Beloved Junior Hill Dies, Gym Members Turns Into Church & Checking On Church Members

When a believer dies, it is a time of sorrow and joy. The family of Junior Hill is walking through the season today. The longtime evangelist died this week at the age of 87 in his home in Hartselle, Alabama.

The beloved Hill is said to have preached more than 1,800 revivals and crusades in his decades of ministry. Without doubt, thousands have come to faith through Hill’s ministry…though he never kept count saying he’d wait for the Lord to provide him the totals.

Hill’s storytelling and ability to connect with an audience opened the door for him to speak hard truths in ways that touched hearts. God used Him to communicate with a wide variety of audiences and helped draw many to Jesus.

Hill is survived by his wife, Carole, their two children and five grandchildren.

In his latter years, he was often heard asking people to pray that he would finish his race well. On January 3, he did and entered into the joy of being present with his Lord.
===

As many people are hitting the gym as a new year begins, some believers on the other side of the world are utilizing a gym for more than just physical health. They are strengthening their spiritual muscles.

In a part of the world where sharing the gospel can be difficult, a gym owner dreamed of using his facility to house a church. But he needed.

Gospel workers Nathan and Stephanie Crandal joined the gym when they arrived in the city and the Lord used that membership to form a relationship that has spread all the way to the gym being used for a church to gather.

The tight knit group enjoys working out but they say they enjoy fellowship around the Word of God even more.

Just more evidence that the gospel is not bound.
===

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people die without the hope of Jesus. Your faithful prayers will make a difference. That’s why the IMB created a free 18-month calendar, called “Impacting Lostness Through Prayer”. It provides guidance, reminders and encouragement as you pray for individuals and communities who have yet to hear the gospel. Learn more about this free resource at IMB.org/prayercalendar.

===
When a lead pastor leaves a church, it affects the entire congregation. In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Stephen Vail who serves as the executive pastor at First Church in Charlotte, North Carolina says the right kind of communication can go a long way.
He says checking on people in the church goes a long way.

Phone calls and personal conversations go farther than text messages and connecting through social media, he says.
For churches that have multiple staff members, he says, “A lot of people just wanted to hear that the existing staff is OK.”
===

Find stories like this and more at Baptist Press.com. There you can learn how to sign up for our daily emails. They’re free and come to your inbox morning or evening. Visit Baptist Press.com to learn more.