The church emphasizes what Roesel preached one Sunday early this summer: that the commandment "You shall not murder" also condemns those who do nothing when they could have saved or transformed a life. Roesel states that God requires such effort, so "any church not involved in ministry is guilty of high treason and spiritual disobedience."
Not everyone likes the Leesburg approach. Some pastors argue that churches should emphasize worship only, with other Christian groups handling social ministries. Given the theological splits that emerged a century ago, some conservative evangelicals fear creeping social gospelism and worry that emphasizing social ministries will inhibit evangelism and church growth.
In response to those concerns, First Baptist stresses its experience and its own strong, biblical preaching. Before the new focus, the church added about 30 members a year through baptism, with new members typically the children or relatives of those already in the church. Now (to use one measurement of growth), the church regularly baptizes 200 to 300 persons each year.
Overall, the church and ministries budget has increased from $180,000 annually in 1979 to $5.5 million now. Sixty percent of the budget goes for the ministries in their seven buildings and for a Christian school.
First Baptist has produced a good film about its experience, "The Touch," and is urging other churches to go and do likewise. It's great that Christian compassion is making a difference not only in big cities, but in places like Leesburg. Once again, as Christians from the gospel writers through Walker Percy have shown, we're seeing how goodness can leap out of stables, small cities and other unexceptional surroundings.