Sutton, Presher work with ‘Big Sky’ missions
Emily Sutton and Virginia Presher, members of Overbrook Baptist Church, Greenville, worked with the Big Sky Association in Montana for seven weeks during the summer. They taught youth camps, ministered to Northern Cheyenne at the annual Pow Wow, and led Vacation Bible School and block parties with Southern Baptist missionaries Lee Jackson and Eddie Smith.
Eleven missionaries from Matlock Baptist Church, Jackson, led by pastor Mark Riser, traveled to Jamaica July 13-20 with a group from Luther Rice University. The Matlock team united with Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, and held Vacation Bible School and revival services in which 71 people made professions of faith. The Luther Rice team, which represented five churches with more than 100 missionaries, saw 490 professions of faith.
The children’s department of Evergreen Baptist Church, Effingham, at the suggestion of church member Jerry Lee, raised money for the widows and children of the Charleston firemen who were killed in the fire in June. During Vacation Bible School, held July 22-26, director Melissa Hooks organized a competition between the boys and girls to see who could raise the most money. In a see-saw battle, the boys won. During Sunday morning services after VBS, the children brought their jars full of spare change and emptied them into a donated fireman’s boot. As a reward for their hard work, which raised $2,250, the children were taken to a baseball game July 31 to make the check presentation to fire chief Rusty Thomas, who attended to watch his son Trey. During this game, the Florence Red Wolves recognized the fallen heroes, local firefighters, and EMTs. Pictured below are the children being thanked by Chief Thomas.
A group from First Baptist Church, Batesburg, participated in a World Changers mission trip June 22-30. The youth worked at sites putting vinyl siding on a home, roofing a church, painting, repairing porches and sidewalks, and witnessing to the community. Pictured are 26 of the 28 participants. First row: Victoria Burkett, Brandon Hydrick, Alex Boatwright, Brandon James, Whitney Boatwright, Edith Leaphart (crew encourager), Jan James (crew encourager) and Madison Fox; second row: Marci McCormack, Josh Hall, Ariel Fox, Blair Kirkland, Ashleigh Padgett, Shelley Wise, Victoria Gunter, Lauren Kennedy and Randy Fox (crew chief); third row: Jamie Boland, Nathan James, Matthew DeLoach, Steve Padgett (crew chief), Brad Addy, Daniel Padgett, Chase Puryear, B.J. Hall and Mildred Long (crew chief). Not pictured: “Butterball” (crew chief and bus driver) and youth pastor Ronnie James (crew chief).
The CenterPointe youth ministry from Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Buffalo, recently attended the Union County Beach Camp at Garden City Chapel in Garden City. They received a spirit-filled week of praise and worship with Foster Christy and Jack Eason. The Sound of Light Ministry organized the Union County youth ministry event.
The youth from Northside Memorial Baptist Church, Sumter, participated in a mission trip to Mississippi in June. They did roof repair and conducted backyard Bible clubs.