Host pastors and guest evangelists participating in the simultaneous fall revivals sponsored by East Tennessee Baptist Association, included, from left, Joe Sorah, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board; Roc Collins, TBMB; Mike Hensley, director of missions, ETBA; Gary Elmore, Point Pleasant Baptist Church; Fred Cagle, Piney Grove Baptist Church; David Evans, pastor, Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield; and Wayne Whitaker, pastor of Northport Baptist Church. Not present for photo was guest evangelist Randy Pressnell of the TBMB and Glenn Franklin, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
NEWPORT — Former director of missions Horace Brown had a vision that churches in East Tennessee Baptist Association would hold simultaneous revivals to reach the lost population in Cocke County.
Brown worked with several churches in the association and had revivals planned for the fall of 2020, but like so many events that year, COVID-19 caused the revivals to be postponed to 2021, but an increase in COVID cases once again canceled the revivals.
Brown, however, passed away before he could see his vision become a reality in 2022.
Four of the association’s churches — Northport, Piney Grove, Pleasant Grove and Point Pleasant — held simultaneous revivals during the week of Sept. 19. Each one is located in a different section of Newport and Cocke County, so other churches could attend one of the revivals closest to their location.
“We were glad that we were able to finally see Bro. Horace’s vision become a reality,” said Mike Hensley, former longtime pastor of Swannsylvania Baptist Church, Dandridge, who succeeded Brown as director of missions for ETBA.
Hensley said the combined revivals drew about 400 people each night and that there was one known profession of faith and a recommitment, but that does not tell the entire story, he said.
“The revivals brought unity to the association and I am sure that the seeds that were sown will bring forth an even greater harvest in the future,” Hensley observed.
The revivals were a cooperative effort. Several churches that were not hosts provided worship during the week. Four guest evangelists (Roc Collins, Joe Sorah and Randy Pressnell of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and David Evans, pastor of Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield) rotated preaching among the four churches.
“Each speaker had their own distinct personality but shared a burden for the lost,” said pastor Glenn Franklin of Pleasant Grove Baptist. “We were challenged to be burdened for the lost in our area. Each evangelist was spirit-filled and you could sense God’s presence,” Franklin added.
Gary Elmore, pastor of Point Pleasant Baptist observed that the revival campaign “was a breath of fresh air and a cool drink of water in a dry and thirsty place.” Each speaker was “divinely appointed, Elmore affirmed.
“It was truly a great thing to see believers from a variety of churches throughout our area come together to worship the name of Jesus and be challenged by His Word,” said Wayne Whitaker, pastor of Northpoint Baptist. “Even though some of us didn’t know each other, we were nonetheless a family from the very first night whose ties grew ever stronger as the week went on.”
“I know the ripple effect of this week will be widespread and powerful. I often say that before God does a work through His people, He does a work in them. Well, God definitely worked in His people this week, and I can’t wait to see what He does through them in weeks to come.”
“I pray that God will continue to do a new thing in and through His people in the East Tennessee Baptist Association,” Whitaker added.
“What an awesome four nights,” observed Fred Cagle, pastor of Piney Grove Baptist. “The messages were so challenging for the church to reach lost people for Christ. All evangelists did a wonderful work for the Lord.”
Hensley said his desire is to see the simultaneous revivals become an annual event in the association.
“The revivals were fantastic. It was a joy to see our churches cooperating together to help reach lost souls in our community,” Hensley said. B&R
