Baptist Elder Joe Jones and his wife, Nellie, for example, ate this week at a table that Terry set up specially for them in the Outpost parking lot. Terry deduced the sacred side of the denomination's 119th national assembly, which ended Friday after naming Philadelphia minister William Shaw as its new president. That is, all the political campaigning for president was small stuff compared with the religious work that went on. But the faithful in Tampa also took care of business such as missions, prison ministries, women's auxiliary and stewardship, he says. At rallies, fiery preachers unleashed fears of hell and damnation, flogging passions and bringing the faithful to their feet.
Every dope addict comes out of somebody's home.
Baptists developed strong preaching more than a century ago, long before 10,000-watt amplifiers let any wimp preach and reach the multitude. Baptists preach straight-up Christianity. Get off the road to hell. Life ain't easy. If you're not hoarse after preaching, maybe you'd better consider other work.