PALATKA, Fla. — An estimated 2.9 million people are affected by disability, and 15% of the state’s children live with a disability. Yet only a small fraction are reached with the Gospel. 

“Only 5 to 10 percent of the world’s disabled are effectively reached with the gospel, making the disability community one of the largest unreached — some say under-reached — hidden people groups in the world,” said Joni Eareckson Tada, founder of Joni and Friends. 

At First Baptist Church of Palatka, Pastor Ron Smith and his wife, Christa, are working to change that. Their journey into disability ministry began with their son Ryan, who was born with CHARGE syndrome and is profoundly deaf. Christa learned American Sign Language to communicate with him, leading to a lifelong commitment to helping churches welcome and disciple families affected by disabilities. 

Over the years, she has launched after-school programs, served as an ASL interpreter at Lifeway Women’s events, managed disability initiatives with the Tim Tebow Foundation, and now serves Florida families through Joni and Friends. She combines personal experience with professional expertise to help churches develop meaningful inclusion strategies. Christa also serves on the Southern Baptist Disability Ministry Task Force, appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. 

In 2023, First Baptist partnered with Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, a historically Black congregation, to participate in disability-inclusion training through Joni and Friends. The cross-cultural collaboration allowed the churches to serve what they describe as a “third culture” — the disability community — by bringing together two congregations with a shared mission. The training focused on practical tools, cultural awareness and creating a sustainable culture of welcome. 

The partnership helped launch Palatka’s first Night to Shine event in 2024, a Tim Tebow Foundation program that celebrates people with disabilities while also providing support for parents and caregivers. 

Over the past two years, First Baptist has expanded accessibility through ASL-interpreted services, adaptive facilities and intentional inclusion across children’s, youth and adult ministries. Young adults are fully integrated into the college ministry and church choir, reflecting the long-term impact of the effort. 

When asked what they would share with other Florida Baptist churches, the Smiths said families affected by disability “are profoundly used by God,” and that the role of the church is “to walk alongside them, disciple them and welcome them into fellowship.” 

“It’s worth the risk and investment, and God will bless churches that choose to prepare for and invite these families in,” they said. 

Through Joni and Friends training, Night to Shine and cross-cultural partnership, First Baptist Church of Palatka is demonstrating that disability ministry is both a mission field and a practical way to live out the Gospel while serving one of Florida’s most underserved communities. 

Editors Note: The stats in the opening sentence are based on the 2025 Able Trust Annual Survey and Florida Department of Education data.

“The greatest gift we can give at the fair is the gospel,” said Asa Greear, St. Johns River Baptist Association’s mission strategist.

The 2024 Putnam County Fair marked the eighth year the association shared the gospel at this annual event. In 2023, 50 people made professions of faith in Christ through this ministry, and 18 have done so thus far in 2024. Greear credits the positive response at the fair first to God and then to the collaboration of multiple church leaders and volunteers from Putnam and neighboring counties as well as the Florida Baptist Convention.

Each year, as preparations begin for the fair, Baptist church leaders and evangelists from nearby cities plan and strategize. “First Baptist Church of Palatka designs our booth according to the theme set forth by the county,” said Greear, a task the church has handled for three years. In addition, pastors and members of various churches take turns manning the booth to share the gospel with everyone. The booth offers Bibles, Bible tracts, other Christian literature for the whole family and toys for children.

One of the most popular tools used at the fair to engage parents and children in listening to the gospel story is the Evangelism Cube or EvangeCube. Volunteers use the cube as a visual tool while sharing how people are separated from God. The conversation progresses to the death of Christ on the cross, as displayed on the cube, and to Jesus’ resurrection, which guarantees salvation for everyone who believes. Every volunteer, pastor, evangelist and new team member is engaged in sharing the message of Christ.

“The SJRBA does this outreach at the Putnam County Fair every year and is very effective at that venue,” said Patrick Coats, Florida Baptists’ Central region catalyst for FBC. Coats said he has personally witnessed many gospel conversations and prayers among people of all ages.

Some may question why a Baptist association puts such a priority on a county fair.  Greear explained, “Jesus commanded us. Matthew 28:19 reads, ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’”

Individuals who make salvation decisions are connected immediately with churches represented at the fair. The specific church then follows up with the new convert for discipleship. The current membership of St. Johns River Baptist Association is 54 churches, with 18 represented at this year’s event.

Many of the new converts become active members of a church, Greear said. Over time, he added, some new believers approach him and say, “I saw you at the fair.”

“We can give people food every week, and they will be hungry; toys, and happy for a moment; but give them the gospel message, and they will live forever,”  Greear said.

While 16-year-old Baylee Holbrook was hunting in a blind with her father, Matthew Holbrook, in Putnam County, Florida, in late September, lightning glanced off a nearby tree, with both the teen and her father losing consciousness. Her father awakened to find his daughter not breathing. Administering CPR, the frantic father called 911, and his daughter was rushed to the hospital. Even as her father turned to social media to urge prayer, “Pray for my baby. Every single person put your knees on the ground and pray,” and as hundreds joined in prayer vigils, the teen died.

But her legacy lives on.

Known for her faith

Described as having a “heart of gold,” the high school junior, who attended Palatka Jr.-Sr.

High School, was a cheerleader and loved photography and hunting. Those who knew her best said that, above all, she passionately pursued knowing God and making Him known.

Willie McKinnon III, a close family friend and pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Palatka, where the Holbrook family are members, described the teen as “instrumental” in leading other students to Christ. “Baylee had text groups and would send Bible verses. She also invited them to church,” McKinnon said.

McKinnon said Holbrook became known for her faith.

“She was the one on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings who was texting her peers and loved ones: ‘Hey, hope to see you at church,’ and ‘Hope to see you there,’ because she always wanted to see people be better than who they were,” McKinnon said. “Her main goal was to make sure they had every opportunity to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts.”

Through her heartbreaking death, that goal has been realized beyond measure.

‘In awe of God’

Since Holbrook’s death in late September, hundreds of people—young and old—have made decisions to follow Christ. This massive wave of Christian salvation decisions has cultivated a heart of revival not only in Trinity Baptist Church, but also in other local churches.

In mid-October, just two weeks after the teen’s death, with hundreds looking on, 172 middle and high school students were baptized in St. Johns River. Many of the new believers stated they had been impacted personally by the life and testimony of Holbrook.

“The catalyst that God used was the sudden death of a teenage girl who was known for her strong faith in Christ,” said Ron Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church Palatka.

The baptismal service reached across “denominational and racial barriers that generally keep us separated into our silos. Our church members and community are in awe of God,” Smith said.

Reflecting on the outpouring of love he witnessed at the riverfront, McKinnon said, “Pastors from different denominations locked arms with me.”

Pastor Smith added, “The Holbrook family has been an amazing testament to trusting Jesus,” even in their heartbreak. Smith affirmed McKinnon “as he leads his church through this loss and leads through a spiritual revival that is taking place, while he, himself, is grieving.”

The revival isn’t stopping with the baptismal service. “The pastors, churches and community are united in our desire to continue to fan the flames of what God is doing so that we would not just see this fire burn out. Pastors recognize the great work of discipling those who have surrendered to Jesus Christ,” Smith said.

“I feel an even more profound fervency to equip and send Christians into the streets of Palatka to ‘Go and make disciples,’” Smith added. “In times like these, spiritual leaders have a great privilege and awesome responsibility as we are invited to lean into the lives of our church members and community in a way that is beyond normal.”

Holbrook’s testimony has reached far beyond students within her local church and school, with at least one national and one international secular publication sharing her story, even describing her Christian faith.

‘Movement of God’

“I have never been a part of a movement of God where God is moving upon the hearts of so many. Thirty pastors from different churches or varying denominations showed up in support at the baptismal service. A lady spoke to me after the baptism event. With tears streaming down her face, she shared that she is 74 years old and has prayed that revival would come to Palatka . . . and how grateful to God she is that she lived to see this day take place. This seems to be the general sentiment of our community,” Smith said.

Palatka resident Jenna Mathis Rice has witnessed firsthand the impact Holbrook’s Christ-centered life has had throughout the area.

“While I only met Baylee once, it is obvious that she was a Jesus follower,” Rice said. “Since her death, hundreds of people have made commitments or recommitments to follow Jesus. As an outsider to this situation, but one who knows my community well, it has been incredible to watch this revival unfold.”

With reporting by Jessica Pigg and Teodosia Rivera