Student missionary models intentional evangelism

As a teacher, Amy Chavers knows the importance of giving her students opportunities to apply the lessons they are learning.

As a summer missionary in Eastern Kentucky, the 22-year-old graduate student at the University of West Florida in Pensacola showed the same intentionality in her approach to evangelism. By making Gospel presentations each day of Vacation Bible School, Chavers was instrumental in 149 people making professions of faith during a 10-week period.

"We had never seen anything like it," said Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Mackey thanked John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, for Florida Baptists' support of summer missions. A portion of the annual Maguire State Mission Offering underwrites student summer missionaries.

"Amy presented Christ and gave people the opportunity to accept Him every time she taught," Mackey said. "These folks will never forget her witness." About seven out of 10 people in Eastern Kentucky are unchurched, he said. Mackey attributed this to the teachings of a predominate religion in the area that children are not eligible for salvation.

"Some of the children are not given a lot of attention, even in some of the churches," said Chavers, who is active at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola. "Some have had a rough life. They are so hungry for someone to love them."

At Faith First Baptist Church in Regina, Ky., Chavers befriended a 14-year-old boy named Chris who had never been to church.

When Chavers asked him, "Where do you stand with Jesus?" the boy responded, "Absolutely no one loves me."

"Jesus loves you and never is going to turn His back on you," Chavers told him. The boy began to cry, asking, "Can this really be for me?" Then, she prayed with him as he accepted Christ.

Chavers became a Christian at age 14 after a friend invited her to First Baptist Church in Niceville. "I know what it's like to learn how to be a Christian from the ground up," she said.

Though she has received a lot of attention because of the number of people she led to the Lord, Chavers said she didn't set out to establish any records.

"I was as surprised as anybody," she said. "Every time I take a spiritual gifts inventory, I score lowest in the area of evangelism-so that just shows you God can use anybody."

A series of 17 visits from summer missionaries had provided a consistent witness in the area, including Chavers' childhood friend, Jamie McEachern, who was one of five Florida summer missionaries who had served there.

"Jamie and the other summer missionaries did some obvious seed work," Chavers said. "What happened while I was there wouldn't have happened at all if they hadn't been preparing hearts."