{"id":2238,"date":"2021-04-16T16:20:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T20:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/?p=2238"},"modified":"2021-04-16T16:20:54","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T20:20:54","slug":"spiritual-revival-tennessee-church-sees-over-1000-baptisms-in-less-than-four-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/2021\/04\/spiritual-revival-tennessee-church-sees-over-1000-baptisms-in-less-than-four-months.html","title":{"rendered":"Spiritual Revival: Tennessee Church Sees Over 1,000 Baptisms in Less Than Four Months"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, had seen its lowest attendance following a spike in COVID-19 infections in the area. Robby Gallaty, the church\u2019s senior pastor, felt that things worked against what he thought God was instructing him to do, FaithWire<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like all the water we could put on the offering,\u201d Gallaty said, referencing the Old Testament story in 1 Kings 18. This was when Elijah poured water on a sacrifice during a drought so that when it was consumed by fire, it was apparent it was only God\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n

Then in mid-December, 99 people were baptized.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never seen anything like this before in my life,\u201d Gallaty told FaithWire<\/em>. He felt like it was the end of the \u201crevival\u201d he was seeking. Later that night, the Lord gave him a visual when he was sitting outside his home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are the heavy raindrops, Robby, before the torrential downpour that\u2019s coming,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Gallaty reached out to other ministry leaders at the church, and the following Tuesday, the church hosted a baptism-only service. Another 81 people came.<\/p>\n

Following this service, Gallaty said things \u201cgot really out of control.\u201d People who were watching the online service began to travel to the church and the satellite campuses, and the numbers kept growing.<\/p>\n

In less than four months, the church has baptized more than 1,000 people from 15 different states. Some people ventured as far as Maine, though Gallaty expressed he \u201cnever encouraged\u201d anyone to board a plane to Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Those who traveled there for baptism were encouraged to plug into community groups at their church or seek discipleship in their hometowns.<\/p>\n

What a beautiful example of the Holy Spirit working through this congregation!<\/p>\n

Watch Gallaty’s interview with FaithWire<\/em> in the video below.
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