Evangelism effort targets Montgomery

Jay Wolf could barely contain his excitement after witnessing to a teenage boy in Montgomery’s Tulane Court.
   
Wolf, pastor of First Baptist, Montgomery, was among the several dozen volunteers from various Montgomery churches who participated in the Inner City Evangelism (ICE) crusade. Sponsored by the State Board of Mission’s (SBOM) evangelism office and First, Montgomery, ICE featured a weekend of witnessing and block parties with residents of Montgomery’s housing projects.
   
Tulane Court was one of six areas where ICE was held. Residents enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs, along with baked beans, chips and soda during the Saturday block party, as they were treated to gospel music, dancing and fellowship with their friends and neighbors.
   
Along with volunteers preparing and serving lunch, others, such as Wolf, participated in witnessing opportunities.
   
“We’ve got block parties where there’s food and a lot of entertainment, the gospel’s being presented and we have people who are going around encountering people and asking them if they know Christ and witnessing to them — leading them to the Lord,” said Max Croft, an associate in the evangelism office.
   
ICE kicked off April 28 with witness training. Witnessing activities were planned through May 2. Prior to the event, Croft predicted as many as 1,000 professions of faith. By May 1, ICE appeared to be heading toward its goal, with more than 850 people already praying to receive Christ as their Savior.
   
Along with training workers to witness, ICE also included training in a program for dealing with addiction called Saving Addicts for Eternity (SAFE).
   
“This is fantastic. We are doing the heart of the gospel,” Wolf said.
   
The pastor shared how he witnessed to a teenager named Robert, after one of Robert’s classmates, Brian, told Wolf about him.
   
“We get [Robert] a hamburger and Brian runs over and gets (him) a Pepsi™, just to share who Jesus
could be in his life,” Wolf said.
   
The encounter opened the door for Wolf to share the gospel with the youth making a profession of faith right there.
   
Although ICE’s official ending date was May 2, Wolf said the impact of it will be felt way beyond that. Witnessing teams took the names and addresses of those they spoke with for follow-up.
   
“Our dream is to start a church here and to use of one of the apartments and get a church or two started up,” he said.
   
Wolf said First, Montgomery, has been involved in prayer walks and witnessing to areas such as Tulane Court for 12 years, “but we have never had a focused, intentional evangelism thrust like this.”
   
In addition to the volunteers, Wolf said some 20 evangelists from the North American Mission Board are working, “who have special gifts to share Christ on the street.”
   
Croft said S.T.E.P. (Strategies to Elevate People) churches and churches from the Montgomery Baptist Association also participated.
   
Those working said the effort was also special for them.
   
“I just enjoy being with the children and it’s just blessed me for coming out here and just being a part of this activity,” said Bette Carroll of First, Montgomery. “I just feel so inferior, trying to do what needs to be done.”
   
Two of the youth attending the crusade were sisters Fartima, 11, and Fahanake Gray, 9. Eagerly awaiting as Carroll served them hamburgers, the children said they were enjoying the block party’s music and dancing.
   
Beth Harris, a member of FBC, Montgomery, shared the plan of salvation with young friends Lakeshia Moore, 9, and Kateea McGhee, 11.
  
“Today, we learned about the Lord,” said Lakeshia.
  
“We’re going to heaven,” Kateea exclaimed excitedly.
   
The girls told how they are anxious to be baptized.
   
Prior to the event, Croft said the SBOM will consider crusades in other Alabama cities, based on the success of the Montgomery effort.