The 4th-6th grade basketball team from Immanuel Baptist Church, Lancaster, was named Moriah Baptist Association West Champs, with a 13-0 undefeated season for the third consecutive year. Pictured are (front row, l to r) Khory Phillips, Caleb Keenan, Trey Payne and Jordan Caroway; (back row) coach Jeff McManus, Jordan Whitaker, Gabe Glover and Claire McManus.
Lewis McCormick, far right, was honored on his 85th birthday Dec. 17 at First Baptist Church, Mullins, where he served as pastor for 26 years. Guests honored him by contributing to the Dr. Lewis E. McCormick Endowed Scholarship at Charleston Southern University. McCormick was a founding trustee of Baptist College (now CSU). Gift receipts totaled $5,466. Franklin Mason, longtime friend and member of First Baptist Church, helped organize the event. From left are Mason, McCormick’s daughter Helen Bayne, his wife Helen R. McCormick, daughter Elizabeth Shepherd, and McCormick.
The youth group from Nebo Baptist Church, Britton’s Neck, were diligent in asking everyone to save their soda can tabs. These tabs will be given to the Ronald McDonald House to help with a project which replenishes supplies and provides children with laptops that enable them to keep up with their school work while they are sick. Shown are (front row, l to r) Carly Ruth Bennett, Katie Dennis, Morgan Bennett, Ashley Hucks, Austin Williams; (middle row) Joshua Haselden, Kyle Johnson, Dustin Haselden, Taylor Williams and Whitney Hucks; (back row) Wayne Richardson Jr., Matt Martin and Josh Dennis. Not available for the photo: Brandon Grice and Crystal Villa-Gomez. Cindy Dennis is youth director at Nebo.
Claude Todd, left, was licensed to the ministry Feb. 18 by Rosemont Baptist Church, Waterloo. He is a past deacon and currently serves on several committees. With him is pastor Sam Thomason.
Kelly Hammond was ordained to the ministry Feb. 18 by Solid Rock Baptist Church, Aiken. He has served the church as minister of youth, children, and education for the past five years. He and his wife Shelly have five children: Jordan, Kelsey, Savannah, Ethan, and Noah. Pictured from left are Ronnie Powell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Iva; Jamie Rogers, pastor of Solid Rock; Hammond and his wife Shelly; and Sam Stevens, chairman of deacons.
Ola Mae Cothran, 93, makes her way up the aisle of Tucapau Baptist Church, Startex, following the church’s Feb. 18 homecoming services and “Ola Mae Cothran Day.” Cothran has been a Sunday school teacher for the past 80 years. The church was also celebrating its 109th anniversary.
Kelleytown Baptist Church, Hartsville, held its third annual Kelleytown Bowl to kick off the Super Bowl. “This was the first time in six years that I have done this event that the youth won,” said Daniel Henderson, minister to students. The youth won 42 to 10; the adults hope to redeem themselves during “March Madness.”
Shelby Bagwell (and family) donated a communion set to Trinity Way Baptist Church in memory of Bob Bagwell. The new Greenville church, which currently meets in temporary facilities on Poinsett Highway, broke ground in January for its building, which will be located on Buncombe Road.
On Feb. 24, volunteers from New Hope Baptist Church, Seneca, held a work day to clean up the old New Hope church cemetery. Volunteers included Randall Lusk, Rick Leclerc, Martha Brucke Sammons, Rayford Sammons, Betty Atkins, Steve Stewart, Patrick Bryson, Joey Land, Ken Williams, Brock Williams, Cory Williams, Andrew Evatt, Ruth Evatt, Lana Dost, Lauren Dost, Sarah Johnson, Jackie Kirby, Martin Powell and Cathy Powell. Cemetery committee chairman Mike Evatt, shown holding up the grave stone of one of the earliest church members, headed up the efforts. Most of the graves are marked only by a stone, with a few having dates in the 1840s and 1850s. The cemetery, which pre-dates the Civil War, is located on a farm where the church previously stood, a few miles away from its current location on Keowee School Road. Church history records New Hope Baptist Church as being founded in 1795. Current property owners, Martin and Cathy Powell, and Mike Evatt are planning a re-dedication service of the burial grounds in the near future.
The youth of Memorial Baptist Church, Olar, held their fifth annual Connie Maxwell Children’s Home Valentine Fund Raiser Feb. 11. A total of $516 was collected in shoe boxes decorated by the participating youth. Each youth received a Valentine pillow inscribed with scripture, “Love one another,” from John 13:34, for participation as they become missionaries for Jesus. The boy and girl who collected the most money were crowned King and Queen of Hearts. Pictured are “King” Chandler Hiers and “Queen” Taylor Lyons.
The congregation of New Life Baptist Church, Goose Creek, dedicated their new worship center Feb. 11. Baptism was also held for eight people. Attendance for the service was 270 and Edgar Boles, director of missions for Charleston Baptist Association, was guest speaker. The 275-seat facility was constructed at a cost of $650,000. New Life was organized in 1979 and is now in its second building. Harry Scarborough has been the pastor of New Life for 12 years.
Mission Kids of Pine Ridge First Baptist Church, Hartsville, decorated soft drink bottles which will be used to collect money for the Annie Armstrong Offering. Members are being asked to fill the bottles.
The youth and children of Black Creek Baptist Church, Walterboro, held a Valentine Queen and King competition and collected $864 for the church’s Annie Armstrong Offering.
Members of Locust Hill Baptist Church, Travelers Rest, presented pastor Niki Ballew with a new red Chevrolet pickup truck in recognition of his five-year anniversary as senior pastor.
The RAs of Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union, have been distributing Bibles with camouflage covers to hunters in the hunt camps of the Cross Keys/Sedalia area of Union County, which surround the Padgett’s Creek community. Inman’s Deer Processing, Prince’s Grocery, and Whippoorwill Hunt Camp and Deer Processing, are among the participating businesses. Pastor Carrol Caldwell commends the RAs effort of handing out Bibles personally in the camps.
Laurel Baptist Church, Greenville, honored 31 couples Feb. 11 who have been married 50-plus years, seven of which have been married more than 60 years. As shown in the pictures above and below, each couple was given a certificate and a rose. The children and youth choir provided the music, and pastor Ron Wilson’s message was “Love Across the Ages.”
