GRAY SUMMIT – Members from the First Baptist Church (FBC) here canvassed their community in preparation for their “Hopefest” revival services, March 22-23.
The church distributed 500 bags to households in the town of nearly 3,000 during the weeks leading up to the revival services. The bags contained the Gospel of John, a tract, an invitation to the “Hopefest” revival services, a letter about the church’s preschool program, a church pen and business card, some hard candy, and various devotionals from RBC ministries and David Jeremiah.
The canvassing bags were donated by LifeWay Christian Resources, and the contents of the bag were purchased with a $600 grant provided by the North American Mission Board and the Missouri Baptist Convention.
Following the canvassing project, FBC Gray Summit held seven “Hopefest” revival services, led by Missouri Baptist evangelist Clyde Chiles. Three of the services involved the whole church, while four other services targeted different groups – namely, men, women, youth and children.
“The ‘HopeFest’ weekend revival with Clyde Chiles was a great success,” Allen Calkins, pastor of FBC Gray Summit, said.
Calkins added that the canvassing project that preceded the event helped him and the members of his church get to know who lived in their town.
“You just do not see how many people live in the area until you turn off the main roads,” Calkins said. Because of the canvassing project, some people have expressed interest in both the church and its preschool program.
According to Calkins, the project has also prepared them for a mission trip that they’re taking to Nebraska this summer to help Faith Baptist Church of Nebraska City. During the trip, they will canvass the community, host a block party and support the Nebraska church through other ministry projects.
Faith Baptist, Nebraska City, has a new pastor, who is supported partially by the North American Mission Board as part of the Heartland Interstate Strategy (HIS) program – an initiative to plant Southern Baptist churches in the largely unreached territory along the I-29 corridor stretching from Kansas City to Winnipeg, Canada. ν