May 18 was Sadie Robinson Day at Sisk Memorial Baptist Church, Fort Mill. Robinson retired as secretary/receptionist of the church after 50 years of service. She was honored during morning worship and given letters of appreciation from York Baptist Association, state Sen. Wes Hayes, and Fort Mill mayor Danny Funderburk. With Robinson are pastor Larry Harrison, right, and Funderburk.
The South Carolina Baptist Ministry Assistants Association met May 15-16 for their state meeting at First Baptist Church, Greenville. New officers are (back row, l to r) Murfi Lockhart, Lynn Burdette, Dianne Cockrell and Joyce Sudduth; (front row, l to r) Melissa Hood, Pam Cashatt and Brenda Barnes. Not pictured: Bonnie Strickland and Rose Swann. Former president Gloria Sargent, who passed away due to cancer last August, was remembered during the meeting.
Rebekka Sheppard and Julie Roark from Antioch Baptist Church, Blacksburg, both made state winner in State Bible Drills held in April at First Baptist Church, Simpsonville. Diane Cashion is the Bible drill leader.
Six men from Memorial Baptist Church, St. George, traveled to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood May 8-9 to paint a newly covered equipment barn. From left: Basil Killion, Herbie Patrick, Walter Myers, George Axson, John Carpenter, and pastor Clay Shook. Not pictured is Brad Martin from Connie Maxwell, who assisted in the work.
Madison Brock, daughter of Jimmy and Laverne Brock, was recently recognized for her dedication to missions at First Baptist Church, Whitmire, when she was presented her Girls in Action advancement badges. During the morning service, Madison was recognized for studying about international, North American, and state missions by praying, giving, and participating in the work of the church. One of her badges was for meeting one of several missionaries who have visited First Baptist Church. Alice Wicker and Donna Bumgarner, GA leaders, as well as her mother and father, have worked with her to help her learn scripture and study the lives of great missionaries. She and other GAs collected toys, school supplies, and toiletry items for the children in Ukraine.
The Girls in Action at Reedy Creek Baptist Church, Marion, held a chef’s party May 10 and cooked 160 brownies and 160 cookies. They packaged one of each in a zip lock bag and handed them out to each person attending services on Mother’s Day. Their efforts resulted in $217 in donations for the Mother’s Day Offering for Bethea Baptist Home in Darlington, which was given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hunsucker. The project also enabled the girls to earn their Chef’s Badge and a hardback Better Homes Junior cookbook.
Springdale Baptist Church, West Columbia, held baptism for 20 people – 11 adults and nine children, ranging from ages 5 to 70. Six weeks ago, using the theme, “The Deeply Committed Church,” from the State Evangelism Conference, the church set a goal to baptize eight people on May 18. Within three weeks the goal was increased to 18, and on May 18, 20 people were candidates for baptism. Tommy McGill is pastor of Springdale.
The “Crafters for Christ” recently delivered 67 crocheted caps to the McLeod Cancer Clinic in Florence. The WMU group of Rose Hill Baptist Church, Georgetown, also has had requests for caps from the Seafarers Ministry in Georgetown as well as the Tidelands Hospice House in Georgetown. From left: Jean Fisher; Bonnie Tanner; Gwen Lowry, director of the McLeod Cancer Clinic; Diana Tripp; Emily Tanner; and Sharon James, volunteer coordinator. Samantha Poston, Sherri Baxley, and Ryndie Williams (not pictured) are also participating in the project.
The Mission Friends of Winfield Heights Baptist Church, Williston, are shown above with the food they collected for “Winter Warm-Up” for the church food pantry. More than 100 items were donated to help the group with their mission project. From left: Jarrett Wooten, Chara Wooten, and Riley Anderson. Also participating was Nathan Moody. Leaders are Gloria Landis, Martha Ann Williams, and Judy Barnette.
James Hawthorn, fifth from left, celebrated his 50th birthday April 29. Joining him were members of his Sunday school class and the choir of Harris Baptist Church, Greenwood, where he is the teacher of the Master’s Disciples Sunday School Class and choir director.
Frankie Tanner (in first picture, at left), pastor of Mechanicsville Baptist Church, Darlington, conducted baptism for five people May 25. Jacob Heatherly (in second picture, at right) Mechanicsville’s youngest preacher-in-training, assists in the May 26 baptism of J.C. Pearson, which was held in Black Creek.
Gwen McLeese was recently honored by Andersonville Baptist Church, Anderson, on her 25th anniversary as church pianist. With her is pastor Bruce Evans.
The Marion Baptist Associational WMU spring meeting was held April 7 at McMillan Baptist Church, Marion. Jean Pace, director of WMU at Nebo Baptist Church, Britton’s Neck, received the award for numerical growth of 500 percent for the year 2007-08. She also received the AAA Award. With Pace is Candace Capps, WMU director for Marion Association.
First Baptist Church, Westminster, broke ground May 25 for a multi-purpose facility/family life center. The facility will include educational space and a full-court gymnasium. Participants, below, include members of the facilities planning committee, church staff, trustees, and the Westminster city council. Craig Canton, far right, is pastor of First Baptist.