"We'd love to be able to start a church," said Hale, pastor of First Baptist Church in Ceredo. "It would be easier to do that with sister churches. It's the same principle of the Cooperative Program."

He sees in the model the benefits of a "threefold cord," not easily broken, as Old Testament writer Solomon points out in Ecclesiastes 4:12.

First Baptist, a strong Cooperative Program supporter, gave 16 percent of its undesignated receipts for missions and ministry initiatives in West Virginia and across the nation and world.

In Wayne County, Hale estimates that 77 percent of the people are unchurched. "The devil has blinded the lost, because the lost will not and cannot be saved unless somebody is willing to pray for them." Toward seeking a breakthrough, First Baptist has viewed possible building sites in the county and has prayerwalked through the area.

"But church planting is slow work," Hale said.

Hale believes a new church would be more successful in reaching the 40- to 50-year-old age group, compared to his graying congregation, and possibly Hispanics who live in the predominantly white community.

First Baptist, with Sunday attendance at about 200, has ventured into missions through by building pews for a church in Mexico, utilizing the woodworking skills of several members. The church made 25 pews that could be shipped and assembled on site in Mexico. Continued...