God continues saving souls even amid COVID-19

Even though 2020 was halted by a global pandemic, Hunter Smith, a Master of Divinity graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, could not be stopped from pursuing the lost. As the year came to a close, Smith graduated from Southwestern, was ordained, and saw two professions of faith, all within the span of two weeks.

Smith, associate pastor of students and young adults at the First Baptist Church of Rowlett, Texas, says that though church attendance declined due to COVID-19, the Wednesday night worship team continued sharing the Gospel. 

“Lately,” Smith said, “it’s been booming with students and young adults.” 

He adds that during 2020, the young adult ministry “quadrupled from 10 to 40 people, and the student ministry doubled.” 

On a Wednesday night service in mid-December, 25 first-time guests attended, all of whom had been invited by friends. 

During his message, Smith referenced Isaiah 61:1 “on why Jesus came, and how He came to bring the Lord’s favor, bind up the brokenhearted, set the captives free, and proclaim the good news to the poor.”

“The good news for the poor is that we are all poor without Christ,” Smith explains.

That evening, as Smith presented the message, he noticed that two girls in particular “were sitting on the edge of their seats.” So, he prayed for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.

When Smith then invited the students to respond, the two girls went directly to Smith and told him that they had “accepted Christ for the first time.” 

“They said they hadn’t heard the Gospel presented clearly like that,” Smith says. 

They explained that they had been to churches before, but were confused about “how to have a relationship with Christ.” That night, however, they understood and responded by placing their faith in Christ.

Smith is quick to admit that it “wasn’t the message or the preaching; it was the Gospel and the Holy Spirit preparing their hearts; they were ready and then boom!” 

In the months since that night, the girls have continued to come on Wednesday nights, and they plan to be baptized at an upcoming baptism service at the church. 

For Smith, these girls’ salvation and continuing faithfulness demonstrate that God is able to keep going even when the world seems to have come to a halt.