Love the theme at First Baptist Woodstock

WOODSTOCK — First Baptist Church is providing a model of what a New Testament church should be by proving actions speak louder than words. More than 2,000 members of the church and others whom they mobilized to join them made quite an impact on Woodstock and beyond during the church’s “Love Loud” campaign Oct. 23-25.

After Pastor Johnny Hunt was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June he announced he wanted Southern Baptists to love so loud no one could hear anything but the compassion and kindness of Southern Baptists.

“I tell my people that when we meet on Sunday, that is the church gathered,” Hunt stated. “Throughout the rest of the week, we are the church scattered – scattered to be the feet and hands of Christ.”

When the clarion call was extended for First Baptist members to participate in “Love Loud” 1,500 signed up to help through the Sunday School and another 700 through the church’s website. The church held a rally on Wednesday before the campaign was launched where there was standing room only in the chapel that seats 2,200 people.

Hunt remarked, “Members of First Baptist were in 37 different nations last year doing mission work, but sixty percent of the people involved in this project have never been on a mission field outside of Woodstock, but what they are doing here will give them the motivation to go wherever God leads.

“The wonderful thing about ministering in our own community is that no one needs a passport, an expensive plane ticket, or a pocketbook full of cash to go to a distant land to meet some need. There are plenty of needs right here.”

George McLeod once said, “Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves – and that on the town garbage dump where cynics talked smut and thieves cursed and soldiers gambled. But that is where the church must be and that is what churchmanship must be about.”

Woodstock’s First Baptist Church has found a way to minister in every corner and crevice of their city and people are asking volunteers to give a reason of the hope in them. Consequently, souls are being saved. In fact, 205 made professions of faith in Christ during the three days of First Baptist’s Love Loud.

During the Love Loud campaign the Hope Center was a beehive of activity as First Baptist members worked to paint and refurbish the place that offers compassionate outreach to women in crisis.

Cindy O’Leary, executive director of the Hope Center, stated, “This ministry was birthed in prayer in 1990 by First Baptist Church, but now functions as a community effort.”

Mia Otero, a First Baptist member, was assisting with the refurbishing effort by painting a hallway. She remarked, “I got pregnant at 16 years of age as a student at Lassiter High School and came here to receive counsel and help. Loving people mentored me here at the Center and a dear Christian woman, Janet Stewart, led me to faith in Christ. Pastor Johnny baptized me.

“This place offered me hope and freedom from all my fears and guilt. My baby, Chansity, is now eleven years old. I have nothing but gratitude for what the Hope Center has done for me. I am just trying to return the favor. I owe them my life.”

Mia continued, “You wouldn’t believe all the things First Baptist has done for me during the Love Loud campaign. Yesterday I got my oil changed, brakes checked, and car washed and detailed. I got a haircut, manicure, and pedicure. I also got some clothes for my daughter and me. Right now there are people at my apartment cleaning my carpet. It is all a part of Love Loud. I have never felt such love. I am overwhelmed with joy.”

On the way to the next facet of FBC’s “gospel in shoe leather” effort Hunt indicated that in addition to the mobilization of more than 2,000 people the church had allocated $150,000 for local missions ministries.

Joseph Peluso’s dental office was the next stop and the rather commodious facility was filled with people waiting to get free dental work.

No regular “paying” clients had been scheduled at Peluso’s office during the Love Loud campaign, but six dentists and two oral surgeons were on site to help with those whose limited income would not permit them the “luxury” of dental care.

John Peacock, the prior owner of the dental practice now operated by Peluso, was assessing prospective dental patients at the church, diagnosing their needs and having them chauffeured to Peluso’s facility in downtown Woodstock.

Peacock, who had used his professional skills on mission projects in Honduras and Guatemala, concluded that if he could meet the dental needs of people in other countries he could do the same for people in his own backyard.

First Baptist also had a medical clinic set up in the church where 20 registered nurses, 15 practical nurses, and a half-dozen physicians gave of their time and expertise to assist hundreds of people who came to have physical needs met.

 

Top objective

Roger Hill, a prominent Cobb County physician and member of First Baptist Woodstock, stated, “We are doing the same thing here that I have done on mission trips to Belize and Honduras, where we minister to physical needs, share the gospel, and start churches.

“It is so important to have something like this to draw people to the church in order to accomplish our number one objective of sharing the gospel. The medicine we dispense won’t last, but the gospel has the power to change lives for all eternity.”

Josue Calzada, who works in the missions department of First Baptist Church, had been given the responsibility of overseeing the medical clinic. At the midpoint of the Love Loud campaign Calzada indicated that 700 people had been registered to receive either dental or medical help. A translator helped those who spoke Spanish only.

“We take care of the children of those who come to one of our clinics,” Calzada explained. “During the registration process we witness to everyone and so far 65 people have prayed to receive Christ as their personal Savior.

“Many have gone home with a large box of food. We also give $10 coupons to the clothes closet to everyone who registers. With the $10 coupon they can buy several complete outfits, because our prices are very low. You can get a pair of pants for two dollars.”

Anyone who visits the closet will quickly discover it is anything but a closet. In fact, it more closely resembles a department store.

Eugenia Smith is the clothes closet coordinator and has all the clothes categorized, sorted, and priced. She said, “We sold $1,500 worth of merchandize yesterday (Oct. 23) which was an excellent day based on our low prices, but we actually gave away three times as much as we sold.”

Love Loud also provided a desk where skin care needs could be met. There was another section where hearing exams were given. Chiropractors were on duty to give people adjustments. Nutritionists were also available to counsel individuals and families on healthy eating habits.

As a part of Love Loud, First Baptist held block parties in mobile home parks, at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch in Ball Ground, and at the Girls Foster Care Center.

The church went to work at the Department of Family and Children Services painting and refurbishing the facilities, but even more importantly had a training session for families preparing to receive foster children.

The Woodstock pastor stated, “Our goal is to take every foster child that comes through DFCS in hopes that everyone will be saved and given a fresh start in life so that they can become productive and fruitful Christians.”

The church wanted to do something to minister to the Woodstock police department and fire department. The assistant fire chief, Dave Soumas, explained to Hunt, “We don’t really need anything, but if you really want to be of assistance join us in helping someone else.”

 

Someone else

Soumas was referring to Charlotte Doughty, a woman who often came to the fire station to get her blood pressure checked. She had gone through open-heart surgery, was on a defibrillator, and had congestive heart failure. She had frequently called 911 when in a physical crisis and the fireman had often come to her aid.

Doughty, a Georgia Tech graduate, had endeared herself to the firemen by teaching them computer skills and setting up a Microsoft Office program for their station on her own time.

With the church’s help Doughty had her yard cleaned with three containers of undergrowth and fallen tree limbs carried away. Her house was painted. She received new carpet, a new dishwasher, a new microwave, and new furniture.

Brent and Laura George, the parents of eleven children, were also recipients of First Baptist Church’s Love Loud campaign.

“Brent sold a small business he had owned for 24 years and took a job paying far less than he had been receiving previously,” Laura commented. “We have managed to survive only by the grace of God. “First Baptist mission volunteers were replacing rotted out windows and molded sheetrock. They built a deck for the Georges, put in new French Doors and new carpet, and gave the house a general overhaul.

Craig Ormsby, the church’s director of services and coordinator of Love Loud, explained that Universal Force Products and Home Depot had given thousands of dollars worth of supplies to assist in the renovation of the Georges’ home.

In the Love Loud campaign it seemed no stone was left unturned. First Baptist provided an artist to draw a mural on the wall of Woodstock Elementary School. Schoolchildren then painted the mural under the supervision of the artist.

Each child that participated received a certificate of accomplishment and gift card to an ice cream parlor. A picture of the young artists was taken and placed in the local newspaper.

In a day when so many people are disenchanted by the church it is good to know there are churches following the example of Christ who came to serve rather than to be served.