Orlando | Why would an Illinois family of 10 make an almost 1,000-mile journey from their home in Casey to Central Florida (or some other distant location) every year? For the Howards of Casey, the reason is simple: to share the gospel.
This family has traveled every June since 2019 to take part in Crossover, the annual evangelism outreach near the host city for the Southern Baptist Convention. Their first outreach together was in Birmingham. This time, they served in Kissimmee just north of Orlando. It was 964 miles one way.
The Howards and people from 554 churches in 15 states joined forces from June 1-6. For this Southern Baptist family, the event coordinated by the North American Mission Board is only part of the attraction. Their children engaged with Acteens and Royal Ambassadors were active in additional service ministries.
“We talk about the Cooperative Program, helping others, and being unified, this is a part of that,” said Brent Howard, pastor of Casey First Baptist Church. “It’s a blessing to be a part of something bigger and give back to another community.”
The Howards assisted First Baptist Church of Kissimmee with a large community outreach. The church offered free haircuts, medical and dental checkups, diapers and food, and sports clinics for kids.
Kids and volunteers play soccer during a Crossover event at First Baptist Church of Kissimmee. The Howard family also participated in the event. BP photo
While Brent and his oldest son, Ben, were serving together at a community park, Brent’s wife, Holly, and seven of their eight children—Hope, Faith, Abbie, Danny, Thomas, and Mercy—served in other locations. Hope, who is learning Spanish, utilized her skill at the registration table because of the large Hispanic population. Mercy, the youngest at age 10, enjoyed passing out diapers.
Over the years, the Howards have learned block party type projects doing Crossover works best for the family because there’s a place for everyone to serve. The family keeps coming back because “it’s a good way to keep our focus on the gospel and mission of reaching people.”
The father and son were part of the group that went to the park for evangelism. Most people were open to having gospel conversations, allowing them to ask three questions: Do you believe in God? Do you believe in heaven? And, if you were to die today, what would you tell God to get you into heaven?
The familiar trio of questions opened many fruitful conversations, including one with a young woman who gave her life to Christ. “She had a connection with a church earlier in her life but didn’t have a relationship with Jesus,” the Casey pastor said. “We had a deep conversation. She thought seriously and decided she wanted to have Jesus in her life.”
The Kissimmee church was given her contact information and planned to contact her to make sure she has a church home.
More than 1,000 people professed faith in Christ during Crossover, NAMB Vice President of Evangelism Tim Dowdy shared with messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting. “There’s something powerful that happens when Southern Baptists from all across North America get together and converge on a single city to share the gospel,” Dowdy said. “That’s what Crossover is all about.”
A lifestyle of service
For the Howard family, attending the convention each summer is about sharing the gospel through Crossover, but there’s even more. Abbie was named an Acteens panelist this year. She assisted during the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) celebration.
“We’re thrilled to see Illinois represented nationally!” said IBSA Leadership Director Carmen Halsey-Menghini. “Through WMU, women of all ages are equipped for missions and leadership, whether they serve individually or as part of a group.”
“Being named a National Acteens Panelist means these young women are the cream of the crop,” said Heather Keller, ministry consultant for Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). “Their missions resumes reflect all areas of missions discipleship: learning about missions, praying for missions, supporting missions, doing missions, and telling others about Jesus,” Keller said.
Abbie Howard (end on right) joins her fellow 2026 National Acteens panelists for a group photo in Orlando. Evelyn Tully (center in green), former executive director, Illinois WMU, joined them for the photo. Photo by National WMU.
Abbie said Acteens, the WMU’s missions education ministry for young women, has enabled her to live a missional life and has provided opportunities to serve in her church as well as on mission trips where she learned to share her faith.
One experience included helping a church plant in Ohio. The church was meeting in the planter’s home, so her team prayer walked the surrounding neighborhood that was primarily Turkish.
“God has commanded us to take the gospel to all nations, but that does not always mean we have to go to another country to share Jesus,” Abbie said. “He is bringing the nations to us and placing them in our path here and now—so we can share with them. Acteens has shown me how, as believers, we need to look at the world through Jesus’ eyes. This way of viewing the world has led me most often to see people with compassion.”
Illinois Baptist readers may remember the photos of the Royal Ambassadors’ Pinewood Derby from last year. Abbie’s brother, Thomas, was a competitor in the exhibit hall at the Annual Meeting in Dallas.
Thomas Howard (center right) looks on as a race is about to start at the SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas in 2025.
This family takes SBC Missions seriously. Who else would discuss the Cooperative Program strategy during their cross-country car trip from Illinois to Florida.
Planning for next year
As a pastor, Brent said it’s important that churches have a mission lifestyle, and that means coming alongside other churches. He encourages those interested in Crossover to keep an eye on the NAMB website in May as they start announcing projects that individuals and groups can sign up for. No matter someone’s strengths or interests, there’s something for everyone.
“The churches are always appreciative of those who come to serve,” he said. “If they can come a day or two early to convention, then we have thousands coming to volunteer. You can do a lot of good there.”
The Howards are already looking forward to the next two years when the events are closer to home. The 2027 convention will be held in Indianapolis, and the 2028 convention is scheduled for St. Louis. Brent noted it may be challenging for families to travel to far away conventions, but he hopes Illinois families will be able to participate in Crossover the next two years. The pastor said, “It’s something we’ll encourage for sure.”
–Kayla Houchin, with Baptist Press and WMU