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Partners in the Mission:
Two Growing Churches
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| Release Date: 08/26/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
I recently had the opportunity to worship in two excited and growing Kentucky Baptist Convention churches -- Franklin Crossroads Baptist Church in Cecelia and First Baptist Church in Fountain Run.
It was gratifying to be with the members of Franklin Crossroads and their pastor, Ron Davis, for a wonderful “Wednesday of Worship.” The church relocated in 2001 and continues to grow significantly. The church recorded 41 baptisms in 2007-2008.
Davis is a fourth generation pastor and has been at Franklin Crossroad for 21 years. He puts a lot of emphasis on helping new people assimilate into the church family and teaches the new members class with his wife each Sunday evening.
As a part of its outreach, Franklin Crossroads has launched a satellite congregation in the sanctuary of the former Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown. Davis preaches twice at Franklin Crossroads and once at Elizabethtown on Sunday mornings and everyone meets in Elizabethtown on Sunday nights.
The church also has a television ministry with its Sunday morning worship service and Davis is on radio at 4 p.m. each weekday on WJCR radio.
The Franklin Crossroads congregation and pastor also have a strong commitment to world missions. They have a goal of 1,000 baptisms through their ministries locally and in Africa. The church gave $53,936 for missions through the Cooperative Program last year.
The church has recently called an associate pastor, Rob Sumrall, who will assist with preaching. The church also has a new youth minister, Travis Vanmeter, who will begin Aug. 31.
It was also a privilege to be with the First Baptist Church of Fountain Run where Hermon Wilkins is the pastor. Wilkins has recently announced his retirement plans at First Baptist.
One of Wilkins’ strengths has been his ability to provide turnaround leadership in churches where he has been pastor.
First Baptist Church is just one example. During his seven-year tenure, annual baptisms have grown from one to 15, worship attendance has grown from 42 to more than 100, Sunday school attendance has grown from 45 to 80, and undesignated receipts have grown from $60,005 to $128,812. Hermon is also a strong advocate of missions support through the Cooperative Program.
The church has a minister of youth and activities, and outstanding lay leadership and involvement. On a recent Saturday night, the church hosted a “Back To School Bash” with about 150 in attendance at a park. The church is utilizing its new family life center to minister to the community and to meet needs.
I praise God for these pastors who have a passion for evangelism. May God renew that passion in all of us!
Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535. |
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