Friendship to host revival Oct. 20-22

By Kathy Thomson

Friendship Baptist Church will hold a revival starting next Sunday, and everyone is invited to join members for the multiple-day event.

“We’re inviting everyone to come,” said pastor Paul Johnston. “The whole community and anybody else who wants to come is welcome.”

Kenny Rawls, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Hamlin, will be the speaker, and child care will be provided.

Services will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings, Oct. 20-22.

“The music will be fantastic, and we will share the Gospel,” said pastor Rawls. “We definitely want to invite people to come out.”

Speaker Background

Kenny Rawls is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. 

“I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as a seven-year-old,” he said. “But although I was called by Jesus when I was 16, I didn’t want to go (into the ministry). I finally went to seminary when I was 30.”

The Air Force veteran is a former fireman and paramedic.

Pastor Rawls said that he and Johnston have a mutual connection from FCA and are good friends. 

“This will be my first time to preach in Albany,” he said. “I’m still working on the exact topics, but it will definitely be an evangelistic-type message. I want to make sure everyone knows that Jesus is the solution for our hurts, habits, and hangups.” 

Rawls and his wife Sharon have twin daughters who are both married and a 20 year-old son.