On any given summer, church youth groups, Sunday school classes and mission volunteers give up countless hours and days of time to serve on mission trips abroad and in North America. This summer, churches from across South Carolina descended on the Lowcountry in an effort to concentrate on the many needs closer to home.
Three Judea Project participants listen to instruction from one of the volunteers.The Judea Project pairs Baptist associations and churches from across South Carolina to meet the ministry needs in local communities. For four weeks this summer, Screven Baptist Association provided mission opportunities in St. George, Harleyville, Summerville and other areas. In just the second year of the Judea Project, nearly 350 people participated.
“Judea Project was created as a way to help churches in South Carolina partner together to reach communities,” said Tim Rice, mobilization strategist for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
This year, outreach efforts included sports camps, multi-housing ministry, block parties, nursing home ministry, and ministry to youth in a girls group home. Participants included First Baptist, Greer; Chestnut Ridge, Laurens; Riverland Hills, Irmo; Black Creek, Darlington; First Baptist, Taylors; Pleasant Ridge, Walhalla; Fort Mill (Victory Sports Camp); Shiloh, Aiken; Screven, Georgetown; and Marion Association.
Rice says that South Carolina churches often have a hard time finding mission opportunities in the state. The Judea Project, as part of a larger Acts 1:8 strategy, connects churches with mission needs.
Knightsville Baptist Church in Summerville hosted three weeks of free sports camps in their community. Summerville is listed as the fastest-growing area of the state, and a surge of housing developments have provided many ministry opportunities for the association and the church. Each week of camp averaged 60 local children in attendance.
Youth from Taylors First Baptist led week-three participants in basketball drills, water games, trust-walk activities and team building. Groups of volunteers and children dotted an open field next to the church.
“This was such an answer to prayer,” said Brenda Jackson, Screven Association church and community ministry director, surveying the camp.
Each day, participants could hear the plan of salvation using sports and character development analogies. More than 130 people ranging in age from 6 to 94 accepted Christ during the Judea Project.
Screven Association is hoping to continue next summer the foundation established this summer by mission volunteers and local churches.
For more information on the Judea Project, contact Tim Rice in the SCBC’s missions mobilization group at (800) 723-7242, ext. 5624.