As early spring flowers break forth in glorious blooms, they invariably awaken within us the hope of new life. More than shaking off the winter blues, for us Christ followers, these colorful signs of a changing season announce the coming of the day we celebrate the hope of our salvation — the glorious resurrection of Christ.

The house where our family resides was first made into a home by a precious couple who built it and spent the next 30 years raising children and making a life together. Ms. Hale loves flowers, and she planted an incredible variety throughout the yard. Sitting on our back porch, we continue reaping the rewards of her labors. An amazing diversity of perennials bloom each year as a legacy of her efforts of love. We are thankful.

What truly amazes me, however, is looking out across the pasture fields of our neighbor’s farm to see daffodils blooming in what seems to be the most random of places. How did they get there? Who planted them? What story has been lost to time but not forgotten because of these perennial flowers? I am grateful for these symbols of God’s amazing grace.

As I drive across Kentucky visiting our churches, I cannot help but be overwhelmed by the legacy of faithful Baptists who preceded us.

Who first planted the seeds of the gospel in this place? How many faithful Baptists have watered over these many years? Their names and faces might have been forgotten by us, but the seeds they planted continue bearing a harvest 30, 60 or even a hundredfold just as Christ promised (Matt 13:8).

We should never cease to marvel over God’s capacity to bring new life where we least expect it! How can we not celebrate His faithfulness to produce a reproducing harvest out of the simplest of seeds?

However, my concern for Kentucky Baptists is that we seem to be forgetting the basic principles of the harvest. Ultimately only God can make the seed grow, but He does expect us to plant it in faith (1 Cor 3:6)!

Dr. Chuck Kelley observed, “Southern Baptists are living with a harvest mentality in a seedless generation.”

That is the ‘why’ behind “The Gospel to Every Home.” If we want to see a plentiful harvest, we must get back to abundantly sowing the gospel seed. I look at the beds where Ms. Hale planted perennial bulbs with full expectation of seeing flowers. I look at my summer garden plot with entirely different expectations. There is no logical expectation to reap any more than I sow.

“The Gospel to Every Home” is a straightforward initiative to help Kentucky Baptists cooperate to sow gospel seeds in as many of the 1.7 million homes in our neighborhoods as God will allow. In upcoming months, we will begin rolling out resources and strategies to answer how, but there is no need to overcomplicate it.

Resurrection Day is approaching. Are we sowing in the lives of our children and grandchildren? Are we inviting neighbors and friends to come hear the hope of new life?

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Rob Patterson is evangelism team leader for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.