The congregation of Latta Baptist Church, inspired by the Hands for Jesus WMU group, made 115 dolls for the children of Webster Springs, W.Va. Pictured with some of the dolls are several of the WMU members and pastor Rob Pierce.
Glenwood Baptist Church, Easley, recently licensed Bill Goodwin (center) as a prison ministry chaplain. Goodwin and his wife, Pam, have two daughters. His father, Bobby Goodwin, is pastor of Ruhamah Baptist Church. Pictured from left are pastor Dale McCoig, Goodwin, and deacon chairman Charles Patterson.
Good Hope Baptist Church, Conway, ordained Matt Anderson to the ministry on Sept. 26. Anderson’s home church, Salem Baptist in Aynor, joined with Good Hope for the event. He is currently serving as youth minister at Good Hope. Participating in the service were Wayne Revisky (left) pastor of Salem; Anderson; and John Sullivan, pastor of Good Hope. Not pictured: deacons Sonny Cannon, Avery Hamilton, Rodney Johnson, Jody Hamilton and Johnie Johnson.
On Nov. 10, the choir from Lancaster First Baptist Church held a rehearsal at the Morningside Assisted Living Center, where about 15-20 residents listened as the choir sang completely through its Christmas music as well as a couple of other anthems. At the end of the rehearsal, minister of music Tom Eggleston asked Ella Ruth Simpson, a resident at Morningside and former organist at Lancaster for 57 years, to accompany the group on “Amazing Grace.” Eggleston then presented her with a plaque, a card signed by choir members, and a monetary gift. Pictured, from left: Alston DeVenny, chairman of deacons; Simpson; and Eggleston.
Fellowship of Truth Baptist Church, Graniteville, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new sanctuary on Oct. 10. Participating in the groundbreaking were (l to r) Alyssa Wood, youngest member; Blondell Spradley, oldest member; and Robert Coursey, building and planning committee chairman, who are pictured with pastor Bobby Broach, second from right.
South Beltline Baptist Church, Columbia, held an ordination and installation service for Juan Carlos Martinez (left) on Sept. 4. A native of El Salvador, he began serving as pastor of Iglesia Hispana de la Comunidad, which meets at South Beltline, on July 3. Pictured with Martinez is Ruben Navarrete (right), pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista, Columbia, who brought the message for the service. Other participants included South Beltline pastor Eric Bothur and staff representatives from Columbia-Metro Baptist Association and the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Since his ordination and installation, Martinez has led the 30-member Hispanic congregation in seven baptisms, and is currently working with the South Carolina Baptist Convention to plant another Hispanic church in Orangeburg.
The congregation of New Calvary Baptist Church, Sumter, recently held a Veterans Day service, with special recognition for the 17 veterans and five widows of servicemen who are members there. Among those honored was a veteran who landed at D-Day, one who was a German POW, and several who served in World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm and the global war on terror. “This is a phenomenal number of vets and vet families for such a small church,” said Ron Underwood, retired Air Force chaplain who currently serves as pastor of the 382-member church. Pictured are some of the veterans and widows who were honored.
In top photo, Leann Cudd (left) and Larry Millstead (right) were baptized at Fairforest Baptist Church, Union, on Oct. 31. Pictured with the baptismal candidates is pastor Allen Gregory. In next photo, Julian Garner (left) and Bruce Braisington were ordained as deacons by Fairforest Baptist Church, Union, on Aug. 29. Participating in the ceremony is pastor Allen Gregory, pictured in the background. (Previously, the Courier incorrectly identified the church in both photos as Northside Baptist in Laurens. We regret the error.)
Marion Baptist Church, Marion, celebrated its 150th anniversary on Oct. 10. After the morning worship service and dinner on the grounds, the Marion Baptist Men’s Quartet provided music.
Calvary Baptist Church, Williamston, observed Charles Brooks Day on Nov. 21, in honor of his 30 years as church groundskeeper. His son, Mitch Brooks, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Belton, brought the morning message and presented a song in his honor, and other members of his family also attended the service. The church presented him with a certificate and a gift card, and planted a yellow maple tree on the front lawn to be known as “the Charles Brooks tree.” Church members also presented him with thank-you cards and gifts, and a covered dish meal was held in his honor. Pictured is Brooks placing the first shovel of dirt around the tree while the congregation looks on.
The WMU of Maple Cane Baptist Church, Cottageville, held “Here For You Day” on Nov. 13, where they volunteered to clean the yard of Pam Ferguson (standing on stairs) and presented her with a basket of candy turkeys. They were assisted by Michael Brownlee (far left), David Blocker (third from right) and Trey Blocker (second from right). WMU participants included Eva Ferguson (second from left), June Gunter, Virginia Stanfield, WMU director Joallen Winter, Alice Roberts, Rita Blocker, Trudy Kirkland and Linda Sander.
Approximately 12 years ago, Buck Creek Baptist Church, Longs, began the Storehouse Ministry to meet the needs of area families. As the members “served joyfully” through the years, the ministry began to grow – it now partners with the Low Country Food Bank and several local churches to take truckloads of food to other churches. In addition, the volunteers are able to share their “desire to help get other pantries started,” said Doris Johnson, director of Storehouse Ministry. “God is so blessing our efforts. – With strong leadership from our pastor, Larry Allen, and support from our Horry County Police, South Carolina Baptist Convention and a host of volunteers, we are all about making a difference where we are,” Johnson continued. “We see our mission field all around us.” Storehouse Ministry currently provides food and clothing for 10 families each week.
North Greenville University captured its second NCCAA title of 2010 with a 42-16 win over Campbellsville University of Kentucky in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Victory Bowl game, played before 4,130 fans at NGU’s Younts Stadium Nov. 20. The Crusaders finished the year at 9-3 and a school-record eight consecutive victories. The NGU baseball team also won an NCCAA championship in May. The NCCAA is not a conference but an association of Christian colleges. Campbellsville competes in the NAIA, while North Greenville is an NCAA Division II school.
The congregation of Nixville Baptist Church, Estill, was treated to a surprise gift from member Jimmy Wooten on Sept. 12. Wanting to do something special for his wife, Jane, in honor of their 49th wedding anniversary, Wooten asked local artist Joanne Phillips to paint a mural on the back wall of the baptismal pool as a gift to his wife and the church. The Wootens’ grandchildren and other family members were in attendance for the special occasion. In addition, the choir presented Jane Wooten, a choir member at Nixville for 49 years, with a bouquet of flowers.
The women’s group at East Side Baptist Church, Aiken – with assistance from the rest of the congregation – provided more than 50 prisoner packets on Nov. 12 to be delivered to Aiken Baptist Association for prison inmates in South Carolina.
The WMU and Men’s Ministry of Sand Hill Baptist Church, Varnville, have participated in an ongoing ministry to provide plates of food for shut-ins of the community on a monthly basis. Funds for the food come from area businesses, as well as donations of money and food from individuals. Preparing to deliver some of the food plates are (sitting, l to r) Myrtle Mixson, Mary Peeples and Douglas Willis; (standing) Sandi Cannon, Jerry Blaxton, Dennis Gibson, Ramona Willis, Billy Gooding and Patricia Terry.
Students from Charleston Southern University joined others to dedicate a Habitat for Humanity house Nov. 21 in Moncks Corner and to turn the keys over to the Cassandra Brown family. Brown and her daughters, Keyona and Mariah, worked alongside more than 300 Charleston Southern students, faculty, staff, alumni and board members to complete the house. Brown told the crowd of enduring 100-degree heat, no shade, inexperience in building and more. “It takes many hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home,” Brown said. Moncks Corner residents Johnny and Sandra Ward and their family donated the lot and provided funding for the house. Johnny Ward is a member of the Charleston Southern board of trustees. Pictured (top photo): Cassandra and Keyona Brown; (bottom photo) the Berkeley County Habitat for Humanity and Charleston Southern University house.
The kindergarten students at Kelleytown Baptist Church, Hartsville, recently held their fourth annual Spirit Week. They enjoyed dressing up each day with a different theme, while also participating in missions work – which resulted in 378 water bottles for Hartsville Fire Department, 27 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, and 210 pounds of puppy/kitty food for Darlington County animal shelter. Mary Cassady is kindergarten director at Kelleytown.
“Celebrating the Past and Planning for the Future” was the theme as Carolina Baptist Association, Loris, celebrated 100 years of ministry Nov. 7 at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Alvin Jackson, director of missions, opened the service with scripture. Earl Elvis, pastor of Glendale Baptist Church, brought the message. A historical recollection was presented by Gene Gardener, Wanda Jordan, Jim Willey and Renee Kinlaw. The choir was comprised of singers from member churches.
Broadway Lake Baptist Church, Anderson, recognized former pastor Early Tucker (second from right) as pastor emeritus on Nov. 21. He served as pastor of Broadway Lake for 25 years and retired December 2009. John Dill (far left), director of missions at Saluda Baptist Association, presented a plaque to Tucker, and former pastor Ray Lamb (far right), who was present at Tucker’s ordination service, delivered the message. They are pictured with Tucker and his wife Nancy following the service.
The Lighthouse Sunday school class at Marion Baptist Church held a soup luncheon on Oct. 24 to raise money for John and Tina Woods, Baptist Medical and Dental Alliance missionaries to Honduras. The class was scheduled to have two more soup luncheons – one in November and one in December – to raise money for local needy children.
Just in time for North Greenville University’s fall production of “A Christmas Carol,” the new W.S. and Frances Billingsley Theatre opened in early November. The building is furnished with state-of-the-art equipment, and the stage is surrounded by 230 seats, allowing for a 360-degree view. The facility is named in memory of Bill and Frances Billingsley, who were a part of the North Greenville community for many years. Bill was a student at North Greenville after being called to the ministry in 1944. “My father and mother loved North Greenville,” said the Billingsleys’ son, Jack Billingsley (pictured with his wife Patti and the cast of “A Christmas Carol”). “This school changed the direction of my family’s life, and we praise God for it.”