Open doors greet Florida Baptists at Crossover 2012 in New Orleans

Open doors greet Florida Baptists at Crossover 2012 in New Orleans

Jun 22, 2012
By EMILY GROOMS

NEW ORLEANS (FBW) ?In carnival-like settings throughout New Orleans, 38 block parties and other efforts were in full swing June 16 during Crossover 2012 when several dozen Florida Baptists joined more than 1,500 Southern Baptists for the evangelistic thrust prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

Michelle Moralles, one of 11 teens from Hay Vida en Jesus in Orlando, said the blessings had poured in ?by the truckloads,? since she and the others hit the streets of New Orleans, bringing the Gospel message after six months of evangelism training.

For an entire week Moralles and 18 volunteers from Iglesia Bautista Hay Vida en Jesus in Orlando joined 35 church members to canvas the streets surrounding the community around Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in New Orleans with information about Saturday?s events.

During one of their door-to-door witnessing trips, Moralles shared that her team prayed one person would come to know Christ. ?There was a man we passed and he was crying so we stopped and prayed for him,? she said. ?He was hurting and he needed help.?

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With a huge grin, Moralles said her prayer for the church is that it will ?follow up with people and show them the love of Christ.?

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Getsemani?s pastor Jorge Alvarenga is ready for follow-up. At a June 16 block party registration table people were cross-referenced for contacts already made throughout the week. Alvarenga pointed to dozens of New Testaments and tracts. Additionally, he said, the church has a strong presence at a local food bank?meeting both physical and spiritual needs in its community.

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Moralles was grateful for the opportunity to share her personal testimony at the block party?along with the Gospel?in a lively youth-led service with nearly a dozen band members and vocalists on a raised platform beside the church. Free food, entertainment and children?s games beckoned residents.

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?Throughout the week the group made 150 contacts, and saw 11 professions of faith and 7 recommitments, according to Carlos Mendez, senior pastor of Iglesia Bautista Hay Vida en Jesus.

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?God is good,? Mendez said.

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An adult leader from Florida agreed with Mendez on God?s faithfulness. She said Crossover helps congregations remember people need to move out of the walls of the buildings to reach people?but that both ways of doing evangelism can be effective.

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?People want the church to come to them,? Edda Ramos said. ?There are moms and children who can?t get to church who will listen if (members reach out to them).

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?You have to go,? she said.

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?For Shelly Chandler, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bonifay and a student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Crossover was just that. It was a chance to be there on behalf of a local church, connecting with the community.

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?People are hurting and they?re open to the Gospel,? Chandler told Florida Baptist Witness.

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The week prior to Crossover 2012, Chandler, with a handful of youth and seminary students, handed out 3,000 flyers promoting the ?free? family-fun event hosted by Metairie Baptist Church. They were able to do more than advertise and had several opportunities to help those in need.?

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?We were able to engage an elderly couple with nothing in their house and the church went back and filled up their pantry,? Chandler said. ?We saw a lady come to Christ from an abusive relationship, and prayed with a man who just lost his wife.?

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