The Open Door

Revival at Bethel Baptist in Sycamore is done in the “old- fashioned” way, just the way I like it. What some churches seem to be looking for by way of a great revival spirit, Bethel possesses. In fact, I’ve known this church for the entire time I have been in Georgia and I don’t think Bethel ever lost the wonderful revival spirit that permeates the church and radiates through its radio station and its congregation throughout the surrounding community.

“Now, tell me, where is Bethel Baptist?” Bethel is on highway 32 three miles east of Interstate 75, just south of Ashburn and just north of Tifton. The church is appropriately categorized as “open country.” It is surrounded by fields of summer crops, some of the prettiest farmland in Georgia.

“So what made this such a special revival?” It reminded me of the revivals I witnessed as a child where the sanctuary was literally packed every service. The spirit reflected in the singing was one of rejoicing, praise and worship. The music leader for the week was Jay Parrak, minister of music at Arbor Baptist in Fitzgerald and a former tenor with the Gold City Quartet. Jay’s wonderful personality and love for people and for the Lord made everyone want to lift the roof with praise and worship.

In the midst of one of the evening worship services Jay described the difference between praise and worship. He described praise as what we say about God and worship as what we say to God. He then correctly declared that the more important of the two is worship, what we say to God. He reminded us that as we sing we should remember that we are speaking directly to the Lord from our hearts.

His words inspired all of us to give our best offering to the Lord. On Wednesday evening the choir and instruments from Arbor came over to Sycamore to lead in worship. They were outstanding. Their presence capped off a glorious week of music worship led by the Bethel choir. My batteries were charged!

Every evening before the worship service a large group gathered in the fellowship hall for an incredible covered dish dinner complete with garden-fresh vegetables, fried chicken, ham, roast beef and barbeque. Top it off with a cold cup full of South Georgia sweet tea and homemade desserts and you have a feast long to be remembered.

I think they had the idea that if they could stuff the preacher, he wouldn’t preach so long. It didn’t work!

Donnie Duncan is pastor at Bethel. He is what some might refer to as an emerging younger leader. I refer to him as a bright, energetic, profoundly committed, in love with his congregation, devoted to the Cooperative Program, Gospel preaching, evangelistic and discipling emerging younger leader! His staff relationship is unique. His associate pastor is Kenneth Kicklighter, who served as pastor at Bethel for many years. When Kenneth retired the church called Donnie, who had served as associate to Kenneth when he was pastor.

Now Kenneth, who works fulltime with a part time job description, because of his love for Donnie and the church, happily refers to himself as Donnie’s associate pastor. The congregation is doubly blessed by the leadership of these two men. It takes an extra measure of personal security to make such a staff relationship succeed.

Donnie and Kenneth clearly have what it takes.

Oh, did I mention that we went fishing while I was there? Donnie was in Kenneth’s boat and I fished with my good friend, Charlie Carter, a deacon at Bethel. We got into the bass even though Kenneth and Charlie tried their best to keep Donnie and me from getting to their favorite fishing spots. Kenneth tried several distractions, such as driving us around the county for a long while pretending that he was lost and didn’t know how to find the pond. Then when he did get us to the favorite fishing hole, he broke the seat in his boat and threw his cell phone into the lake to slow things down a bit.

Not to be outdone, Charlie pulled the plug out of our boat and though he was hollering that we were taking on water I tossed him an empty Coke bottle to scoop up the water without missing a single cast. I pulled in six nice bass that morning in spite of the distractions! I still didn’t get the twelve-pounder, though, that Kenneth promised me when he talked me out of a five-pound bass I caught a few years back.

He said, and I quote, “If you’ll just let me have that five-pound bass for my pastors’ dinner, next time you come I’ll put you on a twelve-pounder.” Of course, I gave it to him! Have I caught my twelve-pound bass? Nope, not yet.

After a delightful and restful morning of fishing, we went back to the church for a fish fry. Good food, good friends, good fellowship, and good relaxation made it a day to remember. The spirit of the church, the crowds that gathered, the music that inspired, the worship that touched our hearts and the numerous decisions for Christ made it a revival to remember.