When Alabama Baptists agreed to a partnership with Michigan Baptists three and a half years ago, Director of Missions Ben Chandler determined to lead his association to be involved.
This year, that dream was fulfilled when six St. Clair Baptist Association churches united for the sake of the gospel July 31–Aug. 8 in Novi, Mich.
After learning about the populous area of 50,000 that is home to several Fortune 500 companies as well as numerous gated communities and its limited evangelical witness, Chandler knew Novi was just the place his St. Clair Association churches could minister.
So he and 13 other Alabama Baptists developed what they called “The Novi Connection” and headed to Michigan to help Orchard Hills Baptist Church, Novi, reach out to Hometown Novi, a 750-unit mobile-home community about four miles from the church.
The week was filled with long days of repairs on about 30 mobile homes, car washes and painting Orchard Hills Baptist’s sanctuary, while evenings were occupied by Vacation Bible School conducted in an open field, under a tent and in the mobile home community clubhouse.
The Bible schools allowed for the gospel to be presented to 50 children, youth and adults, which resulted in six professions of faith.
The team prayer walked in the Hometown Novi community on Saturday and participated in the Sunday morning church service through worship, co-led by the Alabama team and the church staff; skits; testimonies; and preaching.
“The Novi Connection came and saw lostness as they never experienced it before,” Chandler said of the missions experience. “We discovered a partner with whom we can share the gospel of Christ to a lost world.”
And because this year’s trip was such a success, Chandler said he plans to enlist another team to go to Michigan next year — maybe even two.
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