Related Topics
Kentucky Baptists Extend Gospel Reach Through 'Find It Here'
06/22/2011
LOUISVILLE – The spiritual activity prompted by the evangelism initiative "Find It Here 2011" included the conversion of a University of the Cumberlands student who had dabbled in several religions and the occult.
Campus minister Dean Whitaker said he and several students felt such a burden for the man that one night they spent two hours talking with him. Two weeks later, after a similar discussion in his dorm room, he accepted Jesus as his Savior.
"He still needs prayer for growth and healing and we are in the process of discipling him," Whitaker said.
"This is a good example of what Find It Here looks like on the college campus," Whitaker continued. "It’s a process rather than a single event. It came from exposure to Christians living what they believe and the power of the Word to transform lives."
The process of spiritual transformation began in other non-traditional Kentucky communities earlier this year as Kentucky Baptists worked together to distribute portions of the Bible to thousands of people.
Find It Here 2011 was an effort coordinated by Kentucky Baptists that followed up on last year’s nationwide initiative launched among Southern Baptists by the North American Mission Board.
In 2010, Kentucky Baptists reached 1.3 million households in the commonwealth with the gospel, but most of those were in traditional residential settings. This year leaders at the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union and the 70 local Baptist associations wanted to share the love of Christ with college students, residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, and inmates of correctional institutions.
The same spirit of sharing that made a difference in the life of a college student in Williamsburg was present on Mother’s Day weekend at the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex near Fredonia.
During a worship service, 17 women accepted Christ as Savior. Sixty-five volunteers from 20 Kentucky Baptist churches across the state helped organize the revival.
"We used this as an opportunity to share with all the ladies," said Harrell Riley, director of Hell Is Real Ministries. "We had 450 of 675 inmates who sat under gospel preaching. It’s unusual to have that many at one event."
Kentucky Baptists provided scripture portions and served in other ways at 14 other jails and prisons.
While such reports are exciting, missions leader Larry Baker said the impact of this year’s events on the Kentucky Baptist Convention may unfold far into the future.
"The real results came from church members fasting and praying for lost people," said Baker, leader of the KBC Missions Growth Team. "I think it got a great number of Kentucky Baptists to move their prayer life to a new level of intensity."
During the spring campaign, 32,000 Kentucky Baptists distributed approximately 150,000 booklets with portions of scripture. Many participants also fasted and prayed for three unsaved friends prior to sharing the gospel with them.
Keith Inman, leader of the KBC collegiate and young adult ministry department, said students particularly picked up on the fasting and prayer initiative.
"Find It Here continued to remind us of the need to share Christ with our friends," Inman said. "Several campuses had an evangelism training emphasis to help our students share the gospel."
It also sparked special events. In April, the University of Louisville BCM sponsored a free cookout for 350 students.
Along with food, visitors received a booklet and invitations to a trio of discussions about Christianity, Jesus and grace. As a result, several students agreed to attend church.
Campus minister Bill Noe said the group’s goals are to serve Christian and non-Christian students seeking community. Collegiate ministry also is about serving with the local church.
"In my mind, Find It Here is simply a continuation of these goals," Noe said. "We are grateful to have strong church partners that help us in that endeavor.
"One of the great things is the resources that help us reach students for Christ," he added. "So as we continue to plan evangelistic outreach events on campus for the new school year, it will be great to continue to build on the success of Find It Here 2011."
Kentucky Baptists also funded an advertising campaign on 100 radio stations across the state. The 60-second message directed listeners to a website or by phone to NAMB’s Evangelism Response Center to learn more about Christ.
The radio campaign was designed to reach 85 percent of Kentucky’s adult population with the message three and a half times on average during the weeks leading up to Easter.
In Kentucky and across North America, Find it Here will continue in 2012.
Gary King, director of missions for the Lincoln County Baptist Association, said volunteers intend to continue distributing the scripture portions next year.
"It (opens) doors of opportunity," said King, coordinator of prison outreach. "It opened up dialogue with department of corrections personnel and jailers, and other opportunities for Bible studies."
Ross Bauscher, leader of the KBC Evangelism Growth Team, said planning is underway on how Kentucky Baptists will respond to new service opportunities next year.
After two teleconferences in March, Bauscher met with 10 directors of missions in Lexington the second week of June to share ideas, pray and set goals.
"Hope. Find It Here 2012" will focus on so-called "attractional" events, such as block parties, motorcycle rallies and fishing tournaments. Churches will be encouraged to sponsor a spring event and join later in an association-wide activity.
University campuses will get an early start this fall with "The Maze," featuring Christian illusionist Jim Munroe. His appearance at Morehead State University last year prompted more than 200 conversions and other decisions, Bauscher said.
"What we’re trying to do is be a relational building block to those in the community who need Christ and make a gospel presentation," the evangelism leader said. "Without the latter, it just becomes another type of outing."
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Story by Ken Walker, KBC Communications
