Locust Grove, OK—New Life Baptist Church, pastored by Scott Goodwin, marked a significant milestone on Sunday, January 19, 2025, as it celebrated its first anniversary. The young church, sent out by Friendship Baptist Church of Owasso, OK, has quickly become a beacon of hope and growth in the Locust Grove community.
The celebration drew several special guests, including Randy Harp, BBFI Central Office Director, and Gary Johnson with BBFI Builders, who played a vital role in remodeling the church’s building. Members of Friendship Baptist Church also attended, sharing the joy of seeing their church plant thriving.
Goodwin reflected on the day as one filled with answered prayers and God’s blessings. “This day took a lot of planning, preparing, and most importantly, praying,” Goodwin shared. “I went into Sunday just knowing God would do something great.” Goodwin had three specific prayer requests for the day: 1) for at least one soul to be saved, 2) for first-time guests, and 3) for an attendance of 60-65 people. “God answered all three prayers!” he exclaimed.
The anniversary service had a great atmosphere, with members showing up an hour early—an unusual occurrence for the small community. By the time the service began, the church had more than doubled its average attendance, welcoming 61 people. Even more remarkable were the spiritual milestones achieved. “We had five people saved and two baptisms—one of whom accepted Christ that day!” Goodwin shared.
Looking ahead, Goodwin is filled with hope and anticipation for what God will do in the church’s second year. “My prayer for the coming year is for God to do what He did with Elisha’s request for a double portion. We are asking God to do double what He did during our first year,” he shared. “God is good and is doing something great through the ministry of New Life Baptist in Locust Grove, OK.”
Goodwin and the congregation remain committed to trusting God for continued growth and impact. Reflecting on the anniversary, Goodwin added, “During the planning process, I learned that there was only so much that I could prepare for, and at some point, I just needed to let God do His thing.”
