Symposiums, ‘how to’ sessions offer creative ideas, solutions

FBC photo

Richard Powell, pastor of McGregor Baptist Church, Ft. Myers, discusses his church's evangelsitic strategies during a pastor's symposium held in conjunction with the Lakeland Evangelism Conference.

LAKELAND–(FBC) Florida Baptist pastors relayed ideas and methods they had used to spark evangelism fervor within their congregations during the Florida State Evangelism Conference in Lakeland.

The information was shared in a feature called “Making It Happen in Your Church” and during pastor-led symposiums in which participants shared their own evangelism successes and concerns.

Erik Romick, pastor of Nocatee First Baptist Church, said he found the practical applications beneficial to his ministry. “It was good to be able to share both the struggles and victories we are experiencing,” he said.

“Its good to know that when things are going well and I see God working to be reminded that He is also there in the times of struggles,” Romick said.

The pastor attended a symposium led by Forrest Pollock, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon. “I’m a big believer in trying everything,” Pollock told the group. “God will bless some things and won’t bless others.”

Among the activities the church has sponsored are “deeds of compassion” where the church goes door-to-door performing acts of kindness. They have given away free light bulbs, soft drinks at WalMart and American flags during July 4. They have painted fingernails at nursing homes and held free car washes--“Showing Christ’s love in practical ways.”

Nearly 200 persons were baptized during Bell Shoal’s “Unashamed Sunday” which focused on the method, mode and moment of baptism. Pollock shared ways the church pulled off the event, which garnered more results than they had planned and sent them scurrying for baptismal robes and towels.

Sarasota Baptist Church has found that beach baptisms held on Memorial Day and Labor Day are effective in reaching those attending and those relaxing at the beach.

Intentionality is the key to evangelism, Sarasota pastor Mike Landry said. While in the midst of a building program the church declared 2005 as the “Year of the Evangelism” to keep members focused on relationships that can lead to the proclamation of the Gospel.

Clayton Cloer, pastor at Orlando’s First Baptist Church of Central Florida, challenged participants to use holidays as a time to reach family members for Christ. The church created special booklets for Mother’s Day that shared a mother’s spiritual heritage. As a result one adult child made a profession of faith. “Use your birthday to share the Gospel with everyone in your circle,” he suggested.

David Cox, co-pastor of First Baptist Church of Daytona, told how he gave a scarlet thread to church members to remind them to pray for three spiritually lost persons.

“We have a culture of evangelism where everything we do revolves around evangelism” said Dwayne Mercer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Oveido. The greeters, ushers and nursery workers all play a role in the perceived friendliness of a church, he explained. “Typically persons make up their minds about a church within the first 10-minutes.”