When Robbie McGowan began attending Liberty Baptist Church, Crossville, little did some of his family members know the eternal difference it would make in their lives. McGowan not only led his grandparents, Barbara and Jerry McGowan, to Christ but also has been instrumental in sharing the gospel with other family members.
He began attending the church in large part thanks to its outreach efforts sparked by GPS: Across Alabama, an Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) evangelism initiative created to spread the gospel to every part of the state.
The McGowan family’s story was presented via video during the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 16 at Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover. This was one of two Across Alabama testimonies presented to convention messengers by Sammy Gilbreath, SBOM evangelism director.
Gilbreath interviewed Liberty Baptist Pastor Roger White following the McGowan family video. White shared what GPS has meant to him and his church.
He said one of the best things participating in GPS has done for him as a pastor is shown him simple ways to lead his church in leading others to Christ. “One of the hardest things we do is communicate how to get the gospel out,” he said.
White also noted a new willingness in his church members to get involved.
“We had some folks who would never get involved who are now eager to help,” he said.
Liberty’s outreach events have included car shows, tractor shows and skateboarding competitions. White said an outdoor extravaganza and hunter safety courses have been discussed as possibilities for future events and other types of gatherings also are being considered.
Interviewed by Gilbreath during the second Across Alabama testimony was John Brock, pastor of Highland Baptist Church, Florence.
When Highland Baptist decided to do a GPS: Across Alabama project, Brock knew the task would be monumental and lots of helping hands would be needed.
“We decided to go to the Sunday School departments and classes and ask them to get involved,” he said. “And they rose to the challenge.”
In the spring, just before Easter, about 200 church members hung gospel packets on the doors of 10,000 homes in the Florence area. Included in the packets were invitations to Highland Baptist’s Easter services, which all but ensured an even greater attendance than usual that day.
“We know some came because of GPS,” Brock said. “We preached a simple message based on John 3:16. It was an incredible day.”
The distribution of the gospel packets was the result of months of planning, which included consulting with postal employees to determine how many homes could be covered in a couple of hours.
Brock said because of the project, the motivation for evangelism in his community was raised and participation was high. In fact, he said, the project coordinator shed joyful tears over the number of people who responded.
“People came to help who had never really gotten involved before,” Brock said.
“To see God call these people out to a new level was amazing.”
In addition to offering people a simple way to share the gospel, the project provided good family time.
“I went with my wife, and it was fun for us to go out together,” Brock said.
“And it reminded me of the importance of sowing the seeds of the gospel. Everybody deserves an opportunity to hear the gospel.
“Blessings of God tend to follow forward motion.”
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