FARMINGTON, N.M. – Emmanuel Baptist Church here boils its evangelism down to the single digits: Who’s Your One?
That North American Mission Board initiative and a new pastor led to an annual increase in the church’s baptisms, from two in the COVID year of 2020 – Pastor David Brittain arrived in April 2021 – to 23 in 2024, and 20 as of Aug. 21 this year.
“I believe it’s overwhelming for people to hear the big numbers,” Brittain told Baptist Press. “Tens of thousands of lost people in our town, millions across the nation and billions around the globe? I believe that’s overwhelming.
“But God is bigger than that big number and He’s going to use us to reach people one at a time. We’re here to make disciples, and it starts with leading people to Christ.”
Evangelism and discipleship go hand in hand, Brittain said. He tells the congregation approaching 300 on Sunday mornings, “Focus on building the relationships you already have. Make talking with others about your relationship with the Lord natural; this is who you are.
“We are seeing people come to Christ and seeing baptisms from that, and it’s a wonderful thing,” the pastor said.
Emmanuel Farmington’s one focus is disciple-making.
“We want to give training, but the most lasting decisions are those from people who have come through the relational connection,” Brittain said. “I want it to be natural in terms of evangelism and growing in your relationship with Christ.
“The Great Commission is birthed out of the Great Commandment: If you love someone, it’s natural to talk about them. If you care about someone, do you not tell them the truth they need to hear?”
Most of the ministries at Emmanuel Farmington have been started by members who saw an opportunity to share the truth of Jesus through ministering to others, such as Grief Share, Celebrate Recovery and several others.
“There’s freedom in Christ,” Brittain said. “It can be wonderful to help someone in their grief, but if we stop short of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we’re not doing what we need to be.”
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in Baptist Press. Read the rest of the article here.