The Shades of REaD Book Club at Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path (an outreach of the church’s WMU) meets once a month to share thoughts about a book that all of the ladies have read – and to minister to their community. At their Dec. 7 meeting, the club members not only discussed Christian books, but also used their time to cook vegetable soup and cornbread for shut-ins. Pictured are (left to right) Nancy Hodges, Linda Martin, Judy Craft, Sara Wilson, Evelyn Ashley, Linda Branyon and Patsy Martin.
The Royal Ambassadors from Home Branch Baptist Church, in Santee Baptist Association, recently collected canned goods for the Pine Grove emergency food pantry, also in Santee Association. Pictured are some of the RAs with their donations.
The historical committee of Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union, was among several who were recognized by the History Committee of the South Carolina Baptist Convention at the annual meeting in November for its new church history. Receiving a certificate of recognition are committee members Mary Jo Sanders, Betty Jo Lawson and Jack Burnett.
Four Charleston Southern University criminal-justice students and their professor, Beverley Spitler, recently hauled a car full of toys, games, stuffed animals and toiletries to the Summerville Police Department Victim Services Center. The students spent several weeks collecting the gifts from classmates. Pam Stonier (CSU ’98), who has served at the center for more than 12 years, welcomed the needed gifts. She said the majority of the contacts she receives are sad cases – children who are removed from their homes, abused women, the unemployed, the homeless. Lester Claytor, a sophomore from Hopkins, said, “There is no feeling like the one you get when you touch someone else’s life and bring them joy.” Pictured, from left: Claytor, Dorothy Souder of Summerville, Chris Dease of Camden, Morgan Mintz of Holly Hill, and Stonier.
Members of Dillon First Baptist Church recently sponsored a block party for a subdivision in their community. From sack races to face painting, hot dogs and helium balloons, the party provided activities for all ages – while the church’s evangelism team and praise team, along with the Celebration Choir, shared the good news of Jesus Christ in word and song. More than 200 volunteers and guests attended the block party.
Members of First Baptist Church, Harleyville, recently continued their annual tradition of assisting with parking cars at “A Connie Maxwell Christmas.” Pictured are (front row, l to r) Gayle Taylor, Charles Ackerman, Delores Ackerman, Michelle Wiles, Bonnie Parker and Carol Dantzler; (back row) L.B. Taylor, Cooper Quattlebaum, pastor Martin Wiles, B.W. Parker, Tyler Walters, Brent Dantzler, Elaine Quattlebaum and Andrew Dantzler.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Conway, held a baptism service on Dec. 12. Pictured are baptismal candidate Keith Stalvey (seated) and deacon chairman Bill Gause.
Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, Anderson, held a surprise celebration for retiring pastor Danny Gray on Dec. 19, when the church’s new education and office building was dedicated in his honor. The majority of Gray’s ministry has been as a pastor, having served Arkwright Baptist Church in Spartanburg, Whitefield Baptist Church in Belton, Brushy Creek Baptist Church in Easley, Park Street Baptist Church in Columbia, and Mt. Tabor. He also served churches in Georgia and Louisiana and was a full-time evangelist for six years. He plans to continue preaching revivals and to serve churches through pulpit supply or interim pastorates.
To reach out to unchurched children in the community, Fairview Baptist Church, Kinards, holds an annual fall festival. This season’s event was well attended. Two Fairview members, Jackie Oxner and Billy Willingham, donned “yesteryear wear” to welcome the children.
Fairview Baptist Church, Kinards, recently recognized longtime member Frank Johnson for 39 years of perfect Sunday school attendance.
Members of Union Baptist Church, Marion Baptist Association, recently presented a check to Hands of Faith soup kitchen in Marion to help feed the needy in their community. Hands of Faith is located at Marion Baptist Church, also in Marion Association, and is manned by area volunteers. Pictured are several Union Baptist members who delivered the gift to Hands of Faith.
Patsy Waters (right), WMU director at Camden First Baptist Church, recently presented a check for $10,000 to David George, president of the WMU Foundation, WMU-SBC, in Birmingham, Ala. The gift is designated for the Joy Fund and will help to ensure a secure financial base for WMU today and into the future. It came from the estate of the late Maxine Mullen, a former president of Day Baptist Women at Camden First Baptist. An additional $40,000 gift from Mullen’s estate will be used for a mission project at Camden First Baptist.