Why take time and effort to knock on every door at every Baptist Village Community (BVC) in Oklahoma to share the Gospel? Isn’t every resident a member of a Baptist church and a Christian?
Every Door in 2024 is an evangelistic effort to ensure that every resident hears the Gospel of salvation and has a chance to tell their story. For those residents that don’t yet have a story, this mission works to help them create one.

“There’s a myth out there that says you have to be a Baptist or Christian to live at Baptist Village,” said Director of Chaplain Services Chris Finley. “Actually, we have at least 13 denominations at our villages.”

Finley explained, “Senior adults begin to evaluate their life, and they want to know if they’ve done enough. They may have lived a good life, attended and raised their children in church, but the question is do they have a personal relationship with Jesus.” Finley says most evangelistic emphases are geared toward teenagers and young people, and evangelism requires a different approach with senior adults. He added that many older adults are embarrassed to ask about spiritual concerns.

“Statistics tell us that after the age of 65, only about 6 percent of people will be saved. We want to make sure no one comes to a Baptist Village without hearing the Gospel.”

Executive Director of the Bill and Susan Pierce Institute for Transforming Life Expectancies, Greg McNeece expressed, “We need to move the needle to be more effective, more intentional and not assume every person over a certain age is a believer.”

The Bill and Susan Pierce Institute is a ministry of Baptist Village Communities which helps Oklahoma Baptist churches meet the increasing needs of senior adults within the church and to minister to those outside the church.

Bill Pierce, long-time president of Baptist Village Communities, said “Every Door in 2024 is a wonderful opportunity to have a gospel conversation with all residents who live on a BVC campus, as well as an opportunity to share with many of their families and the BVC team members.”

“This effort creates a great deal of joy on campuses. Since the Every Door in 24 mission began, 11 residents have made a profession of faith, and many others have confirmed their salvation experience,” Pierce revealed. “It is such a blessing to see our residents learning to share their testimony with others. The number of unreached senior adults in our state is growing rapidly, and many of them are open to gospel conversations.”

Pierce said, “It’s a mission most people don’t see. We’re hoping this effort catches fire and every senior adult realizes this is indeed a mission field.”

“I keep tearing up when I hear the stories of these senior adults whose lives have been changed,” said Pierce. “God led us to this effort to draw the people who are being saved to Him. I am so blessed by the people who are helping in each village. It’s a lot of people sharing their faith, and it’s very likely the largest evangelical effort in Oklahoma this year outside of summer camps and BCM. It is so worth it.”

The Every Door in 2024 mission has been led by volunteers including Disaster Relief community chaplains, pastors (mostly retired), youth ministers and village residents. It will continue through the end of the year until every resident (approximately 1,650) behind every door in all 12 BVC campuses has heard the Gospel and been able to tell their own story.