Emmanuel Baptist finds chances for witness even in a small town

Mike Trull, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gordo, believes hosting singers is his church’s most effective witness in the community. But with a population of fewer than 2,000, Gordo would seem an unlikely place for a nationally recognized gospel recording artist to visit.
   
Michael Combs — performer of the top-10 gospel hits “Not for Sale” and “Drinking from My Saucer” — changed that thinking when he recently sang at Emmanuel Church and the 300-seat church overflowed with 475 in attendance.
   
Emmanuel, founded in 1989, recently completed its third building program. After meeting for several months in a closed soft drink plant, the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions made available to the church a mobile home chapel.
   
Gary Farley, director of missions for Pickens Baptist Association, believes the growth is attributed to several factors. “With a young pastor, the church soon began reaching young families. They identified with Bro. Trull and he with them,” said Farley. Emmanuel added 27 members last year and often leads the association in numbers of baptisms.
   
One outreach tool is the southern gospel singings that the church hosts each year,” said Farley.
   
“We began with 19 members and we now have over 150 in attendance,” charter church member James Simmons said.
   
“Once people visit the church, they find Bro. Trull is a man who  preaches God’s Word and is caring and humble.”
   
Simmons said he and his wife, Mary, also believe the singing performances have helped to evangelize the community. 
   
“We posted 125 flyers in several counties promoting the recent singing because we have seen souls saved at these singings. The church members usually furnish a meal after the singings to let people know the love of Christ through fellowship,” Simmons said.
   
Trull has been the pastor for 10 years, and believes Emmanuel cares about the community.
   
The church has hosted nationally known groups like Naomi and The Segos, The Kindlers, Tony Gore and Majesty, along with local Christian talent such as The Capstone Quartet and The Fred Smith Family.
   
“We always pray for our singings and visit before and after the groups come to our church,” Trull said. “Almost every group has given an altar call. I have people ask me to go back to the Sunday School rooms after a singing to be saved, and some would be saved the next church service. I believe when they heard the gospel sung, they were convicted and saved.”
   
Combs, a Baptist from North Carolina, considers himself a gospel music evangelist. “The Lord made it clear that this is how He wants me to tell people about Jesus,” said Combs.