Rural Baptist Church Sees 900 Baptisms in 6 years
"We're a very strong evangelistic church," Hanner said, noting that about 50 people go out every
Sunday and Thursday from the church to make visits in the community.
One on one
But not only that -- they follow
it up with discipleship, he said.
Hundreds have been discipled
one on one by other members of
Union No. 3 Baptist since he
asked that question years ago.
"Since we started discipling, our
church has matured. We've
caught the vision of what a true
Acts 1:8 church should look
like," Hanner said.
"When you cross those borders,
when you begin to really get
into God's Word, you get to the
point where you will go
anywhere, say anything and
talk to anyone for the sake of
the Gospel."
Union No. 3 Baptist Church has seen 900 baptized in the past six
years and grown from averaging 130 to 700 on a Sunday morning.
That's why Dan Garland, director of pastoral ministries and church consulting for LifeWay
Christian Resources, said he recommended Union No. 3 Baptist to be featured in a video at the
2017 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 13–14 in Phoenix, Ariz.
"I was impressed with the number of young men who are being discipled at the church," Garland
said. "We're talking about a church in the middle of nowhere ... and some people drive more than
a half hour to be a part. It's a great church and God is doing amazing things there."
The key to all of it has been the church growing and maturing in Christ, Hanner said.
"It's been humbling and phenomenal to see what God has done. We're just trying to stay out of
His way."
by Grace Thornton/The Alabama Baptist
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