The Big Heart Conference

Pastor Tony Greene and Dr. Jeff Fugate

This past week I was at Knoxville Baptist Tabernacle in Knoxville, Tennessee to be a guest speaker along with Dr. Jeff Fugate for their Big Heart Conference. This church is led by Pastor Tony Greene and is 68 years old, he has been here for over eleven years. During their conference they were celebrating 58 years in the bus ministry. Speaking of the bus ministry, we met Brother Bill Whitehead who is a 83 year old bus captain and has been in the bus ministry 54 years! Praise God for that kind of dedication!!!

Bro. Bill Whitehead

On Saturday I gave a soul winning and bus ministry charge before going out onto the streets for the day. This church has been a lighthouse in the inner city area of Knoxville since its inception 68 years ago. Dr. Bob Bevington started this church and Pastor Tony Greene continues to carry on its legacy!

Soul Winning Bus

We loaded up onto a bus to go soul winning. This particular morning was a cold one with the temperature at 27 degrees but the real feel around 16 degrees. We went into some of the apartment areas close to the church. My wife and her partner met an African family from Sierra Leone. She was able to sit down in their living room and lead the mom and all the children to Christ after a thorough Gospel presentation. She also signed them up for the bus route in that area. Praise God for a church who reaches those unable to get themselves to church.

Family from Sierra Leone

Then in the afternoon we went out on the bus again to go soul winning some more. This time we went to a different apartment area. I was able to meet a lady name Sherry whose husband is dying from cancer. Sherry said she was unsure of her eternity and I was able to present the Gospel to her. After a thorough presentation Sherry bowed her head and asked Christ to save her with tears in her eyes. She asked us to pray for her husband John, both for his cancer and his salvation. She told me he is not saved, but doesn't think he will listen... yet. 

Some of the new riders at church!

On Sunday morning the family from Sierra Leone rode on the bus except for the mother who told my wife she wasn't feeling well. We were thankful to have the kids come and my wife asked them afterwards if they had a good time and would like to come again. They said they had a great time and would like to come next week.

Pastor Greene preaching Sunday morning

I taught the adults and teenagers in Sunday school and then presented the  ministry to Thailand during the morning service time before Pastor Greene preached the morning message. At the invitation time my wife led Kaya to Christ at the altar after she walked the aisle. She had actually attend the Christian school at the church when she was a young child. However, Kaya has been away from church for a long time and felt convicted at the invitation time of her need to be saved. Praise God that Kaya settled the issue on this day. 

Kaya and my wife

Kaya had wanted to follow the Lord in believer's baptism but the baptismal service had already been closed out and the people being dismissed so she came back Sunday night and followed the Lord in believer's baptism. She also attend some of the other services of the conference. I preached the Sunday evening message and hearts seemed stirred during the invitation time with several coming forward.

Kaya getting baptized Sunday night

Monday evening Dr. Fugate preached the message and many were stirred. Then Tuesday morning during the senior citizen service I presented the ministry again. Every Tuesday morning they have a preaching service for the elderly folks and senior citizens who can't get out at night. There was actually a great crowd of folks attending this service. Many are members of their church here and some are not. It is a fantastic ministry because many places have senior citizen centers where the folks come and play bingo or something.... and then they feed them lunch. Here they come and get Bible preaching and they then feed them lunch. I thought it was an awesome ministry idea!!!

Dr. Fugate preaching Monday evening.

On Monday evening I went on the radio with Pastor Greene for the Revival of the Air Broadcast I gave my testimony for all of Knoxville to hear, that was listening anyway... Then on Wednesday evening I had the opportunity to preach on the radio before going out door knocking with the church for an hour then followed by the evening service. I preached the message that night also and many were stirred again. God really blessed our meeting here and it was a great opportunity to be a part of this exciting ministry for several days.