Students Assist Church in Philadelphia

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(Written by Noah Hickman, a student at Heartland Baptist Bible College and member of a group who made a recent missions trip to Philadelphia)

A recent missions trip to Philadelphia by a group from Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City began when God burdened Bro. Kyle Rodecker, a third-year Pastoral Major from Temecula, California, who felt he was disrespecting God’s faithfulness in his life by passing up missions trip opportunities in the past.

After passing up on a previous missions trip, I felt I had disrespected God’s faithfulness in my past. I was determined to seek out a new opportunity and upon hearing this regret Brother John Lande said, ‘pick a place and we’ll go.’ At the church planters conference, I could not think of a more appropriate place where God was at work and I could be a blessing and get a vision than Liberty Baptist Church in Philadelphia.”

Upon hearing this burden from a student, Bro. John Lande (executive officer of Southwest Baptist Church in OKC and a member of the Executive Board of Officers at HBBC) brought it to the attention of Bro. Burton Gates, the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Philadelphia who prayerfully accepted the offer of help. After receiving permission from the school, Bro. Lande presented the opportunity to the student body and in the end 18 students, Bro. Lande and his son Uriah, along with Bro. Seth Bailey (staff member of Southwest Baptist Church) started the long journey to Philadelphia.

Upon arriving in Philadelphia, there was definitely a culture shock, as streets filled with trash, row houses, and, more importantly, lost and dying souls came into view and into hearts. However, in the middle of all of that stood a diamond in the rough, Liberty Baptist Church! Once we settled in and were filled with an authentic Philly cheese steak, the work began. Bro. Gates has a vision of starting over twenty churches in Philadelphia, along with his assistant “right-hand man and backbone” Bro. Paul Coyle.

The work began at the site of what will be church plant number 2, Bible Baptist Church. Which along with its predecessor will be a gem in the middle of turmoil and hopelessness, and which will be the light that shines through the darkness of this world (2 Cor. 4:3-6). The work started in the basements of both pieces of property the church had purchased, with one being a bar, which Pastor Gates says “will go from a tavern to a temple.” Along with the work in the basement, Bro. Seth Bailey led a group of guys in demoing out the main living area in the house next to the bar. He also led some renovation projects back at Liberty. After we finished the projects Bro. Gates needed done, the vision shifted towards evangelism.

Liberty Baptist Church meets every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for bus visitation and door-knocking. After praying for the Lord to be real, active, and alive in what would be accomplished, we began the door-knocking and the Lord showed up! Bro. Josue Lopez led a man to the Lord and many others were able to present the Gospel and collect prospect cards. However, the Lord didn’t end when visitation was over. Bro. Clarence Williams was walking along with the group for lunch when he met Juan and was able to show him how a great Savior had died for the sins of the whole world and that no matter what he had done, the gift of salvation was still offered to him, and Juan received Christ that day!

The highlight of the trip was being able to be present for the church services of Liberty Baptist. For their midweek service, Bro. Seth Bailey preached out of Acts 3:1-16 the story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate and how that, after the miracle and upon entering into the temple, Peter asked the people, “Why marvel ye at this?,” speaking of the miracle which had been done. Bro. Bailey asked the congregation the same question and challenged us to stop marveling at the miracle that was being done and to go out and tell others about the miracle of salvation.

Bro. John Lande taught Sunday school out of Genesis 28:10-22 and promised the church, “Because God is present you can trust Him in any situation.” The theme of Liberty Baptist Church this year is “Real Faith,” and Pastor Gates preached out of the book of Colossians, Chapter 2:1-7 and challenged everyone there that morning to have their “faith rooted in Him.”

Because of space, the church runs its buses in the afternoon for Super Church, and there were over 100 kids in attendance that afternoon. Bro. Joshua Knott presented the Gospel very plainly to the kids though his message on the crucifixion of Jesus and used a great illustration to show the kids how sin separates us from God and how we need the blood of Jesus to wash away sin in our lives. Later that day we found out that five names were added to the Book of Life! That evening the Lord worked in every heart in the congregation as three Heartland students preached the Word. Bro. Kyle Rodecker was first and preached out of Psalms 1 and challenged us to walk daily with the Lord and to grow in Him. Next was Zachary Hall, a second year Pastoral Major from Springfield, Missouri. He preached from 1 John 2:7-11 and warned us that if we hate our brother then our fellowship with God will be broken. Last, Bro. Lucius McDowell, a fourth year Youth Major from Greenville, Indiana, preached from Proverbs 11:14 and challenged us to seek wise counsel in everything we do.

Along with services, different Heartland students were able to use their musical talents from the Lord and provided the specials.

The last day was spent looking at historical sites in Philadelphia: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the famous Christ Church, which most of our founding fathers attended. While inside Christ Church, Bro. Lande secured permission for us to sing “It Is Well,” and the sounds of pure joy rang throughout the building!

I have tried to put into words how God worked, but, as we have found time and time again, there aren’t enough words in the world to share how incredible God is! The Lord worked in each heart that allowed Him to and burdens for the city of Philadelphia were born during the duration of this trip. Last, we would like to thank Bro. Allan Fong (pastor of Heritage Baptist Church of San Leandro, California) and Bro. Jason Gaddis (pastor of Southwest Baptist Church) and their congregations for providing the tools and equipment for the demoing and for providing the bus and gas for the trip.