April 25, 2024
DUDLEY, Ga. – At least 42 people made salvation decisions this week at Dudley Baptist Church in central Georgia in what is the latest in a series of localized revivals that have resulted in hundreds of new believers.
Pastor Matt Greene said many others rededicated their lives to Christ in revival services that ran from Sunday through Wednesday.
“The presence of God was truly there,” Greene said, speaking of the church that’s roughly halfway between Macon and Statesboro.
Similar localized revivals have been reported in communities across Georgia since January.
More than 30 people made salvation decisions in the Camilla area in late February. That included 12 people at Hopeful Baptist Church and 20 others at a community gathering where the revival preached shared the gospel.
“We had great conviction in every service,” Hopeful pastor Clay Cloud said. “You could tell people were dealing with the Lord.”
Numerous such events were reported last year, as well, with congregations reporting single-day salvation decisions ranging from a few dozens to nearly 200 in church sanctuaries and at community events.
As a result, Georgia Baptist churches reported 14,333 baptisms in the past year, up from 12,865 the previous year. The latest numbers account for only slightly more than half of the state’s 3,400 churches, so the total number of baptisms could be far higher.
Also in February, 41 people surrendered to Christ at a wild game dinner in the fellowship hall at Bethel Baptist Church in Omega where some 400 men had gathered for a meal that included a variety of wild game, including deer, hog and quail.
Pastor Troy Dykes said members of his congregation had been praying for a harvest of souls and the Lord answered those prayers among a group of camo-clad guys, many of whom are more accustomed to sitting in tree stands than church pews.
“God moved like we had never seen Him move before,” Dykes said. “It’s a fantastic feeling to know God used our event to change men’s lives.”
In January, First Baptist Church in Blackshear reported 19 professions of faith at a venison supper. Another 28 people recommitted their lives to Christ at that event.
And in north Georgia, Cassville Baptist Church began the new year with nine baptisms, the first sign that the spontaneous revivals were continuing into the new year.
Greene, who has been part of a similar revival last year, said the salvations in Dudley were preceded by intense prayer and a hunger among church members to reach the unchurched.
“I believe that revival is a choice that we make every single day when the Father grants us a fresh breath in our lungs to go live for Him,” Greene said. “We make that choice to live for Him and to share the love of Jesus with others.”
