Joy Worth Sharing

Every Sunday, the Special Friends Ministry at First Baptist Dallas is filled with joyful worship, Bible study, prayer, laughter, and genuine friendships. It is a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are known, loved, discipled, and encouraged to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

For more than 20 years, Marvin Barnes has called the Special Friends Ministry home. Through it, he has experienced that love and community firsthand. But Marvin doesn’t just participate in the Special Needs Ministry—he faithfully serves as well. Marvin welcomes guests, hands out bulletins, greets friends arriving on the ministry vans, or simply offers a kind word. He loves Sundays. “It brings joy to me. It makes me happy.”

Because of the joy Marvin has experienced here, God has put a burden on Marvin’s heart to invite others. Whether he is at work, spending time with friends, or fellowshipping at his group home, he is always telling others about the church. “I just say, ‘Y’all come to First Baptist whenever you can. The door’s open.’”

One of those invitations was extended to his friend and housemate, William Lockridge. After Marvin’s invitation, William attended the Special Friends Ministry. William started to grow in his understanding of God’s Word, and he spent one-on-one time with Special Friends Director Gary Felton. Through those conversations, God began working in William’s heart.

“When I came, everything hit me,” William said. “Ever since me and Gary sat down and talked, that’s how I decided I wanted to move forward with my life.” William realized he had never truly trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. After praying to receive Christ with Gary, he went on to publicly profess his faith through baptism. “When I got baptized,” William recalled, “I almost started crying because something really hit me right then. The Holy Spirit came into my life.”

Seeing his friend trust in Christ was the answer to Marvin’s countless prayers. He said that he faithfully prayed for William, his One Life, “every day.”

Today, William continues growing in his faith through the Special Friends Ministry, worshipping alongside the church family that first welcomed him. For Marvin, seeing his friend make a decision for Christ has only strengthened his desire to keep inviting others. “I challenge you to invite your One Life,” Marvin says. “Those who don’t know Jesus…now’s the time.”

Through the faithfulness of church members like Marvin and ministries like Special Friends, God continues to accomplish eternal work. Marvin and William’s story is a reminder to us all that God can use us as His ambassadors wherever we are (2 Corinthians 5:20). If we will pray and invite, God can use small conversations to accomplish extraordinary things.