Florida
Because natural disasters often destroy cellular communications, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief leaders are gearing up to provide emergency communications through amateur radio operators when the need arises, the Florida Baptist Witness reported. “When a disaster happens, team members will communicate back to FLDR leadership about conditions on the ground …[allowing] us to mobilize needed resources quickly,” said Brad Gwartney, who coordinates communications and technology for FLDR.
Kentucky
Hurstbourne Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, looked a little different May 2 as hundreds stayed after the service to greet the church’s new members: six families from the Congo. Despite cultural and language differences, greetings were exchanged and the church celebrated. “Our church will now look more like heaven,” said Chase Grubb, student and missions pastor. Five Congolese families joined the previous week, Kentucky Today reported.
Tennessee
Gibson County Lake in Tennessee was the site of 48 baptisms, including a number of inmates from Gibson County correctional facility, on April 19. The correctional facility recently hosted a one-night revival, organized by Sheriff Paul Thomas. Eleven separate services were held simultaneously in the facility’s living pods. Nearly 100 inmates made salvation decisions, with 40 men saying they wanted to be baptized, the Baptist and Reflector reported.
South Carolina
Like mother, like daughter. Celeste Toole learned the importance of making missions a lifestyle from watching her mother, the Baptist Courier reported. Her mother, Patsy Waters, served as Woman’s Missionary Union director at First Baptist Church, Camden, South Carolina, for nearly 20 years. When she ended her tenure in 2013, Toole naturally followed in her footsteps. “We should live a missions lifestyle every day,” said Toole, whose mother died last August.
Virginia
“It’s never been better!” said Daniel Tesfasselase, pastor of Emmanuel Eritrean Baptist Church, Arlington, Virginia. The church planter moved to the Washington area several years ago due to religious persecution in his home country of Eritrea in northeast Africa. Many Eritrean refugees have now resettled in Virginia. The pastor believes he is able to reach and baptize more of his own people in the states than he could in Eritrea, the Proclaimer reported.
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