Reaching People for Christ

By Fran Simmons | July 21, 2016

For the past three years, Liberty Baptist has enjoyed a wonderful fellowship of life. Perhaps the most exciting phase of these years has been her ability to reach people for Christ.

Sunday School found an exciting spark of growth as enrollment climbed to an increase of 35%. Church training also found new life in a good enrollment increase while adding a new Christian training class.

Specific interest groups found support in the newly revived R.A. ‘s, G.A.’s and Act-teens. Adding to the youth training ministry were fellowships, Youth Sundays, and Youth Discipleship Classes in witnessing.

The adult ministry reached the people through Baptist Women, Brotherhood, Active Visitation Programs, specified prayer meeting and Wednesday Bible Study Classes.

In 1984 Liberty invited Leighton Baptist to participate in a week-long mission partnership revival. Backyard Bible Schools enrolled 46 children. The Adult Evangelism Program shared the gospel with over 30 families and revival services were held nightly with testimonies, singing, and preaching.

Closing the 1984 Colbert-Lauderdale Associational Year, the Association reported 67 churches and found Liberty Baptist 1st in largest percentage of average attendance gain, 7th in average attendance gain, 9th in largest percentage enrollment gain, and 15th in total enrollment gain.

In Liberty’s last three years of life, she has seen more additions by profession of faith and by letter than any three-year ministry within the past 30 years. Numbers are not to be emphasized as the single key to success, yet we are reminded that behind every number there is a living soul.

Reaching people led the church to expand her parking lot, purchase a van for outreach, improve the library for better study, and add a new tape system to record messages and music for reference and teaching aids.

A major source of concern and power for reaching people is seen in the prayer life of our church. Just this year Liberty has redecorated a room specified for the purpose of prayer. Every time the church gathers to share the gospel message, may come to pray asking God to do what men cannot. Special prayer gatherings have also been held many times on Saturday mornings.