3705 Campbell Avenue, Lynchburg VA

Today, I had the great joy and honor to visit Campbell Avenue Baptist Church, located in the heart of our city, marking it as the 64th church in my spiritual journey of visiting every church in the area.

Each week, I await a nudge from the Holy Spirit to guide me on where to attend, and last week, as I was traveling back from UVA with my mom to be with my sister, we passed by a church with a green and white sign.

I felt an undeniable pull from the Holy Spirit to visit this place.

At that moment, I didn’t even know the name of the church, but the call was clear.

Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by Paul and Eric, who made me feel right at home. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Paul is from from Rainelle, WV, which is close to my childhood hometown.

We spent some time reminiscing about the area, and it was a heartwarming connection.

Eric and Paul shared what makes this small church so special, and I discovered that although the church building is not fully developed, it is beautiful in its simplicity and spirit.

The congregation was full of smiles, offering hugs and handshakes, which made it such a joy to join this church at this moment to worship our Lord and Savior.

I had the pleasure of meeting Pastor Caleb Couch and his lovely wife Natalia.

They made sure I felt welcomed and even took the time to have a real conversation with me after the service, encouraging my journey.

Their warmth and kindness were truly touching.

One of the aspects I loved about this church was how the prayer requests go directly to a dedicated prayer team.

I was one among many sharing my heart and asking for prayers for loved ones.

Pastor Caleb led us in a heartfelt prayer before the sermon, and it was interesting to see him carrying only a Bible—no notes, no iPad. It was refreshing to see him preach with such authenticity and passion directly from the Bible.

Today, we were in the book of Acts, Chapter 4.

Pastor Caleb reminded us what church should look like. It’s not just about sitting in a pew; it’s about growing spiritually, reaching outside the four walls around us, and focusing on our Savior.

We are called to be bold, and God gives us the boldness to speak boldly while He does the work. Jesus is our authority, especially when others may try to silence us. Boldness is more than just a posture; it must be our lifestyle, and it comes from God who gives us the power.

Pastor Caleb did a fantastic job of discussing the context and background of the text we were reading, explaining things in a relatable way.

He emphasized that while our worlds may look different today, the message of the Gospel remains the same.

We must be a church of prayer, he reminded us, and what people may use for ill, God will use for our good.

We must always return to the why of what we believe, and it’s always about Jesus, our Savior.

The service was such a beautiful experience, enriched by a soloist who moved me to tears with her rendition of “Once and for All.”

Paul led us in singing beautiful hymns like “I Love To Tell The Story” and “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes.”

The people here are incredibly loving, humble, and down-to-earth, making it a day I will cherish forever.

If you’d like to find out more about the church, you can visit their new Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/p/3705-Campbell-Ave-Baptist-Church-100069887240662/

I am profoundly grateful for what God is doing in my life through this calling.

The love and welcome I received at Campbell Avenue Baptist Church have touched my heart deeply, and I look forward to where the Holy Spirit will lead me next on this journey.