It is a largely untouched area. In the name of safety, no one has dared to enter the inner-city streets of Charleston. Behind the pristine streets of the Battery and the shops along the market is a largely avoided community of drugs, runaways and gangs.
A new believer rejoices after Darrell Coulter of Joy Baptist Church, Charleston, baptizes.Until this summer.
In late July, five churches in the Charleston area joined together to utilize ICE – Intentional Community Evangelism – a program sponsored by the North American Mission Board’s personal evangelism unit. Over the 18-month process, members from each church were trained in evangelism, prayerwalking, community ministry and follow-up. Then, on the appointed weekend, they covered the community with evangelism strategies.
Charleston-area pastors visited San Diego earlier this year to see how the ICE strategy is working in the inner city.
“We blanketed the tri-county area with people with a passion for souls,” said Darrell Coulter, pastor of Joy Baptist Church in Charleston.
In Charleston, many groups prayerwalked the city, taking an opportunity to talk with those found roaming the streets.
“That weekend resulted in 267 professions of faith,” reported Jack Partridge, director of personal evangelism for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
One group encountered a teenaged couple living under a bridge who were both contemplating suicide. When approached, the male spoke to Coulter, saying, “You don’t love me.” Coulter replied, “I don’t know you, but I do love you.” The young man hugged Coulter and later remarked it was the first time he had felt loved in his life.
Joe Traynham, pastor of Remount Baptist Church, Charleston, baptizes a new believer.“Each one of these lives is changed forever,” said Coulter.
For members of Remount Baptist Church, North Charleston, the effect of ICE was as much internal as external.
“This is the best thing on how to get church members out on the streets,” said Joe Traynham, pastor.
Nearly 50 members of the church participated in the weekend.
“This is helping move our church to be more diverse,” said Traynham.
The weekend closed with a baptism service at Citadel Square Baptist Church, where 25 people were baptized in a public celebration.
All of the participating churches have begun follow-up with the community, starting Bible studies in some housing projects and making contact with those who accepted Christ.
Coulter humbly summed up the weekend.
“We are just nobodies trying to tell everybody about somebody who can love anybody.”
“The members of the churches had their eyes opened a little more to the needs in their communities. Not only do many laypeople have a greater passion for sharing the gospel, but also for people in general.”
– Darrell Coulter, Joy Baptist Church
“The streets and areas were purposefully prayerwalked – not once, but many times to prepare the soil for the harvest.”
– Gary Mathis, Charleston Baptist Association
“We see people hurting, depressed and who are using various inappropriate means to find hope, meaning and happiness. We believe the Lord has put us here to reach out to the community in his name.”
– Joe Traynham, Remount Baptist Church
“Simply, there are too many people walking around the Lowcountry who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our biblical responsibility to make sure the gospel is carried to all people.”
– Michael McMinn, Youth and Outreach, Remount Baptist Church
For more information on Intentional Community Evangelism, contact the personal evangelism office at (800) 723-7242, ext. 5301.