When Mike Watts became the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Prattville, in November 2025, he set out to “revitalize” the small church. Revitalize is a big word, but well justified by Watts’ recent, creative outreaches and the connections made as a result.
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“Watts and his congregation are making a difference on the west side of Prattville,” said Travis Coleman, who is serving as the interim associational leader for Autauga Baptist Association. “Since becoming pastor last fall, Mike has organized innovative events the church wasn’t accustomed to with great spiritual success.”
Engaging the community
Having been a pastor for nearly 20 years, Watts said he’s “learned to think outside the box to engage the community.”
CBC is one of the two most active sponsors of all churches in the region for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, according to Sharlene Carroll, a LifeSouth representative and member of CBC.
Watts said the other is a “mega church” in scale. Given CBC’s weekly worship attendance of 40 to 50 members, that distinction speaks volumes, he added.
“I give double red on behalf of my dad, who is a cancer survivor,” said Watts, who has already organized two blood drives on the church’s campus this year.
Watts describes this ministry with a parallel: “When you’re hospitalized and in need, and get a blood transfusion, your physical life was saved because someone gave their blood. Jesus Christ gave His blood for us to have eternal life.”
The witness and symbolism of a blood drive are strong, he noted.
‘We’re here’
On April 23, CBC also organized a community event where they hosted Montgomery’s WSFA 12 News meteorologist Josh Johnson, the Prattville police department, Autauga County Emergency Management Agency and Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. Jeff Gaylord, a friend of Watts who is deeply invested in the renewal of the church, was shopping with his wife, Stephanie, for 10 weather radios at Walmart since the church planned to raffle out at the event. But Gaylord decided they should wait. Later, while meeting with the deputy manager of the Autauga Emergency Management Agency, Gaylord recalled the woman hearing of their plans and taking out a massive box of weather radios that had been “collecting dust.”
At the event, they raffled out more than 80 of the provided weather radios, served corndogs and sodas. They also prayed over the attending representatives from the organizations. Watts’ goal with the invitation was to simply “let them know we’re here and praying for them.”
Encouraging connections, lives changed
Another opportunity came with CityFest, an annual festival in downtown Prattville that features live music and vendors, businesses and organizations that set up booths. CBC has never had a presence at CityFest until this year. On May 1–2, they handed out flyers for services and evangelism tracks. Watts described the connections made at CityFest as encouraging.
CBC’s camcorder and website are also new additions as of December 2025.
“A few people who have joined our church came to us after hearing our sermons and promo videos online,” Watts said. He noted Calvary’s older members also have been joyfully supportive of the changes.
Watts recalled one of the senior members told him, “You are what we needed. You’ve brought life back into our church.”
That same woman came down the aisle on a recent Sunday and rededicated her life to the Lord, Watts noted.
Watts also celebrated the involvement of new members. One of them, who is being mentored, is already serving in the sound booth. And another, an electrician by trade, rewired and replaced parts in the dimming church sign.
“It’s looking like a football field now,” Watts said jokingly.
The church also has a flourishing special needs ministry, one of the few in Prattville. It is funded by a nonprofit thrift store run by the members of CBC.
Looking ahead
When asked about future projects within the church, Watts listed several remodeling projects, including replacing the building’s roof. The building is 75 years old and showing its age.
Gaylord, who headed a revitalization project for a church in Jacksonville, Florida, as pastor, has counseled Watts in grants available for small churches that can help provide needed funds for various projects. “I never get rid of a business card,” he said.
Gaylord also said“the incredible servants’ hearts displayed by the long-time members” — despite several recent cancer diagnoses — has been an inspiration as well.
Coleman of Autauga Baptist Association said, “This is what can happen when God shows up and a church follows its pastor on mission to reach the community.”
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