As the the SBCV prepared to gather for its 2016 Annual Homecoming to celebrate 20 years of Gospel partnership, the first-ever SBCV Crossover event took place Saturday, November 12—the day before meetings began. Volunteers from across Virginia descended on the Roanoke Valley to participate in projects where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed.

Seven block parties and two gas buy-downs were scattered in different locations throughout the region. Some of the events were hosted by church plants and some by existing churches. Approximately 1,600 people from the community attended one of those events. In addition, there were three separate door-to-door campaigns that preceded block parties. Crossover participants went through neighborhoods, inviting people to the block parties and sharing the Gospel when and where God opened the door of opportunity.

The 325 Crossover Roanoke participants represented 30 SBCV churches. Through the day’s events, 31 people were recorded as making a decision to trust Christ as Savior. Over all, 480 Gospel conversations took place—each conversation planting seeds for God to grow.

Another notable outcome from Crossover Roanoke was the emphasis on prayer. There were prayer tents at several of the block parties and designated prayer areas at the gas buy-downs, where attendees could ask a volunteer to pray for their needs. Throughout Crossover Roanoke, participants from SBCV churches prayed with and for 350 people who attended an event.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 20 years of Gospel partnership as a coalition of churches than to come together to saturate the Roanoke Valley with the Good News of Christ,” says SBCV executive director, Dr. Brian Autry.

Many thanks go out to all of the churches who organized projects and to the churches who sent volunteers to help!