Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Hamer, declared Nov. 18 to be Sarah K. Rogers Campbell Day. During morning worship, pastor Randolph Carlson presented a plaque honoring her for 60 years as pianist.
Daniel Royster, right, was ordained to the ministry Nov. 4 by Eureka Baptist Church, Anderson, where he is minister of youth and children. He and his wife Caitlin have one son, Pierce, and are expecting a second son, Cole, in February. Royster’s first baptism was his son, Pierce. Presenting a Bible in honor of Royster’s ordination is pastor Ron Fousek.
Evelyn Hall was honored last November by Beaverdam Baptist Church, Kershaw Baptist Association, for serving 50-plus years as a nursery worker and coordinator. A plaque has been placed on one of the church nursery doors in her honor.
Members of Norway Baptist Church, Orangeburg-Calhoun Baptist Association, began to participate in Operation Christmas Child – through Franklin Graham’s Samaritan Purse – in 2000 and sent 59 shoeboxes filled with candy, toys, school supplies, hygiene items, coloring books and crayons to children around the world. In the countries which allow it, the story of Christmas, written in the language of the child who will receive the box, is included. Each year since, the church has increased the number of boxes. This year, 148 boxes were delivered to the family life center of First Baptist Church, Orangeburg. Friends in the area who did not belong to the church assisted by buying items from three yard sales and two bake sales organized by Lorraine Axson and members of her family. Above, J.R. and James Canady, Lorraine Axson and Reba Canady are shown with one of the two vehicles which transported the shoeboxes.
Director of AGAPE Hispanic Bible Institute Skip Martin poses with Jose Araujo from Mexico, Hector Cruz from Honduras, Marioly Ortiz from Bolivia, and Charles Warlick from the United States, who received diplomas in Christian ministry Dec. 2. Martin, former missionary to Guatemala and current professor of religion and dean of humanities and social sciences at Charleston Southern University, founded the institute in August 2003. The purpose of AGAPE is to train believers to effectively communicate the message of the scriptures and to serve as productive leaders in local churches.
On Nov. 25, the children of Latta Baptist Church, Latta, took part in decorating a “Jesse tree.” The children were told the biblical significance of each ornament before they placed it on the tree. Pictured are the children of the older preschool department.
The women of Latta Baptist Church decorated a Chrismon tree in the sanctuary on Nov. 25. A program displaying and telling the meaning of the ornaments was held during evening worship. At right is Mabel Hicks, who helped make the original ornaments in 1986.
The youth and RAs of Beaverdam Baptist Church, Williamston, gathered items for more than a month for Operation Care, a community food bank supported by churches of Palmetto Baptist Association. The youth placed food items on the church altar and challenged other members of the church to meet or exceed their donations. After an overwhelming response, truckloads of food and monetary gifts were given to Operation Care.
Weldon Fallaw, right, president of the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina, spoke recently at Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union. With him is pastor Carrol Caldwell.
David Blackmon was recognized as deacon emeritus by Mechanicsville Baptist Church, Darlington, during homecoming services last November. The church celebrated an attendance of more than 350 and received more than $60,000 toward its building fund. Blackmon’s wife Bernice, now deceased, was brought to the service from McLeod’s Hospice House in Florence by pastor Frankie Tanner’s wife Jesse, who is the in-house chaplain at McLeod. With the Blackmons is pastor Tanner.
Salem Baptist Church, North, received a “double organ transplant” – the first given by Rev. and Mrs. Calvin Snelgrove, in memory of their son Doug Jr. to be used in youth ministry, and the second by Mary Ellen Bridges, pictured, to be used in sanctuary worship.