South Carolina Showcase for August 5, 2010

Mitford Baptist Church, Great Falls, baptized seven new members on July 11, and four of the seven made professions of faith as a result of the church’s Vacation Bible School. Pictured from left are (back row) Brandon Boykin, John East, pastor Curtis Cameron and Andrew Price; (front row) Dawson Tate, Bailey Gregory, Tanner Boykin and Kristen Miller.

 

The children at Kelleytown Baptist Church, Hartsville, learned that all life is precious – from beginning to end – during The Egypt File “Decoding the Mystery of Life” Vacation Bible School. To reinforce the theme, they collected diapers and wipes for the Carolina Family Planning Centers. Pictured are the 4th and 5th graders presenting their collection to volunteers from the Center.

 

New Providence Baptist Church, Hartsville, held “Seaquest” Vacation Bible School June 6-11. Average attendance for the week was 105, and more than $2,600 was collected for a mission in Kenya.

 

Trinity Way Baptist Church, Greenville, recently sponsored “SonQuest Rainforest” Vacation Bible School. A total of 158 enrolled for the week, resulting in nine professions of faith. This was the third VBS for the five-year-old church, and enrollment more than doubled from last year. Dennis Holtzclaw is pastor at Trinity Way.

 

Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path, recently held a special music program featuring Christian singer Jan Jordan (far right). Pictured from left are choir member Mac Copeland, along with pastor Wesley Taylor and his wife Ann, who joined Jordan for the final song of the evening.

 

Park Hills Baptist Church, Broad River Association, recently held a collaborative workshop July 16-17, led by Don Matthews (pictured above), director of church health and vitalization at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and assisted by Darryl Price, director of church multiplication. SCBC executive director-treasurer Jim Austin spoke to participants on July 18, and the church’s health team is processing ideas and information gathered during the three-day event. Larry Sanders is pastor at Park Hills.

 

The youth of Tucapau Baptist Church, Startex, recently spent a week in Boston conducting backyard Bible clubs and serving in numerous work-related mission projects. Designated as the 2010 Boston Freedom Tour because it occurred during the Fourth of July, the trip also included visits to historic sites and Boston’s annual fireworks spectacular – and team members wore T-shirts featuring John 8:36: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The group stayed at Boston Baptist College and celebrated 23 professions of faith. Massachusetts is the second-least evangelized state in the nation.

 

Latta Baptist Church members “experienced the wonders of God’s creation” as they participated in “Saddle Ridge Ranch” Vacation Bible School July 18-22. Total enrollment for the week was 170, with an average attendance of 132. Latta Baptist is in the Pee Dee Association.

 

Pastor Jeff Eubanks (far right) of New Vision Baptist Church, Chesnee, and his Vacation Bible School “crew” set sail on a “High Seas Expedition” the week of June 27-July 1.

 

Hollywood Baptist Church, Saluda, which was officially chartered as a new work on May 16, held its first baptism service on July 4 at the Lake Murray home of Raymond and Jean Seigler. Eleven candidates were baptized at the service, which was conducted by pastor Dan Gardner and attended by 101 people. “It was a great day in the life of Hollywood Baptist Church,” said Gardner, “and God gets all the glory.”

 

On July 15, Joanna Ramsey and Shirley McCurley, members of New Prospect Baptist Church, Anderson, visited patients at Anderson Area Medical Center as part of Clowns for Christ, a group of Christians who visit in local hospitals trying to spread a bit of cheer. As the son of one patient noted, “Some of us plant the seed, some provide the water, and some do the harvest. All are part of the mission.” Ramsey and McCurley are shown with patient Charles Barnes, a member of Barkers Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path. s

 

The Mission Friends group at Nixville Baptist Church, Estill, recently took on the mission of spreading love and generosity to the Middle East after hearing the testimony of a gunnery sergeant who had served there. He told about the impoverished conditions of the children, explaining how excited they would get after receiving a few crayons and paper. The Nixville Mission Friends asked the congregation to “help supply some children with a little love and compassion” – which resulted in generous donations of crayons, coloring books, notebooks, pencils, pens, markers, and many other supplies.

 

Five churches from the Jasper County area banded together with four collegiate summer missionaries the week of July 11-16 to spread the gospel through Vacation Bible School in Inez, Ky. Thirty-three members from Ridgeland Baptist, Gillisonville Baptist, Great Swamp Baptist, Pine Level Baptist and Gospel Lighthouse Church and the four missionaries all set out for one mission: to teach a community about the unfailing love of Jesus Christ. Each day included mission work for Haven of Rest Family Ministries, VBS and several outreach events, including toy/diaper drive, clothing/shoe drive, ice cream socials and concerts from the Lighthouse Singers. By the end of the week, nine professions of faith had been reported.

 

Broadmouth Baptist Church, Honea Path, held Vacation Bible School during the week of June 14-18. A total of 94 enrolled for the week, with an average attendance of 77 and five professions of faith. On Saturday, “Broadmouth Ranch Fun Day” Welcome Ranch provided horses for the children to ride. “Saddle Ridge Ranch was one of the best Vacation Bible Schools we have had at our church,” said VBS director Sheila Mattison.

 

The youth of Greenwood Baptist Church, Conway, recently went on a mission trip to Brunswick, Ga., where they worked with Golden Isle Ministries. Activities included day camps and afternoon ministries throughout the city, and one profession of faith was reported. Group leaders for the trip were pastor Richard Krieg, youth pastor Len Crenshaw and his wife April, Shirley Anderson and Tammy Warren. Youth who attended were Austin Stallings, Justin Crenshaw, Dustin Crenshaw, Ethan Crenshaw, Christian Williams, Kaylee Shaw, Sarah Mangus, Cora Jackson, Michael Warren, Brenton Tyler and Paula Jordan.