roll call all year

NUMBERS AROUND THE NATION
by David Crowe

For the last 21 years Home Missions has promoted and compiled the results for Roll Call Sunday.  During that time over 30,000 salvation decisions have been reported and hundreds of Free Will Baptist churches reported record attendances and record numbers of first time visitors. 

As the former pastor of a multi-ministry church, I understand it is not always feasible for every church to have a big day on the scheduled Roll Call Sunday each year.  While the scheduled time works well for most Free Will Baptist churches, it is not always the best time for some of our larger churches.

In an effort to involve as many churches as possible, we are going to try some new things for the next two years.  We will still have Roll Call Revival on the same scheduled time with the same time restraints.  The big day will be scheduled for Easter Sunday and can include one Sunday before Easter or one Sunday after Easter.  Every church should report their attendance for Roll Call from one of these Sundays.  The difference is that we will publish short articles in each issue of ONE Magazine reporting on Free Will Baptist churches that have record attendances or a record number of salvation decisions at any time during the year.  Just send the information to Home Missions at dcrowe@nafwb.org.

In this issue Lee and Julie Patrick reported from First Free Will Baptist of Florence, South Carolina.

"Seven hundred and sixteen (716) total attendance!  Big days really work.  First Free Will Baptist Church of Florence, SC had 114 first time visitors - four of whom walked the aisle and got saved.  Six hundred and twenty-three (623) Friend Day contracts lined the back wall which represented every person who had committed to come during the eight weeks of inviting.  It was a beautiful sight.  It looked like wallpaper.  There were around 200 prospects from those who came and from those who signed a contract but did not come.  It was without at doubt one of the best days they church ever had!”

That's great news Lee, Julie and all the members of First FWB Church in Florence, SC.  Keep up the good work.

We are looking forward to hearing from many more churches in months to come. At Home Missions, we promote church growth and evangelism…All Year Every Year!

David Crowe is the director of church growth for the Home Missions Department in Antioch, TN.

NUMBERS AROUND THE NATION

Associations Reporting: 226
Churches Reporting: 2,419
Total North American Attendance: 236,839
International Missions: 28,359

TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 265,198

Number Saved: 1,330
First Time Visitors: 13,725

THE TOP 100 FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCHES ACROSS THE NATION
(BY ATTENDANCE)

THE TOP 100 FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCHES ACROSS THE NATION (BY PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH)