When the team of 17 NOBTS faculty members and students stepped out in the neighborhood under storm- threatening skies April 21 to hand out 9-volt batteries, they didn’t know what the Lord would do.

Three community members came to faith in Christ.

“The Lord gave us a window of one hour before the rain came down,” Dr. Preston Nix said. “Two people…in two different locations had just finished praying to receive Christ when the rain started.”

Seven faculty members and 10 students formed teams to knock on doors and give away free batteries for home smoke alarms in a partnership with Gentilly Baptist Church (GBC). The goal of the event was to show love to neighbors and share the gospel.

“This involvement of our NOBTS faculty and students on the streets of our city shows once again that when we obey Christ's Great Commission, the Lord has people ready to respond,” said Dr. Ken Taylor, missions professor at NOBTS and GBC pastor.  “As we increase our involvement in the neighborhoods of our city we will meet more of those ready to accept the Good News of Jesus.”

Michael Pogue, master’s student, said his team explained to neighbors that the batteries were a gift of love from Gentilly Baptist Church. After asking neighbors if they attended church, Pogue said he transitioned to the gospel by saying that “more important than where you go to church is where you’ll spend eternity.”

"We are to share Jesus with the lost,” Pogue said. “And an act of love as simple as giving batteries to a stranger can soften their heart just enough to receive the Gospel we share with them.

Nix said the event was so successful and enjoyed so much by those who participated, that a second opportunity for anyone in the NOBTS family to hand out free batteries and share the gospel has been scheduled for Thursday, May 5.

“Safer homes, saved souls became a reality that day,” Nix said.