Experiencing renewal as God moves

Last October, Eastridge Baptist Church in Red Oak hosted a fall harvest festival and revival. It was the latest in a series of strategic opportunities identified by the church as part of its involvement with Regenesis, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s church health and renewal process.

During a time of response, droves of people streamed to the altar—some to pray, some to repent, and others to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. So many people came forward, additional counselors had to be pulled from the congregation to assist, said John Croasdale, Eastridge’s senior pastor. Before it was over, 11 people made professions of faith and one was baptized. That followed an outreach that saw the church visit more than 800 homes in a single day. 

The festival and revival affected not only those who responded to the message of the gospel, but the church itself—which had weathered a number of challenges over the previous few years.

“Overwhelming encouragement,” Croasdale said, describing how the event impacted the church.
“ … We definitely saw [God work] in an astounding way.”

The Reach Texas State Missions Offering played a critical role, providing some of the funds needed to assist Eastridge with the festival and revival. Additionally, Reach Texas helps fund Regenesis.

Eastridge began Regenesis in late 2024 and emerged several months later with a clear path forward, Croasdale said. The church’s journey to renewal has included the partnership of sister churches, including First Baptist Forney and Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, as well as with the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation.

“We were busy as a church, we had programs, but we weren’t really alive,” Croasdale said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re seeing God move.”