FAITH Institute Records 70 Professions to Christ

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ?The National FAITH Institute hosted by First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach recorded 79 professions of faith, 26 Sunday School enrollments and 173 prospect rolls, Jan. 26-29.

While the FAITH strategy originated in First Baptist by pastor Bobby Welch, it has become a national strategy sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources and endorsed by the North American Mission Board.

Gene Mims, vice president of the LifeWay Christian Resources said that many times churches that lack an evangelism strategy default to evangelistic indifference.

The FAITH strategy "requires that people go out into their communities and meet people where they are, on their turf,?said Mims. "We can't expect people to walk into our churches and say, 'Here I am.' We have to go out to them and draw them in. That's how Jesus did it.?

Genonevo Lubaton and his wife, Purita, attendees to the FAITH Institute agreed that FAITH is needed in their Los Angeles congregation.

"I am the pastor of a Filipino congregation and I see so much potential with FAITH," said Lubaton, who leads Faith Calvary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. "I am excited to go back and see what FAITH can do for our congregation."

Currently, FAITH is used by churches in 49 states and 13 countries through four language translations of FAITH materials. Faith utilizes a church's Sunday School organization to draw seekers and new believers. Once in a church, they can be taught the basics of Christian faith through the regular Sunday School.

The next National FAITH Institute is slated for Sept. 27-30 at First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas.