Salvations and Baptisms at Pocomoke Church Plant

Pocomoke, Md. — Compass Church, Pocomoke (CCP) Pastor Trever Pusey gets excited when he talks about what’s happening in the church, which launched in October. Even while building their team over the summer, they witnessed lives changed as people came to know the Lord and be baptized. Pusey has baptized nine individuals, and there’s more to come. “We have more people who have made first-time decisions waiting on baptism, and several have rededicated their lives to Jesus. God is good!” said Pusey.

Church Plants Planting Churches
Compass Church Pocomoke was planted by another church plant — Compass Church Salisbury (CCS), that began in 2021 with multiplication in their DNA. CCS Pastor Mark Thomas said, “God has been good and faithful. From the start, CCS wanted, for the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom, to be a church that plants other churches. On October 1, 2023, CCS sent out Pastor Trever and Leanna, his wife, as well as his launch team, to plant CCP.“ (Read about Compass Church Salisbury’s unique ministry here.)

Fruitful Outreach 
Before The church launch, Pusey said he and his team strategically engaged their community. They partnered with the town of Pocomoke to set up booths for the town’s Fourth Friday events. Volunteers handed out free food, did face painting, had kids’ games, and gave out prizes. They also talked with passersby and prayed with many. One of their biggest outreaches was having an Easter Egg hunt at a local apartment complex.

Pusey visited several businesses as part of the ongoing outreach ministry, introducing himself and praying for owners. One businessman Pusey prayed for was George Richards, “He showed up at our church on our launch day. ‘Coincidentally,’ his daughter heard about the church and invited him. He hadn’t been to church in 30 years,” said Pusey. George made a decision to follow Jesus and was baptized. 

Sisters Debra Struss and Sondra Diodato also came to know the Lord. They were baptized together as children and decided also to experience believer‘s baptism together. Making it even more special for the women, they were able to help baptize each other.

The church continues to grow and to reach out to their community, partnering with other churches and local ministries. They are happy to partner with other local churches, enjoying fellowship, serving together, and sharing ideas. “We like to focus on kingdom cooperation,” Pusey said.

School Partnership
CCP did a Valentine‘s outreach at Pocomoke High School, where the school meets for worship and where Pusey attended as a youth, and his mother worked as a field hockey coach and teacher. As a blessing to the school staff, CCP members fully stocked the church coffee bar, which they built and decorated with their favorite Bible verses or song lyrics.“When taking donuts to the school, a teacher I knew from childhood let me in. He was waiting at the door for me because he knew I was bringing donuts,” said Pusey with a chuckle.

As school staff members enjoyed the goodies, they were reminded that the church cares for them. There was also a prayer box where they could drop in requests. “On our last day, we got a note with a series of heartfelt prayer requests for the school, teachers, and students,” said Pusey. “Also, the principal reached out to us to let us know the staff loved the coffee bar and appreciate what we’re doing,” he said.

The church is continuing to build a good relationship with the school, helping as they can and participating in community events. 

Thankful
Pusey said he’s thankful for what God has done. “I never thought I’d ever see any of this happen. I knew I was called to ministry as a teen, but I thought it would be youth ministry. I never anticipated this. That is how God works.”

Mark Thomas said, “Trever has a heart for the Lord and for others. It has been amazing to see God use him and develop him into the pastor he is today. Also, I am thankful, as his sending pastor, to be a part of his journey and to see how God is using him in ministry.”

Feature photo: Pastor Trever Pusey baptizes George Richards, (Photo courtesy of Compass Church, Pocomoke)