I spent this weekend in War, West Virginia meeting with the folks from Calvary Baptist Church and the principal of South Side K-8 School. The weather was great and the mountains were beautiful as usual. Unfortunately, this once prosperous coal mining town has been overcome by drugs, unemployment, poverty, and darkness. To say the town is void of religion would be a mistake, an independent Pentecostal church can be found every 100 feet or so and I would estimate that many only have a congregation of 5 to 10 people. Many of these churches are led by men or women who don't meet the biblical qualifications as a pastor/overseer, but that doesn't stop them from starting a church, where tongues and loosing your salvation are fundamental doctrines. Like the majority of evangelical Christians I am a cessationist, believing that charismatic gifts such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues ended with Jesus and the apostles during the first century. But that's another conversation for another day.
Calvary Baptist Church is the lone remaining Southern Baptist church in McDowell County with an unfortunate aging population and could literally close the doors next month. They are presently led by an interim pastor who seems to be a good fit. However, one member, Debbie King, fights for her church and her town with a passion unmatched by anyone I met in War.
More to follow...
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