How Two Small Churches Are Reaching Their Community with a Cross-Cultural Partnership

Mike Waddey began praying the minute he pulled into the parking lot at First Baptist Church in Maury City, Tennessee.

Waddey had come to Maury City (population 665) to interview for the role of pastor at First Baptist. He was familiar with church life in rural America, having been a pastor in Cottage Grove, one of the smallest towns in the state.

But Maury City was going to be different.

From the parking lot, Waddey noticed about 100 people gathered in a park across the street. That was more people than the population of Cottage Grove.

Most of the folks were Hispanic. And Waddey didn’t have much experience with cross-cultural ministry. So he started asking God for help—even before he was called to First Baptist.

“I don’t speak Spanish,” he prayed. “And if there is a large Hispanic community here, I want to be able to reach them.”

Not long afterward, Waddey’s prayers were answered. Read More

Image: Pastor Mike Waddey, Facts & Trends Lifeway