Simmons Loop Baptist Church - Southern Baptist

You can listen to the interview with Pastor Larry Cusick and Pastor Richard Hosea here.

Simmons Loop Baptist Church
6610 Simmons Loop
Riverview, FL 33578-9494

(813) 677-9310

Religion: Christian

Denomination: Southern Baptist

Book Recommendation: C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity (Shepherd's Notes)

Contact: Pastor Larry Cusick

I've seen many things in different churches. Statues of gods, different kinds of crosses, symbols, and other various icons and paintings of gods and goddesses in different forms.

I never expected to see the former Steve Irwin, holding a crocodile.

Turns out that Simmons Loop Baptist Church was featuring Australia as part of their missionary program. For them, evalgelizing - spreading the message of their gospel about Jesus Christ *is* the central point of their existence.

They sang songs about spreading the word into Australia. Told tales of missionary work in Burma. Everything seemed to return over and over again to that spirit of spreading the gospel. Children were inspired to bring their friends to the evening service. Even the way I was greeted by so many members, going out of their way to make me feel welcome, making sure I knew I was invited back any time. This invitation was repeated by members, by the ushers, by the pastor - if I didn't get the message that I was fully expected to return someday, it must have been because I was deaf.

In a way, it felt almost recursive. They encouraged missionary work, with the message being that people are saved through faith in Jesus - and that Jesus wants you to spread his gospel. Which gets more people to spread the word that Jesus wants you to spread the word.

When the whole community is geared up through spreading their community, it's no wonder that the Southern Baptists have been growing so rapidly over the years. I'm not sure I really detected something that made them stand out from other Christian churches - they believe in the Bible literally (six day creation and all), believe in sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the way to be saved from Hell and enter Heaven.

But if I was going to narrow it all down, it's the missionary work that cements the Southern Baptists. Spreading the Word *is* The Word.