IBC is looking forward to Guest Speaker Garrett Kell for our church-wide Pure in Heart Conference on Saturday morning, August 24. Today, Garrett is Lead Pastor at Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria VA and a nationally known author and speaker.
Twenty years ago, Garrett was a VA Tech student from Berkeley Springs that God saved out of a sinful lifestyle. He and other newly born-again friends were used by God to bring many others to Christ in their hometown through meetings dubbed “Christ Nights.” The community’s morals and spiritual condition were greatly impacted for a season, rightly described as a God-given “revival.”
The Gospel Coalition recently published an encouraging article recalling God’s work under the title How Hellion Teenagers Sparked Revival in a Small West Virginia Town. You will be encouraged by reading the full article, linked below.
We need reminders like this: God uses teenagers, God uses new believers, and the power of the Gospel can truly transform anyone who comes to Christ, no matter how far from God.
If you read the article at the link, you'll see Garrett with his friend Jason Seville. Jason also has a great testimony. Today, he serves as an associate pastor with Garrett, having been a missionary to China for several years. Jason’s mom attends IBC.
As I read this article about revival in the Eastern Panhandle, my prayer was, “do it again, Lord!” God is still the God who answers prayer, saves sinners, and transforms individuals and communities through the Gospel. May God use us as we proclaim Christ to those close to us who are far from God.
It will be a joy to welcome Pastor Garrett Kell back to the Eastern Panhandle for IBC’s Pure in Heart Conference on August 24. Plan to attend, invite others, and pray for God to transform many hearts, starting with our own.
(PS—Please be praying for Garrett’s 16 year old daughter Eden, who is currently hospitalized with seizures of unknown origin. She and the Kell family need our prayers at this time.)