By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
KENNER, La. (LBM) – A leisurely drive around Kenner on a Sunday morning in June turned out to be more than a joy ride for Jaicoven Johnson and his family.
That fateful road trip took them past the campus of the Family Church where they saw members gathered outside in fellowship before entering the worship center.
Intrigued by the love and joy on display, they began attending services, and on Aug. 16 church members gathered around him to celebrate his walk of faith from confession through baptism.
“Something on that day in June told us to check out Family Church,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “I felt an instant connection that only grew stronger. Instead of waiting, I wanted to get baptized the day I accepted Christ. It’s been everything I could have asked for, and more.”
MERGER TO BAPTISM
Johnson‘s baptism was the fi rst for Family Church, a congregation that was formed in March from a merger between Restoration Church in Metairie and Crossroads Church in Kenner. Crossroads Church had seen a decline in membership from 183 in 2012 to 20 in 2019, according to the Annual Church Profile. Meanwhile, Restoration Church had been meeting on the campus of their parent ministry, Williams Boulevard Baptist Church in Kenner, from August 2018-March, preparing to relaunch at a new location.
After multiple meetings from late 2019 until early March, the two congregations agreed they could do more to impact their community together.
While the official first Sunday service is Sept. 13, Family Church has been holding a series of prelaunch services since June.
During each service, various Zoom meetings and other gatherings, prayer has been a major focus, with the 40 or so members opening each meeting with a 10-15 minute prayer time, asking especially for God to bring them in contact with the lost.
Pastor Dean Ross said Johnson’s baptism has served as a tangible reminder that prayer works and God is in control.
“Our members need to see the baptism during the middle of this pandemic,” Ross said. “We remind them often God is in control. None of this caught God off guard. It’s a good reminder prayer works.”
