Bobby Welch, president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), was scheduled to arrive Sept. 8 at First Baptist Church, Fort Payne, as part of his nationwide bus tour. The stop marked a visit home for the Fort Payne native, who was also ordained at the church.
In 25 days, Welch plans to visit all 50 states in hopes of encouraging Baptists to reach the SBC’s goal of 1 million baptisms. The 45-foot bus, emblazoned with the faces of Southern Baptists and an American flag, rolls across the United States spreading the SBC challenge – “Everyone Can Witness, Win and Baptize … One Million!”
Welch and five team members launched the tour from First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla., where he serves as pastor. He intends to cover 20,000 miles, stopping along the way to meet with church leaders and to help with door-to-door evangelism, and concluding with trips to Canada, Hawaii and Alaska.
His Alabama stop came on the heels of Welch’s seeing souls saved on his route up the East Coast, with historic visits to Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts- the first time a sitting SBC president had visited New England since 1983.
Welch leaves Fort Payne headed for Mississippi and the Midwest.
(TAB)
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