Children’s laughter, songs of praise and the sizzle of hot dogs on the grill marked an afternoon of fun during a Nov. 10 community block party held on the University of Mobile campus.
Fun was not the only aim of this party, however — it was a party with a purpose.
“We want to share Jesus Christ and make a difference in someone’s life,”said Tom Boone, pastor of Shadow Lawn Baptist Church, Eight Mile.
Shadow Lawn Baptist was one of five Mobile Baptist Association churches, along with Mobile Association and the evangelism office of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, that sponsored the block party as part of Crossover leading up to the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 13–14 in Mobile.
Church members prepared for the event by praying and giving money and served as volunteers during it.
But local church members were not the only ones ministering at the event. Missions-minded members of all ages from Lindsay Lane Baptist Church, Athens, in Limestone Baptist Association volunteered to serve by inviting and welcoming guests, assisting children with games and performing skits and puppet shows with a gospel message.
By the end of the day, 58 attendees had heard about Jesus Christ, five had made a decision to follow Christ and a few college students had expressed interest in attending a local church.
Boone pronounced the block party a success. “We had two goals,” he said. “One was to reach the children and the other, the college students. We’ve made accomplishments in both areas.”
Thomas Wright, director of missions for Mobile Association, said more than 15 churches across different regions of the association planned a variety of ministry events aimed at reaching as many people as possible during Crossover weekend.
A second block party held in west Mobile at Sonrise Baptist Church featured an antique car show with intentions of drawing a different crowd.
Other Crossover events included a Hispanic sports clinic, door-to-door witnessing, a student rally, a “kindness explosion” and prayer walks were all put on to engage those who may not be used to attending church, Wright said.
At least 27 people made decisions for Christ during the weekend’s events, he said, adding that hundreds more were touched.
For instance, more than 130 Hispanics came to the sports clinic at Mobile Baptist Association’s International Ministries Center. The seafarers and port workers played soccer and volleyball, had snacks and received Bibles and literature in Spanish.
And all of the men — such as Wright’s new friend, Carlos — had the opportunity to hear the gospel.
During a break, Carlos told Wright a story about surviving a recent robbery during which he was held at gunpoint.
“I asked him why he thought that God protected him during such a dangerous encounter. He looked directly in my eyes and said, ‘I don’t know, but I have been wondering how I could thank Him,’” Wright recalled.
Wright sat down with Carlos and for the next half hour walked him through a gospel tract.
In Spanish, Carlos prayed and thanked God for protecting him and for giving him the freedom to know Jesus.
(Donna Wright contributed
to Crossover coverage)
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