Three and a half years of planning followed by two years of construction have paid off. On Aug. 27, the members of North Side Baptist Church in Greenwood will move into their 1,200 seat worship facility.
“We are excited that God has given us this opportunity,” said the pastor, Jeff Lethco. “We must remember that this building is just a tool to be used for our members to invest their lives in others who have no church home, and invite them to join us as we continue to discover God’s plan for all of our lives.”
What the church is calling a “Discover North Side” grand opening of its new facilities will feature two conferences in September, one featuring a former television star and the other aimed at pastors along with church staff and lay leaders from across the state.
Christian speaker and author Lisa Whelchel, widely known for her role in the 1980s TV hit, “The Facts of Life,” will lead a conference on Sept. 6 entitled “The Facts of Life … For Raising Kids.”
Whelchel gave up her career in Hollywood to become a stay-at-home mother of three children. Her experiences as a wife and mother gave birth to her current ministry of offering a break to mothers who are stressed out and overworked.
She has been featured in magazines and radio programs such as James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family.” She has gained a national platform for helping mothers and others who deal daily with children with practical, biblical advice for rearing responsible children.
A second conference, called “Transitions,” is set for Sept. 27, is set in cooperation with the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s church development team.
Lisa Whelchel“Whether we realize it or not,” said Lethco, “all churches, regardless of their size, history, worship style and location, are in transition.” The North Side pastor noted, “Either we lead this transition or we will allow the transition to lead us.”
Calling the Sept. 27 meeting a “conference for our peers,” Lethco expressed his hope that “many pastors will come to Greenwood and bring leaders with them so that we can address the reality of this important issue.”
He said the conference also will call attention to the “detrimental effects” suffered by churches which have failed to face the issue of transition.