Five Small Kentucky Baptist Churches Join for Week of Revival
Nightly crowds of about 150 filled rural Rockcastle County churches, and the pastors now plan a tent revival in Brodhead next June.
MOUNT VERNON, Ky. —
Five small Baptist congregations in southeastern Kentucky held a five-night joint revival, moving from church to church each evening and drawing about 150 people a night, Kentucky Today reported.
The churches, all members of the Rockcastle Baptist Association, are Roundstone, Poplar Grove, Livingston, Macedonia and Valley Baptist. The idea grew out of a conversation between Roundstone pastor Bill Hammond and Poplar Grove pastor Mike McFerron. Each night's host pastor preached and led worship.
Attendance averaged about 146 a night, with crowds ranging from 125 to 160, according to the report. At Roundstone, which normally seats about 85, volunteers carried chairs in from classrooms to seat 143 people. Hammond counted two professions of faith and about 10 rededications.
“I've been preaching for 45 years, and this has been one of the overwhelmingest moments I've ever had,” Hammond said.
Randy McPheron, the association's mission strategist, said the pastors had been working as “lone rangers” before the meetings. “What I saw in the members was a new joy, a new excitement and a new zeal for God,” he said.
The five pastors now meet monthly to pray together and plan community service. They are planning a tent revival in Brodhead next June and hope to bring in more churches.
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