By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – The most recent Mother’s Day weekend resulted in an extra celebration for Lachee and Chris Morgan.
Their daughter, Bry’Anna, 8, told her parents on May 7 – three days before the holiday – she had declared Jesus as her Savior and wanted to share the decision publicly through baptism.
“We prayed together and all cried,” Lachee told the Baptist Message. “As a parent, the only thing you can hope for is your children accept Jesus and that you will all be together for eternity. Eternity is so much bigger than life here and are excited Bry’Anna will join us in Heaven one day.”
Bry’Anna, who stirred the baptismal waters at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hammond, May 24, said her salvation experience evoked an incredible joy and excitement that has not waned.
“I was happy and excited then, and am still now,” Bry’Anna said. “My job as a Christian is to tell everyone about Jesus and what He did. I can’t wait to do so much for Him.”
PRAYER-FOCUSED RESULTS
Pastor Ken Schroeder credits a church committed to pray for a harvest for Bry’Anna’s openness and readiness to receive salvation and her subsequent obedience in baptism. Hers was the sixth salvation and baptism since January and the first since March 22 when the state placed restrictions on public gatherings in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Adapting to the inability to meet in the worship center, the congregation held “drive in” services on Sunday morning and used Facebook Live for Wednesday night study and a group phone call for corporate prayer on Thursday evenings.
From March 22 to May 10, 20 carloads of members regularly attended services in the parking area, 60 persons tuned in on Wednesdays and 50 joined the Thursday prayer call. Since regathering in the worship center, May 17, attendance has averaged 40 worshipers compared to 55 who typically attended Sundays prior to March.
“The Lord has really put a fire in this church and a lot of that is a direct result from constant prayers,” Schroeder said. “This is a body of believers that have not only shown up for prayer meetings but they live out prayer in their daily lives. They believe God can do mighty things and know that prayer is something that is important for Him to move.”
Schroeder, who is serving as transitional pastor, said prayer is a solid foundation for a bright future.
“Ebenezer has continued to obey the Lord throughout the transition between pastors,” Schroeder said. “I’m confident that this body of believers will faithfully follow His command to make disciples. Because of this, the next pastor will be able to hit the ground running.”
