August 25, 2024
BEDFORD, Ky. (KT) — “It’s been a great day in the Lord’s house.” That Facebook post by Pastor Mark Payton at Bedford Baptist Church came after the church baptized six people Sunday — all from the same family.
Brothers Leo and Felix Guerrero were at Bedford Baptist earlier this year when they painted the sanctuary, hallways and fellowship hall. That provided the initial conversations leading to witnessing opportunities. The first person to witness to the family was the chairman of trustees, Jimmy Jennings.
The men and their family members began attending services. “I could tell they were going to be responsive,” Payton said. “I could tell they were ready.”
By June, Leo’s wife Sarah was one of the Vacation Bible School workers. She had been saved years earlier in the former Bedford sanctuary, but was fearful of being baptized.
At Sunday’s baptismal service, the two brothers along with Sarah and three children were baptized. The family has a couple of girls who are considered to be too young to make professions of faith.
In the baptismal portion of the service, six family members are in the baptistry at the same time. While Payton is baptizing Sarah, her husband has his hand on her shoulder and is smiling “from ear to ear,” Payton noted.
Having six to baptize at one time is the most Payton has had during his six years as pastor of Bedford Baptist, although he did have that number in a previous pastorate in Columbus, Ohio. The six on Sunday follows two being baptized the week before as the result of professions of faith during June’s Vacation Bible School.
The children’s ministry at Bedford has blossomed in 2024. “Six months ago we had five kids — now we are averaging 22 to 25. He noted that Betsy Sutherland Jones is leading the children’s ministry and was the VBS director this year. “Our VBS was the best we’ve had in my six years here,” Payton said. “We probably averaged 52 kids and 40 workers a night — before that we were lucky to have 30.” On one night of VBS, when storms threatened the area, there were 58 children attending.
In addition to the successful Bible School, the church remodeled its sanctuary during June.
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This story first appeared in Kentucky Today.
