Devine couple want to see more than diapers changed

Johnny and Bonny Davis of First Baptist Church, Divine, set up a baby changing station at fairs and festivals in their area to meet a need and to share Christ.

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DEVINE—Johnny and Bonny Davis want to change more than diapers. They hope their diaper-changing station becomes a life-changing encounter for people who need Christ to clean up their lives.

The Davises, members of First Baptist Church in Devine, passionately want to reach others for Christ. Initially, they traveled to fairs and festivals in the area to distribute Christian tracts and books to people in need of a relationship with Jesus. They didn’t feel they were making the impact they wanted, so he spoke with Fred Ater, regional representative for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

changing station logo350“He gave me the idea to have a diaper-changing station,” Davis said.

The last seven years, the Davises provided moms and dads across South Texas a clean, dry place to change a baby’s diaper at all those public celebrations.

“It’s an opportunity to meet people where they’re at. We go to where they are and find what their needs are. It’s been wonderful to have people come by and share and talk about Christ with them,” Davis said.

The station attracts plenty of attention and serves as a conversation-starter, he said.

“A lot of the opportunity happens when they come up and ask, ‘What is it?’ We tell them it’s a diaper-changing station, and they want to know what it costs. When we tell them it doesn’t cost anything, they want to know why we do it,” he said.

“We tell them: ‘Jesus loves you, and he loves me. He walked this earth helping people for free just showing his love. That’s what we’re trying to do, too—show Christ’s love through service in the community.’”

The changing station has gone through its own metamorphosis. It started out as a piece of plywood and some two-by-fours with a tarp over it. Two years later, Davis bought a small trailer and adapted it to its new purpose. It contains three changing tables and everything needed to get the job done, including lights, fans, sanitary wipes and diapers for those who come unprepared. He also upgraded the trailer with a heater, which came in handy during Hondo’s recent “God’s Country Christmas” event.


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“A lot of these people won’t come to a church, but they still have the same hurts and same needs and need somebody to love them, so I feel we need to go where they are and reach out to them,” Davis said.

Everyone who uses the trailer to change a diaper receives a copy of Gospel of John that also includes information about how to become a Christian. He also displays prayer cards people often fill out to request prayer for a family member.

“Quite often, these little conversations lead to our getting to share the plan of salvation and why Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins,” Davis said.

The Davises also give away Christian books and Bibles to those who have an interest.

“It’s been a wonderful blessing to step outside the church doors to go out where the people are and just be available,” Davis said.


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