Video: Worshipers Spend New Years Day at ‘Word Explosion’

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — While many spent their New Years Day lounging at home, the people inside Starkville’s St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church were praising God.

Pastor John Johnson says he wants to bring in the New Year righteously.

“Growing up in an area of a lot of variety of things to start off the year. Parties, drugs and drinking. I was moved because of all the things we’re doing for New Years, what about starting with God. And maybe some young person, some young man, some young woman can get detoured from a negative way onto a positive way,” said Pastor Johnson.

Pastor Johnson calls the service a “Word Explosion.” And the “word” spread like wildfire.

” It has literally exploded. It was on the radio, facebook, everywhere. And honestly I didn’t know it would take off like that,” said Pastor Johnson.

7 Starkville Pastors stepped up to the pulpit, giving a message of motivation.

“Collaboration, togetherness is key for strengthening our community, especially through the church and we’re so thankful that we have this opportunity,” said Pastor Thomas Rogers of Joseph Creek Baptist Church.

St. Paul isn’t the regular church for many of these worshipers, because this service was for the entire community.

“I love God and I love to fellowship with other people. And it ain’t all about party in my life, I’d rather serve the Lord than to be out in the world. That’s the reason I’m here today, to lift up the name of Jesus,” said Spring Hill M.B. Church member Minnie Brown

“I think the support of the people coming out and when others see that it’s important to start the year off with with the Word, that will maybe influence someone else to do the same thing so I think it is important to do this,” said Paul Vines, member of the St. Paul M.B. Church.

This is the first year of “Word Explosion” but Pastor Johnson says it won’t be the last. Worshipers had lunch after the two hour service.