Preteens spread hope in Oklahoma

Students from four Texas Southern Baptist churches were among the more than 145 preteens who led Bible studies in apartments and mobile home parks in the cities of Norman and Moore, Okla., this summer.

The outreach effort of the LITs (Leaders in Training) resulted in the salvation of 130 people, including children, teenagers and adults. Preteens from Wedgwood Baptist in Fort Worth, Retta Baptist in Burleson, South Oaks Baptist in Arlington and First Baptist in Granbury participated, said Clint May, children’s pastor at Wedgwood Baptist.

The effort was one of “the largest evangelistic outreaches in Norman, Okla., in over 45 years,” according to Gene Barns, director of Mission Norman. Recent demographic studies show that 70 percent of Norman?a college town?is unreached, May said.

Five other churches from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri participated also.

The preteens spent several months training and preparing for this mission trip.

“Their training was a joint effort of over nine months of planning and preparation for this mission trip,” May explained.
The LITs ministered to over 381 children, teens and adults during their trip. Local churches in cooperation with Mission Norman are following up with those who made decisions, May said.