In last week’s issue, we shared the story of St. James Holt Crossing Baptist Church, Montgomery, which has seen God work in incredible ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After they started holding outdoor services, God began bringing people to them, and it wasn’t long before Pastor Derek Murry was asking Neal Hughes, director of missions for Montgomery Baptist Association, if he knew where they could get a portable baptismal pool.
Top of the list
The church saw so many baptized that they found themselves at the top of Alabama Baptists’ list for baptism ratio on this year’s Annual Church Profile report — they baptized one person for every 1.2 church members in 2020. (The full report is now available online at tabonline.org/2020ACP.)
But St. James isn’t the only Montgomery-area church that’s seen the blessing of outdoor baptisms this year — a number of other congregations have also celebrated new believers that way, including The Church at Pike Road, Flatline Church at Chisholm and Mixtec Church.
Hughes said it’s been a blessing to see.
“The Bible says to ‘repent and be baptized.’ It is the second act of obedience for every believer,” he said. “I am glad to see Montgomery Baptists discovering creative ways in this COVID season to help new Christians identify themselves as followers of Christ, even if it means taking baptism outside.”
Share with others: