2009

Georgia Baptist Mission Board State Executive Director Thomas Hammond

Baptisms in 2018 17,740

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:593

State Director of Evangelism Levi Skipper

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -12.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 3.55

Population of state 10,519,475

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Domino Effect, No Sweat Evangelism

SDOE email lskipper@gabaptist.org SDOE phone number 770-936-5213

Number of congregations in 2018 3,569

State Executive Director Chris Martin

Baptisms in 2018 439

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,236

State Director of Evangelism Brian Smart

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -18.90%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.93

Population of state 1,420,491

Primary evangelism tool Everyday Evangelism

SDOE email brian@hpbaptist.net SDOE phone number 808-946-9581

30,979 27,742

17,740

2018

850

479

439

Number of congregations in 2018 134

Illinois Baptist State Association State Executive Director Nate Adams

Baptisms in 2018 3,678

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,464

State Director of Evangelism Pat Pajak

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +4.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.49

Population of state 12,741,080

Primary evangelism tools Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, 3 Circles

SDOE phone number 217-391-3129

2014

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

SDOE email patpajak@ibsa.org

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 5,180 4,428 3,678

Number of congregations in 2018 948 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 2,575

2,646 1,924

Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists State Executive Director Bob Mills

Baptisms in 2018 1,924

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,516

State Director of Evangelism Jon Sapp

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -14.20%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 3.73

Population of region 4,840,773

Primary evangelism tools Who’s Your One, 3 Circles, One Conversation Training

SDOE email jsapp@kncsb.org SDOE phone number 785-228-6800, ext. 6838 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 15,335

14,180 10,642

Kentucky Baptist Convention State Executive Director Todd Gray

Baptisms in 2018 10,642

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:420

State Director of Evangelism Rob Patterson

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -11.20%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.56

Population of state 4,468,402

Primary evangelism tools Multiple statewide equipping events, one-on-one evangelism consultations

SDOE email rob.patterson@kybaptist.org SDOE phone number N/A 2009

2014

10,614 8,840

Louisiana Baptist Convention State Executive Director Steve Horn

Baptisms in 2018 8,840

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:527

State Director of Evangelism Keith Manuel

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -3.70%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.55

Population of state 4,659,978

Primary evangelism tools Harvest Events, Revivals, Crusades, Who’s Your One, The Road to Life Tract, One on One: Evangelism Made Simple, Life on Mission

SDOE email keith.manuel@lbc.org SDOE phone number 318-448-3402 2009

2014

772

Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention State Executive Director Leo Endel

Baptisms in 2018 124

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:92,135

State Director of Evangelism Leo Endel

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -12.10%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 2.49

Population of region 11,424,747

Primary evangelism tools Who’s Your One, Evangecube, block parties, 3 Circles

SDOE email endel@mwbc.org

313 124

2014

Number of congregations in 2018 1,620

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

Number of congregations in 2018 2,360

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 10,578

Number of congregations in 2018 451

2018

SDOE phone number 507-282-3636

Number of congregations in 2018 201

Mississippi Baptist Convention Board State Executive Director Jim Futral

Baptisms in 2018 8,179

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:365

State Director of Evangelism Don Lum

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -8.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.36

Population of state 2,986,530

Primary evangelism tools Who’s Your One, The Best News Evangelism resources, tracts, pocket cross, Hope video, evangelism soccer balls, Bibles, revivals and crusades

SDOE email dlum@mbcb.org SDOE phone number 601-292-3278

Number of congregations in 2018 2,092

Missouri Baptist Convention State Executive Director John Yeats

Baptisms in 2018 6,863

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:893

State Director of Evangelism Brad Bennett

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -4.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.33

Population of state 6,126,452

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Who’s Your One, Three Story, Simplifying Evangelism

SDOE email bbennett@mobaptist.org SDOE phone number 573-636-0400, ext. 328

Number of congregations in 2018 1,805

Baptisms increase/decrease 13,157 11,318 8,179

2009

State Executive Director Barrett Duke

Baptisms in 2018 517

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,055

State Director of Evangelism Darren Hales

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -14.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.09

Population of state 1,062,305

Primary evangelism tool Who’s Your One

SDOE email dhales@mtsbc.org SDOE phone number 406-252-7537

11,443 8,448 6,863

2018

611 517

495

Number of congregations in 2018 133

Nevada Baptist Convention State Executive Director Kevin White

Baptisms in 2018 1,339

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,266

State Director of Evangelism Paul Harwood

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +14.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.86

Population of state 3,034,392

Primary evangelism tools Who’s Your One, 3 Circles, The Best News

SDOE phone number 775-786-0406

2014

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

SDOE email pharwood@ nevadabaptistconvention.org

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

Montana Southern Baptist Convention

2014

Number of congregations in 2018 184

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 1,370

1,339 1,137

2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 2,093 1,679

1,740

Northwest Baptist Convention State Executive Director Randy Adams

Baptisms in 2018 1,740

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:6,913

State Director of Evangelism Joe Flegal

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -9.60%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.79

Population of region 12,028,942

Primary evangelism tools MY 316, God Space

SDOE email joef@nwbaptist.org SDOE phone number 360-882-2121 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 19,019

17,464

11,697

South Carolina Baptist Convention State Executive Director Gary Hollingsworth

Baptisms in 2018 11,697

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:435

State Director of Evangelism Lee Clamp

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -1.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.65

Population of state 5,084,127

Primary evangelism tools Bless Every Home, 9 Spiritual Arts of Spiritual Conversations, neighboring initiatives, 3 Circles

SDOE email leeclamp@scbaptist.org SDOE phone number 800-723-7242

2009

2014

6,207

6,557

Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia State Executive Director Brian Autry

Baptisms in 2018 6,557

Baptism-to-population ratio* 1:980

State Director of Evangelism Steve Bradshaw

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -2.20%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.04

Population of state 8,517,685

Primary evangelism tools Bless Every Home, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, 3 Circles

SDOE email sbradshaw@sbcv.org SDOE phone number 434-390-3650 2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 24,864

23,435

21,563

Southern Baptists of Texas Convention State Executive Director Jim Richards

Baptisms in 2018 21,563

Baptism-to-population ratio* 1:838

State Director of Evangelism vacant

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +10.70%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.56

Population of state 28,701,845

Primary evangelism tools Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, Evangelism Takes Heart devotional, 1 Cross App, 3 Circles, 1 Verse Evangelism

SDOE phone number 877-953-SBTC, ext. 7282 2014

2018

Number of congregations in 2018 709

*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of SBCV and BGAV for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned

SDOE email N/A

2009

Number of congregations in 2018 2,112

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 6,671

Number of congregations in 2018 491

Number of congregations in 2018 2,709

*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of SBTC and BGCT for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned

State Convention of Baptists in Indiana State Executive Director Steve McNeil

Baptisms in 2018 1,592

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:4,203

State Director of Evangelism Rick Hillard

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -0.20%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.29

Population of state 6,691,878

Primary evangelism tool N/A

SDOE email rhillard@scbi.org SDOE phone number 317-481-2400

Baptisms increase/decrease 3,038 2,187 1,592

Number of congregations in 2018 444 2009

State Convention of Baptists in Ohio State Executive Director Jack Kwok

Baptisms in 2018 3,055

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,826

State Director of Evangelism Jack Helton

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -18.00%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.13

Population of state 11,689,442

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, servant projects, community block parties, prayer walking, sports camps, VBS

SDOE email jackhelton@scbo.org SDOE phone number 614-601-6881

Number of congregations in 2018 719

State Executive Director Randy Davis

Baptisms in 2018 19,041

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:356

State Director of Evangelism Roc Collins

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -6.70%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.41

Population of state 6,770,010

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, JN 316, More Life Tract, The Roman Road, The Gospel Conversation

SDOE email rcollins@tnbaptist.org SDOE phone number 615-371-2015

Number of congregations in 2018 3,186

4,511

State Executive Director Joseph Bunce

Baptisms in 2018 2,757

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:760

State Director of Evangelism Tar Henderson

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -3.00%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.94

Population of state 2,095,428

Primary evangelism tools Four Fields, 3 Circles, Evangecube, One Verse Evangelism, Normal Evangelism, conversational evangelism, tracts

SDOE email thenderson@bcnm.com SDOE phone number 505-924-2314

Number of congregations in 2018 337

4,113 3,055

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 22,928

22,986 19,041

2009

The Baptist Convention of New Mexico

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

2009

Tennessee Baptist Convention

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 2,686

2,698

2,757

2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 762

344

332

Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director Rob Lee

Baptisms in 2018 332

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:13,894

State Director of Evangelism Jerry Martin

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -26.90%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 3.48

Population of region 4,612,675

Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Reclaim This Land

SDOE email jmartin@uisbc.org SDOE phone number 801-572-5350, ext. 4

2009

2014

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease 997

710

656

West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists State Executive Director Cledith Campbell (Interim)

Baptisms in 2018 656

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,753

State Director of Evangelism Tim Turner

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +37.80%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.64

Population of state 1,805,832

Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles

SDOE email tim@wvcsb.org SDOE phone number 304-757-0944 2009

2014

413 295

Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director Quin Williams

Baptisms in 2018 295

Baptism-to-population ratio 1:1,958

State Director of Evangelism Quin Williams

Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +55.30%

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.55

Population of state 577,737

Primary evangelism tools Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your One, variety of personal evangelism programs

SDOE email quin@wyomingsbc.org SDOE phone number 307-472-4087 2009

2014

Number of congregations in 2018 224

2018

Baptisms increase/decrease

292

Number of congregations in 2018 184

Number of congregations in 2018 97

2018

Totals for SBC Baptisms in 2018

Baptisms in 2014

246,442

305,301

Percentage of increase/ decrease from previous year

Baptisms in 2009

-3.00%

349,737

Number of congregations in 2018

Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance

51,541

4.65

Baptism to population ratio

1:1,338

Percent Reporting based on LifeWayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definition of reporting introduced in 2016. Sources: Annual Church Profile, 2008 to 2018, LifeWay Christian Resources; 2018 Southern Baptist Convention Statistical Summary; Annual Church Profile, 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources; Annual Church Profile, Canadian National Baptist Convention Compiled by: Center for Missional Research, North American Mission Board. Prepared by: LifeWay Insights, LifeWay Christian Resources.

my turn

On mission on campus By Joel Byman

surrender their lives to Him. This is often a slow

process that requires patience, intentionality and moved to Boston in 2017 to begin college,

prayer, but God has been—and will continue to

and, at the time, I had very little idea of what

be—faithful to transform lives.

life would be like as a student in what is often deemed

I have also been able to

America’s “intellectual capi-

join the work God is doing

tal.” I was excited to live in a

throughout the city by join-

big city, experience its history

ing Hope Fellowship Church.

and learn from some of the

We are an intergenerational

brightest minds in the world,

and multicultural church

but I also worried about how

plant focused on proclaiming

a very secular environment

the gospel to our city and

would impact my relationship

living intentionally in commu-

with Christ. Would I be able

nity. Our church family is part

to find a church? What about

of the rising tide of churches

Christian friends? How would

in Boston that is bringing the

I be able to share the gospel?

hope of the gospel to a city

Over the past two years, I have

that so desperately needs it. I

seen God answer these ques-

have found a family here, and

tions in powerful ways that remind me, time and

through our weekly services, homeless ministries

again, He is at work in this city.

and church planting work, have learned how to be on mission in a secular, urban environment.

On my college campus, I have seen the powerful witness of a gospel-focused community through

Living in Boston certainly brings with it some unique

the campus ministry in which I am involved. I have

challenges, and opposition can be persistent, but

found some of my best friends in this group, and

when it comes to following Jesus and living on

together we seek to display authenticity and vulner-

mission, the need is still the same, the gospel is still

ability in a place that is so often focused on external

good news and Jesus is still King.

appearances, titles and accomplishments. In holding out the hope of the gospel, we have seen

Joel Byman is a student at Harvard University and

classmates who were once antagonistic towards

member of Hope Fellowship Church.

Christianity recognize their need for Christ and

You can reach students during their formative university years by church planting in collegiate communities. Learn more at namb.net/Collegiate.

EVERY CHURCH ON MISSION

volume 23 | number 1