Temple Baptist Church, Gaffney, celebrated the final payment for their gym and Sunday school building by burning their mortgage April 30. Participating (l to r) were pastor Scott Kierstead, Kim and Tim Bagwell, Ed Rees and Conrad Barnhill. The building was paid off eight years early.
Mountain Springs Baptist Church, Piedmont, paid off the balance on newly purchased land for construction of new facilities for its growing congregation. Church members voted March 28, 2004, to purchase eight acres of land across from the current location. On Nov. 14, 2004, they voted to purchase an additional seven adjoining acres. The congregation then set a goal of raising $22,944 by Easter 2006 to pay off the mortgage. A total of $24,364, which was over and above tithes and offerings, was raised. On April 19, the final payment was made on the land purchase. On Jan. 29, 2006, the church approved a Phase I Building Project plan, and also approved a building team of 43 church members who currently are involved in the planning process. Shown looking over future plans are (l to r) Steve Ellison, chairperson, building project steering team; Wilma Gosnell, chairperson, finance sub-team; and Lamar McAbee, pastor.
Wayside Baptist Church, Laurens, celebrated its 25th anniversary with homecoming and a mortgageburning May 7. From left: Jan Harman, treasurer; Gerald Crawford, interim pastor; and Kyle Pridemore, chairman of deacons.
The mission study group of Temple Baptist Church, Simpsonville, crocheted 824 caps, which were sent to the Seafarers Ministry in Charleston. Pictured are (seated) Margaret Medlock, Nancy Young and Sally Davenport; (standing) Lora Alexander, Ethel Lee Garrett, Mary Randolph and Sara Compton. Not pictured: Nell Armstrong.
Gary Evans, left, was ordained to the ministry May 7 by Hulon Baptist Church, Batesburg, where he serves as youth pastor. Evans, who is employed by the South Carolina Department of Corrections, is seeking endorsement as a chaplain from the North American Mission Board. With him are pastor Larry Patterson, center, and deacon chairman Phil Furtick.
Some members of the Faith, Lydia and Esther Sunday school classes of Rocky Creek Baptist Church, Greenville, paint wooden cars that members of a mission team will distribute to children at an orphanage in Brazil this July. The cars were cut out by the late Nick Imbastaro, a retired South Carolina pastor and former teacher of one of the Sunday school classes.
The children at Dogwood Hill Baptist Church, Loris, used two-liter bottles to collect change for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, raising a total of $184.