The Multi-Focus Missionary Group of Mountain Rest Baptist Church, Beaverdam Baptist Association, organized a church-wide drive to help the Red Cross office in Walhalla with “comfort kits.” Sixty-nine kits – which include a washcloth, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb and hairbrush, and a bar of soap – were assembled by the church for families who have lost their homes to fires, tornadoes, or other disasters. Pictured are Eleanor Cobb, Multi-Focus facilitator; Kathy Rogers-Watson, local Red Cross chapter director; and Janie Wilbanks, Mission Action leader.
Six men and two women from Inspiration Baptist Church, Rock Hill, traveled to Camp McCall April 18 to help get the camp ready for summer. The group worked on a ramp, put siding on cabins, cut trees, gathered brush and did other odd jobs. Participants included Bob Phillips, Jesse Agers, Mike Howe, Michael and Christy Ervin, Becky Porter, Jimmy Wood and Hernan Bustos.
On March 22, more than 130 family and friends gathered at Beaver Creek Baptist Church to celebrate the 80th birthday of Frances Wallace Wylie Williams. Not only has “Miss Frances” been a member of Beaver Creek Baptist Church all of her life, she has also served as the church organist/pianist, Vacation Bible School director, WMU director and Sunday school teacher. Special music for the worship service was provided by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her granddaughter Abby, a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ, brought the message. Following a lunch provided by the family, her children presented her with a memory quilt of her life. She said her goal in life continues to be to serve Christ and to encourage those around her to love and serve the Lord.
Matlock Baptist Church, Jackson, recently held groundbreaking for a renovation program. The sanctuary will double in size and add more than 100 seats. Construction began March 29 and is expected to be completed by the end of August. Pictured, from left: Christy Andrews, Kevin Creamer, Creight Henderson, Jody Webb, survey committee chairman Danny Minolfo, associate pastor Brian Henderson, senior pastor Mark Riser, chairman of deacons Bruce Goff, JoJo Crumley and Larry Liles.
The Children in Action/KidLink group from Graham Baptist Church, Sumter, recently visited a horse farm after studying about the “Happy Trails Ministry” and how people travel to horse shows and rodeos to tell others about Jesus. The children learned about different types of horses, how to care for them and how to prepare for a horse show. They were taught how to brush a horse, clean their hooves, and muck the stalls. They were also shown the different steps involved in saddling a horse and putting on the bridle. It was a hands-on experience that made the “Happy Trails Ministry” more real to them. Pictured, front row: Hunter Lew, Tripp Hudson, Riley McDuffie, Jake Hudson, Jamie Michelle Newman; middle row: Reed Davis, Clayton Lowder, Ryder Hudson, Conner Lambert, Sarah Tobias, Kelliegh Lowder, Liza Lowder, Coker Lowder; back row: Elise Williams, shown sitting on “Dynamite the horse.” Directors are Gail Waynick, Jean Holladay and Barbara Reynolds.
Bethea Baptist Retirement Community, Darlington, held a rededication ceremony April 23 for its administration building. Extensive renovations were recently completed. A large crowd of residents, staff, board members and guests attended the event. Also, Durward Lewis, a 22-year trustee for South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging, was awarded trustee emeritus status. A portrait of Lewis was unveiled and will be displayed in the administrative building.
The GAs of First Baptist Church, West Columbia, assembled 65 health packs for Lexington Baptist Association to use in ministry to needy people. The packs contained a towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and a comb. Items were provided through donations by church members. GA leaders are Julie Barfield and Cheryl Simpson.
Seventy-three people attended the first Sunday school held April 26 in the new facilities of Broad River Baptist Church, Smyrna. The structure, which includes classrooms and a new nursery, is debt free.
South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities announced its fourth annual Excellence in Teaching Awards at a banquet recently held in Columbia. The award recognizes faculty from 20 independent institutions of higher learning for their scholarship and for their skill, commitment, and dedication to classroom teaching. Marianne Holland, program coordinator and professor of music education at North Greenville University, was one of the recipients. Holland, of Pickens, has completed her 14th year at NGU. She teaches piano and music methods courses for music education majors, and supervises music education student teachers.
Members of Lakewood Baptist Church, Sumter, recently washed cars to help earn money to travel to Kenya to dig wells and spread the gospel. Pictured in first photo: Shaughn Wile and some of the youth who participated. The church also dedicated a new children’s building on Easter Sunday. In second photo, Brittany Davis, on behalf of all the children of the church, thanks those who helped raise funds and provide other resources for the construction.
Mt. Elon Baptist Church, Lydia, has been hosting tee-ball games for the past two years for children ages 3-6. The idea for a tee-ball game originated in 2007, when several parents at the church organized a tee-ball game for the children of the church and decided also to invite the children of the community. Forty children signed up in the first year, and in 2008, 60 children signed up. This year there were a total of 88 children signed up, and the activity has become an outreach ministry for Mt. Elon.