Sayre First Baptist Church planning four-day crusade to celebrate 130th anniversary

It’s been a busy few weeks at the Sayre First Baptist Church, located at 221 Elmer St., as church deacons, congregation members and Senior Pastor Adam Hatfield and his wife, Carrie, plan the upcoming 130th Anniversary Crusade.

Scheduled to begin during the Sunday morning service on July 29, the four day Crusade continues that evening at 6:30 p.m., and then for three more days – Sunday evening July 30, Monday, July 31 and Tuesday, Aug. 1. All evening Crusade events begin at 6:30 p.m. and Church elders have a full slate of Christian events planned for everyone, regardless of age.

“We’re holding this special four-day Crusade with the intent of spreading the word of Jesus Christ and inviting members of the community to come out and join us regardless of religious affiliation. We all want our crusade to be a special community event where we can meet fellow Christians in our surrounding communities,” said Ralph Washington, First Baptist deacon.

Plans are already being firmed up to have Brother Jay Mcgaughy as the crusade’s keynote preacher. Brother Mcgaughy is an Alabama native who was a missionary to the Zomi Indian tribe amongst his numerous Christian and Baptist Church endeavors.

The community outreach will offer childcare, refreshments every night, and rides to and from the church for those in need. A Potluck dinner will be served following the opening day Sunday service on July 29. Also scheduled is a fun filled “men’s versus women’s night,” special events for the children, and much more to be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to Deacon Washington, other church members coordinating the crusade include Jackson Faulkner, senior deacon, and church members Kenneth Roberts and Robert Windle.     

Senior Deacon Faulkner stressed that the four-day summer crusade has the potential to unite a community in the name of the Lord regardless of church affiliation. “We invite everyone from our area to come out, enjoy the crusade, meet new people and unite as Christians in our community,” stated the deacon.

The Baptist denomination is the largest Free Church denomination in the world with nearly 33-million Baptists living in America. The origins of Baptist Churches are traced back to John Smyth and the Separatist Movement in 1608 that began in England. Baptist denominations follow congregational church governance in which each individual congregation is governed autonomously. 

For more information, contact the church at (570) 888-2237 or write First Baptist Church, 221 N. Elmer Ave., Sayre, Pa. 18840.