Revival at First Baptist Church
By Valerie Sliker courtesy Wagener Monthly
Evangelist, pastor and author Dr. Blake Carroll held spiritual renewal meetings at First Baptist Church Wagener on May 27 – May 29, 2016.
Dr. Carroll, his wife Shannan, and their four children reside in Hohenwald, TN. Carroll holds an undergraduate degree in business, a master’s degree in Christian counseling and a doctorate degree in Theology and he is the recipient of four honorary doctorate degrees. He founded Christ-Pointe Ministries over ten years ago as an evangelistic outreach ministry that brings hope and encouragement to people through faith in Jesus Christ.
Having been saved at the age of 10, Carroll began feeling a call to preach at 18 while he was working in the funeral industry and planning to become a funeral director and embalmer. However, he kept running from the call. Finally, one Sunday morning while in church, he prayed if it was God’s will for him to be a preacher that the song “Are You Washed in the Blood” would be sung for the invitational hymn. This would obviously be a clear message that God wanted him to preach. Surprisingly, that song was sung, and Carroll made public his call to preach the gospel. He preached his very first sermon that night in the same church and he’s been preaching ever since. (He also attended mortuary college and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer.)
Before preaching a revival meeting, Dr. Carroll always prays for God’s Holy Spirit to lead him regarding what he needs to preach. Avoiding “sermonettes,” he talks to the church’s pastor to learn what the pastor’s burden is for the church and then Carroll prays for guidance as he prepares for each meeting.
