By Randy Harp
There are moments in ministry when you know, beyond all doubt, that only God could orchestrate what just happened. This is one of those moments. It’s a story of heartbreak and hope, of connection and calling, of desperation transformed into revitalization. And it all started with a phone call.
About a year and a half ago, I was sitting in my office at the BBFI Central Office in Springfield, Missouri, when the phone rang. The voice on the other end belonged to a man I had never met. His words came through tears, raw and full of grief. He introduced himself as John, a church member from a small church in Brooklyn, New York.
What followed was one of the most heart-wrenching conversations I’ve had in the last few years.
John shared how his church, once thriving and full of life, had endured years of hardship, conflict, and decline. The 100-year-old building was still standing, but the people were not. Only a small, faithful few remained. He told me he feared the doors of the church might soon be closed forever. “I don’t know what else to do,” he said. “I just know I don’t want to give up. I believe God’s not done with us yet.”
His voice trembled with emotion, and I could hear the burden of a man who deeply loved his church. That kind of passion doesn’t just fade; it cries out for revival.
He had called the BBFI Central Office out of sheer desperation. He didn’t know who to talk to. He didn’t know if anyone could help. But in a last-ditch effort, he picked up the phone and reached out, hoping … praying … that someone might listen.
And on that day, I had the privilege of answering the call.
As John shared his story, the Lord brought to my mind a friend, Ron Taylor, who has a vision unlike most. Ron has long carried a burden to plant five new churches in each of the five boroughs of New York City. I knew that vision was more than a dream; it was already becoming a reality. I have been with him multiple times, and I have seen what God is doing. I couldn’t help but think, what if this broken church in Brooklyn could become part of that bigger picture?
So I did what we do best in the BBFI … I connected people.
That phone call turned into nearly an hour of conversation, prayer, and encouragement. I told John about Ron and asked if he’d be open to a conversation. “Yes,” he said without hesitation. “Please. Anything. I want this church to live again.”
It was a spark. A moment of hope.
I connected John and Ron and prayed for what God might do.
Fast forward about eighteen months. I am serving as the interim pastor for New Hope Baptist Church in Buffalo, Missouri. After much prayer, God lays on our hearts to go on the church’s first-ever short-term mission trip. It is decided to go to New York City and partner with ConnectNYC and my friend Ron Taylor.
The first night of our trip, we gathered at Lefferts Park Baptist Church, a historic church in Brooklyn that’s been part of the community for decades. And that’s when the full weight of the moment hit me.
He walked in.
Ron says to me, “Randy, I want you to officially meet John.”
I was speechless. I reached out my hand to shake his, but John pulled me into a hug. Not just any hug! This was one of those embraces that says everything that words cannot. I’ve heard of bear hugs, but I knew this was something more when I felt his tears fall on my neck.
I had to take a picture, not just to remember the moment, but to capture an image of God’s grace.
On my left was John, the same man who had once wept over the phone, uncertain if his church would survive another month.
On my right was Ron, the church planter with the vision, the passion, and the faith to believe God could breathe new life into the most difficult places.
Together, they weren’t just standing side by side. They were leading side by side.
What once was a dying church has now found new life. What was once filled with uncertainty is now filled with vision. What once echoed with silence is now filled with worship and renewed purpose.
There’s a new spirit in the church. A fresh wind is blowing. And perhaps most appropriately, the church has found a new hope, both literally and spiritually.
That’s the power of the BBFI. That’s the power of connection. That’s the power of investing in something bigger than ourselves.
The Ministry of the Central Office
I often get asked, “What does the BBFI Central Office really do?” And I understand the question. In a world driven by visible platforms and tangible outcomes, sometimes the quiet work behind the scenes can go unnoticed.
But let me tell you, what happened in Brooklyn is precisely why the BBFI Central Office exists. Yes, we serve the Fellowship in many ways: partnering with the Executive Committee and State Representatives, hosting The Fellowship Podcast and Ministry Mastermind, coordinating BBFI conferences and national Fellowship Meetings, and keeping our pastors and churches informed and engaged through consistent communication. The scope of our work is broad.
But at the heart of it all, the Central Office exists to support, connect, and strengthen churches, pastors, and missionaries. We’re here to provide the infrastructure that makes ministry possible. We answer the phone when someone calls in desperation. We listen to the hurting. We connect those who have a burden with those who have a need. We cast vision. We foster unity. And we bring people together in the name of Jesus, because we believe the Great Commission is too big for anyone to fulfill alone.
We didn’t plant the church in Brooklyn. We didn’t provide the manpower. But we were the bridge. We were the connection point between a desperate cry for help and a willing partner ready to act.
And that’s not a one-time story. This kind of connection happens all the time, sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly, but always intentionally.
Why Your Investment Matters
I’m sharing this story with you because I want you to see that every gift, every prayer, every phone call to the BBFI Central Office matters.
When you invest in the Central Office, you’re investing in Kingdom connections, in moments like this one, where God weaves together lives from across the country to bring revitalization and renewal in places that desperately need it.
You’re investing in people like John, who didn’t need a program; he needed a person. He needed a lifeline. And because of our network, our faithful giving, and people like you, he got one.
You’re also investing in visionaries like Ron, who need partners, encouragement, and support as they tackle the front lines of church planting and urban ministry.
Most of all, you’re investing in stories. Real ones. God stories. The kind that only Heaven can write.
A Call to Keep Believing
It’s easy to become discouraged in ministry. Churches struggle. Communities change. Culture shifts. Resources feel thin.
But let this story remind you: God is still at work. The Gospel is still powerful. The Church is still alive. And the BBFI is still on mission.
We don’t always get to see the fruit immediately. But sometimes, we do. And when we do, it reminds us why we press on.
So here’s what I’m asking: Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop giving. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop answering the call.
The next John may call tomorrow.
The next connection may already be in place.
And the next God story may be one you helped write.
Final Word
If you’ve ever wondered whether your partnership with the BBFI Central Office truly makes a difference, let me assure you, it does.
It made a difference in Brooklyn.
It made a difference for John.
It made a difference for Ron.
And it will make a difference again, because the mission continues.
Only God can write stories like this. But your support helps turn the pages.
If you believe in the power of connection, in the importance of strengthening pastors and churches, and in seeing more stories like this unfold across the country, would you consider partnering with us today?
Your gift to the BBFI Central Office helps make moments like this possible.