By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA – Frances Clark stands amazed at one of God’s miracles.
A Scott Brame Middle School lead teacher, in Alexandria, Clark witnessed first-hand God’s power and love May 10, during a school field day when 58 students accepted Christ.
The nearly daylong celebration, sponsored by the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and attended by nearly 500 students, was filled with activities, with 25 volunteers from Philadelphia Baptist Church’s Horseshoe Drive campus cooking food, leading games and competitions, and helping students make crafts.
Students also were offered opportunities to hear a brief Gospel presentation at a booth featuring Harley Davidson motorcycles and at another station where colorful bracelets were made.
ENDURING IMPACT
Nearly two months later, Clark still marvels how God used members of PBC at Horseshoe Drive to bring about a harvest of young souls and sow seeds of spiritual change on campus.
“God is up to something big,” Clark said. “I hope we can continue this strong bond between the church and school.
“For the future of Brame, I can see how, possibly, revival could break out — because the Lord can use these young people,” she added. “The barriers of culture and race could be torn down because we know the Lord is the answer to all the problems.”
A Harley Davidson motorcycle booth was the site of many Gospel conversations at Scott Brame Middle School in Alexandria during a field day that saw 58 students accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Submitted photo
Clay Fuqua, campus pastor of the Horseshoe Drive extension of PBC, said seeing so many students accept Christ was a humbling experience.
“What an amazing time it was to see how receptive kids were to hearing the Gospel,” he said. “Time after time that day I saw one kid get saved and then he or she would take off and grab friend to come hear the good news. To see how God brought this together was worth all the effort and time we put into this day.”
After the field day, the church received letters of appreciation that are displayed on a wall inside the fellowship hall.
Elijah Smith’s letter echoed the sentiments of other Brame students who attended the event.
“We really enjoyed how you came out to our school to teach us more about the Word so we could get more into Jesus,” Smith wrote. “Also you guys (Horseshoe volunteers) helped us pick up trash so the field wouldn’t be dirty. It was hot as ever yesterday, people got sunburn, people were sweating, and people were very thirsty. Anyways, I wanna thank you Horseshoe volunteers for the food, drinks, waterslides, and the Word.”
The field day is one of many ways Philadelphia Baptist has committed to helping the school’s teachers and students.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
When the partnership officially begins this August, the congregation plans to paint classrooms, buy supplies for teachers, provide a breakfast for the faculty and staff, assist students with homework and coordinate a movie night. With such a task at hand, having as many of its members involved will be crucial.
“What the church has done for our school so far is so encouraging and selfless,” Clark said. “We’re not in session this summer, but I still have people come up and tell me how great the field day was.
“Philadelphia getting involved has been an answer to prayer for me,” she continued. “The teachers are real excited to have this support and the students are on board as well.”
Fuqua said the partnership with Brame is a reflection on the church’s passion for evangelism.
Every Tuesday evening, up to 100 in the congregation assemble at the church and then break up into groups, visiting apartment complexes and other areas near the church to share the Gospel as part of its FAITH evangelism program.
They reach out to the community in other ways, too, hosting the Grace Christian School baseball team, as well as their friends and families, after the young men won a state championship; and, the congregation held a motorcycle bike night, which included events coordinated by its FAITH Rider’s motorcycle ministry.
“To see them get excited gets me excited,” Fuqua said. “Our members are really passionate about sharing the Gospel and will go to great lengths to make sure their community knows about Jesus.”
