Prattville’s New Vision church celebrates 25 years

For the past 25 years New Vision Baptist Church has been a consistent presence in the Prattville community.

“We’ve been trying to build a church where anybody — regardless of the struggles that they’re going through — can come and find a safe place,” said J.B. Burt, the church’s first and only pastor.

And in those years, they’ve seen God bless that effort. They’ve had a multicultural ministry, hosting an ongoing Bible study in Japanese and hosting a Spanish-speaking congregation, Pueblo de Dios. New Vision Baptist has also put a major emphasis on evangelism.

That’s the impact the New Vision Baptist congregation will honor as they come together Nov. 4 to mark the 25th anniversary of both the church and its pastor. Mel Johnson, associational missionary/director of missions for Autauga Baptist Association, said New Vision Baptist is a church plant that has continuously aimed to plant other churches.

“They have been very instrumental in our missions strategy here in the association,” he said. “I think it’s a real blessing to see a church that has been planted turn right around and duplicate itself. As a result of that, we’ve had a lot of folks come to know Christ over the years, and that congregation continues to serve exceptionally.”

Johnson said it’s a testament to Burt’s leadership.

“He’s got a heart for reaching people for Christ, and as goes the pastor, so goes the church,” he said. (Grace Thornton)