This year, the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Creative Ministries Festival has been divided into two separate events.

The first event took place March 22, when ministry teams held a creative ministry festival and block party in Winnsboro.

Later this year, creative ministry training for leaders will be presented at the Worship Summit on Aug. 22-23 at White Oak Conference Center.

More than 100 people representing 17 SCBC churches were involved in training and worship at the March 22 festival. Later that afternoon, creative-ministry teams adjourned to Winnsboro to present an evangelistic block party.

Families from around Winnsboro were treated to puppets, clowns and creative movement onstage, as well as free hotdogs, drinks, snow cones and inflatable fun houses. Attendees heard the gospel during the main stage presentations, at the face-painting tent, and from presenters in the crowd using the “Million Dollar Bill” gospel tract.

Stephen Greene Baptist Church served as partner church for the event, providing food and helpers, promoting the church’s ministries, and following up with families who registered. Pastor Michael Cockrell reported that 110 family units registered their attendance at the block party; 24 of the families were unchurched.

More than 300 people from Winnsboro attended the block party, plus 40 workers from Stephen Greene Baptist Church and about 90 of the Creative Ministries festival participants.