Gospel momentum builds in Helen as church sees changing culture

HELEN, Ga. — Steve Smith, Evangelism and Community Outreach Pastor at Helen First Baptist Church, is seeing a movement of God in northeast Georgia. “The Lord is up to something in Helen, Georgia. It’s not just contained in the city of Helen. It’s in our church,” he said.

Smith is referring to a gradual change in both the city’s atmosphere and the church’s evangelism efforts. Over the past three years, that change has been visible through the church’s Christmas outreach, “A Walk Through Bethlehem.”

A Walk Through Bethlehem is a recreation of the city of Bethlehem located at Riverside Park in Helen. Attendees are given "shekels" or coins to pay a "tax" to enter the city, where they encounter period-dressed scripted actors playing innkeepers, Roman centurions, pottery makers, shepherds, tent makers, basket weavers, and bread makers foretelling the coming of Jesus.

As groups of about 15 to 20 people are guided through Bethlehem, volunteers in character interact with attendees and point them to prophecy, scripture, and the coming of the Messiah. At the end of the tour, visitors arrive at the manger to find the baby Jesus.

In 2023, about 1,000 people walked through the village. Attendance doubled in 2024 — and doubled again in 2025 to 4,000.

“It’s been remarkable to see what the Lord has done in that from the beginning,” said Smith. “There’s been some exciting things to hear of how God is working in the midst of what some would deem not a traditional outreach. God is doing some incredible things.”

Smith said four people made salvation decisions last year. "If we could reach just one, it would be worth it all. We give Him all the glory.” Smith said.

Attendees came from all across the area, the United States, and overseas. One family from South Africa heard about the event through Instagram.

The growing number of people walking through the village is a culmination of work God is doing behind the scenes in Helen.

Smith recently attended a Board of Commissioners meeting where officials reported that more visitors are coming to Helen for Christmas events rather than the party scene the city has long been known for. According to Smith, alcohol sales were down for the first time in the city’s history.

Smith said a public works official he spoke to was tearful, saying he'd been praying for something like this to come to Helen. 

The city helps coordinate its Christmas lights around what the church does and the dates of the walkthrough. “Giving us things we didn’t have to pay for. The doors have been open to the city,” Smith said. “It’s exciting to see what the Lord is up to in little old Helen, Georgia. It’s absolutely phenomenal.”

Part of the church culture change is a new excitement for local evangelism, seeing people come to faith in Christ and making disciples.

Volunteers gathered in prayer to see how this ministry would proceed from the scenes and sets, and who would volunteer their time, efforts, talents, and skills. “God supplied every single need,” Smith said.

There has been an increase in volunteers for all the church ministries, such as the efforts at the county detention center and during the church’s food distribution.

Smith said the nativity event makes it easier for church members to share the gospel because it’s in a large group of people and not a one-on-one setting. “You're just walking around having an organic conversation with people,” he said.

Smith told of a man who attended the church's weekly jail services, and was released from jail and dropped off across the street from the church on a Wednesday night. A longtime church member shared the gospel with him, and Smith said it was the first time they had done so.

“You could tell he had been beat up by life and was in a tough spot. We loved on him, fed him a meal, and had a chance to share the gospel. I’m not saying he left there a saved man, but to see that from one of my volunteers who had never shared the gospel with a stranger — I was jacked up,” Smith said.

Being faithful and consistent is the key to the success of any ministry, and the church is benefiting. 

Smith, who got clean from drug addiction in 2008 and came to faith in Christ in 2012, recalled meeting another recovering addict at a local pizza place who wanted nothing to do with the gospel. But, he explained, that person chose to come to the walkthrough this year. “I’m thankful that he came,” Smith said. He added that the man came out of the event with tears in his eyes and apologized for being so rude at the pizza place. The man said he wanted to know more about “this Jesus."

“It’s wonderful to see a young man getting closer and closer to that point where he would call upon the Lord to save him,” Smith said. "To go from a hater of God to being drawn in, this effort touched him in such a way that he realized that he is lost. I’m encouraged by that kind of stuff. It kind of lights my fire.” 

Smith believes the church is only at the beginning of what God is doing in Helen.

“He’s opening up so many doors in the city that I feel He wants us to go deeper,” Smith said. “It’s so wonderful that God allows us to take part in what He’s doing. To tag along with what God is doing in that city is remarkable.”