The planned July 12 re-opening of Satartia FBC was thwarted as state COVID numbers and other statistics seemed to be on the rise at the time. When asked, Brother Royce simply said, “You know, we have a strong senior adult population and some families with pronounced respiratory issues, so we’re gonna err on the side of caution.”
Notwithstanding, the little church with a big heart for Yazoo County was determined not to sit idle. God had already been stirring in Lott’s heart since early June, and this served as a catalyst for Satartia First to prepare for a new virtual ministry which will be LIVE, yet contactless, as the new COVID-19 buzzword is being thrown around.
“I was cleaning out a storage facility and came across an old cross which I used maybe a dozen times over a ten-year period when on the road in evangelism,” Lott said. “The cross was covered in nails, so I began to count. . .” It turns out that Lott recalled a particular message in which the altar call ‘invitation time,’ which included inviting the audience to nail a nail in the cross as a representation of the decision they were making for Christ. As it happened, when Lott stopped counting the nails in the old cross from his storage unit, there were over 1,100 nails in the cross – signifying over 1,100 people who had made decisions or transacted spiritual business with God in one of the dozen worship services Lott lead while traveling the country, where he felt led of God’s Spirit to preach this specific message.
This old cross was just the Holy Spirit’s way of stirring Lott to launch a new ministry for Satartia FBC in the face of an uncertain re-opening date.
“Now, you can worship at Satartia anytime, 24/7,” Lott said.
Here’s what was learned about the new cross fashioned from 6 x 6 posts now on the front lawn of First Baptist Church of Satartia, and how this new virtual, yet LIVE worship works.
• The front porch light at Satartia First is on 24/7.
• There are Hymnals for those who feel the need to worship in song. (However, Lott does ask that you sing softly after 8 p.m. out of respect for the neighbors.)
• The large cross draped with red fabric is a silent ministry of the church where anyone can go by and nail a prayer need to the cross or actually use the church steps or porch as an altar to pray. Nails, sticky notes, and hammers are provided.
• Each week, church members will come and collect the prayer notes from the cross and pray over them in confidentiality in the church prayer room. Nails will be left in the cross.
• In addition, there are Bibles available for pickup, in the hopes that those who stop by will take one and give it to a person in spiritual need.
• There are clear signs and instruction. From not wanting groups larger than 10, to how to leave a prayer request, the portico of FBC Satartia is clearly marked with signage and instructions for safe, yet free worship and prayer.
• Although the church itself is not open, the lights within the church, as on the front porch, will be on 24/7, so that the light shines through the beautiful stained-glass windows every hour of the day. This is Satartia’s way of reminding folks that the beautiful light of God’s Glory never goes out, and that “The Hope,” which is the person of Jesus Christ, is always there for them.
The Village of Satartia attracts everyone from bicycle clubs to truckers transporting their goods along the adjacent highways. It is the hope of Satartia First that over the next twelve months this new cross on their lawn will bear over 10,000 nails from prayer requests left, and that the membership of Satartia First will have the blessing of praying over these many lives, or more.
By the way, in this unique little village, if you need a snack or your worship makes you thirsty, there’s a faith-run convenience store (Snack Shack) right down the street. Serve yourself there as well.
“We trust you”, said Lott.
In Satartia, they believe, and work to live, as a community of faith.
FBC Satartia hopes to announce a new restart date in the near future.
For more information on this new virtual/LIVE worship center, please email Brother Royce at broroyce1@gmail.com or text him at 601-668-4584.
