Ronnie Helms, pastor of Roddy Baptist Church in Catawba, welled up with tears several times as he spoke of his life, his salvation experience and his church. Helms, a former paint contractor, was called into ministry after 30 years in the business world. He credits his salvation and pastorate to a man who he says “never gave up on me.”
Bryan Plyler, pastor of The River Church, Camden, baptizes Steve McClain on June 11.Baptisms at Roddy Baptist have increased from zero to 11 in Helms’ first year. In the same way a kind soul never gave up on him, Helms vows to never give up on his community.
Adam Mihn is certain of his mission field. Mihn concentrates on the nearly 28,000 students at the University of South Carolina through his church, Hill of the Lord. For Mihn, the question is often simply “Have you been baptized? Have you celebrated in that way?” Often the answer is no, he says. Mihn recently baptized two people in the nearby Saluda River.
Brian Saxon, pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Belton, tells the story of one church member who accepted Christ two weeks before his young child’s tragic death. “Just two weeks ago, I could not have handled this,” he told Saxon. When the church member was baptized a few Sundays later, Saxon asked all who were friends or family to stand during the baptism. The entire congregation came to their feet.
These baptisms and many others are just a sampling of the wonderful stories behind every church baptism across the state.
In November, the South Carolina Baptist Convention launched a new initiative to encourage all churches to baptize at least one person in 2006.
“A Goal of One” originated out of a concern for the more than 300 churches that reported zero baptisms on the 2005 Annual Church Profile.
“We wanted to create a realistic goal – a goal that any church in this state could achieve – and the only realistic goal was a goal of one,” said Marshall Fagg, director of the SCBC’s evangelism and missions team.
Fagg is careful to stress that, beyond the numbers, the importance of baptism is paramount, with each baptism representing a new life.
“A great deal of our energy as the body of Christ should be directed to be obedient to what Christ asks us to do, and that is to go and make disciples and baptize them. That really is what ‘A Goal of One’ is about.”
Though the actual number of 2006 baptisms will not be available until early next year, efforts are under way to determine which churches have baptized at least one person. At the mid-year point, the news is encouraging.
“I think it has been embraced better than I anticipated. Our churches are doing extremely well,” Fagg commented.
Churches are encouraged to contact the convention office to report the number of baptisms this year. Convention employees have made an effort to communicate with all churches to acquire the same information. With nearly 50 percent of churches contacted, 86 percent have baptized at least one person this year.
The initiative is now entering stage three, in which local directors of mission will be providing encouragement and assistance to churches within their associations.
The fourth stage will include other churches who have baptized at least one person this year partnering with those who may need help. Fagg notes there are many churches who have volunteered to assist.
“We are all in this together,” says Fagg. “It is not a matter of individual churches; it is a matter of the church of Jesus Christ, and that is what the kingdom is all about.”
The North American Mission Board has also funded a portable baptismal pool, which any church can use if it does not have the use of a baptistry or other baptism area.
As the summer concludes, the significance of every church reaching its goal of one is in the lives behind the ordinance.
“Baptism is the church celebrating the addition of new believers, while giving the opportunity to publicly testify to the fact that Christ has changed and transformed their lives,” said Fagg.