By Staff, Baptist Message
[img_assist|nid=7827|title=Bell Ringers|desc=About 125 members of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston hung “jingle bells” on the doors of every home in Ruston, – about 10,000 homes – and prayed for each as they did so.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=640]RUSTON – More than 125 members of Temple Baptist Church spread out in early December across the town of about 10,000 housing units.
Each was given an area of about 100 homes. The members placed a “jingle bell” on the doorknob of each home, and as they did, they prayed for the people who live there.
“We prayed again this year for their awakening,” said Loy Seal, minister of education for the last six years at Temple Ruston, where Rick Byargeon is pastor. “This is the fourth year in a row we’ve done this.
“We’re thrilled that we can pray over every house in Ruston,” Seal said. “And to couple that prayer this year with the Awaken emphasis – we’re estatic to be able to do this for the city of Ruston.”
Members reported back that they had seen previous year’s bells hanging on some of the doors, as if the Christmas use of them had become a tradition for the family. One member reported that when helping someone with a stalled vehicle, last year’s bell was hanging from the car’s gearshift.
“These are small signs that what we’re doing is impacting Ruston,” Seal said. “We’re praying for more. We have been praying at 6:30 a.m. every Thursday for the last three years for a spiritual awakening for Ruston.”
Temple Ruston’s jingle bell blitz was just one of several Christmas-related activities.
Jodie Williams – music minister for the last 35 years – led all the church choirs and orchestra in Temple Ruston’s Dec. 11 Christmas Celebration.
Though the church usually gathers in three worship services Sunday mornings, about 1,200 members and guests all came together for the Dec. 11 Christmas Celebration service.
They are to gather again at 10 a.m. Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 for all-together worship, as well as at 5 p.m. Dec. 24.
Christmas caroling at area nursing homes and the homes of shut-ins across Ruston took place early in the evening of Dec. 18. The event concluded at the church with a reception for Williams, who is retiring at the end of the year.