First Baptist Church, Cleveland, held a groundbreaking ceremony on March 13 for its new recreation center, which is scheduled for completion in the fall. The facility will include a full basketball court, concession area, and space for a large youth room.
Grace Baptist Church of Duncan celebrated Scout Sunday on February 6. Pictured, from left: (front row) Mitchell Mccabee and Madison Mccabee; (back row) Aaron Scarbro, pastor Danny Monroe and Austin Scarbro.
The youth of Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union, recently attended the Chilipepper youth conference in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Robert Scott, left, spoke about the evangelism course, “Way of the Master,” recently at Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union. He is pictured with Padgett’s Creek pastor Carroll Caldwell.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Conway, held a baptism service Jan. 16. Pictured are baptismal candidates (standing) Greg Kurtz, left, and Sherri Dye; (seated) Heather Dye. Also pictured is deacon Bill Gause.
Ryan Alexander was recently ordained to the ministry by First Baptist Church, North, where he had been serving as student minister. Pictured with Alexander (second from right) and his wife, Kim, are Tim Rice, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Fairburn, Ga., who gave the charge, and Sam Fordham, pastor of First Baptist, who presented Alexander with a study Bible.
The students of Kelleytown Baptist Church, Hartsville, recently went on their annual winter retreat to Winterplace, W.Va. The theme for the retreat was “Feeling the Chill,” said youth pastor Daniel Henderson.
Members of the prayer shawl ministry of First Baptist Church, Johnsonville, who meet on the second Tuesday of each month, recently made about 200 afghans for a nursing home. Other projects include making aprons for the workers who prepare food for the needy and homeless and collecting canned goods for the kitchen.
Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path, recently sponsored a bike-a-thon to raise money for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The event took place on March 16 from 4-6 p.m., followed by a church-wide hot dog supper.
The Girls in Action of Gaston First Baptist Church hosted a tea party for breast cancer survivors. Margie Rish, GA director, said the girls and the cancer survivors “had a wonderful time sharing with one another.”
The children’s department of First Baptist Church of Lowrys signed, addressed and mailed 72 cards in their community to share the love of Jesus for Children’s Ministry Day. They led in the morning worship service with prayer, songs, scripture verses and the children’s sermon.
John Rogers, center, youth pastor at Reedy Creek Baptist Church, Marion, was licensed to the ministry by the church on March 13. Pictured with Rogers is his wife, Lorie Ann, and Reedy Creek pastor Darrell Floyd.
The Hands for Jesus mission group at Latta Baptist Church recently sponsored a church-wide mission project to collect baby clothes for a Florence organization that counsels unwed mothers. Other Latta WMU groups furnished items to fill gift bags for the mothers. Pictured with the donated items is Latta WMU director Betty Jo Johnson.
M&M Kids (music and missions) from Harmony Baptist Church, Edgemoor, visited the residents at Helms-Gordon Nursing Home in Fort Lawn for Children’s Ministry Day on Feb. 19. The children sang for the residents and presented handmade cards, magnets and gift bags of personal items. Pictured are (front row, seated) Reagan Ware, Ryan Ware, Becky Pruette, Lisa Pruette and Caitlynn Ashe; (standing) Pam Guinn, Kelly Ware and Linda Roberts.
When Shannon Faulkner, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, Kinards, casually volunteered to sing a song and kiss a donkey if high-attendance day at the church drew 150 worshipers (normal attendance is around 75), church members accepted the challenge and swung into action. When the big day came on March 6, even the cold wind and rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the 225 people who showed up for Sunday school.
Youth and adults from Black Creek Baptist Church, Walterboro, recently visited “Victory House” to distribute care packages and visit the residents there. The trip to the local veterans’ home was planned during the church’s Mission Focus week.
“Although everything around us seems to be falling apart, lost people are still being saved and need to be baptized,” said Frankie Tanner, right, pastor of Mechanicsville Baptist Church in Welsh Neck Association. As evangelism coordinator for the association, Tanner said he desires for Mechanicsville Baptist to be a role model for GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) and to baptize again on Easter. He said two more people have been saved since this January baptism service.
The youth of Reedy Creek Baptist Church in Marion attended the UPRising youth conference in Myrtle Beach in March. While there, they participated in beach ministry, handing out gospel tracts and inviting people to services.
In 2005, a group of women primarily from North First Baptist, St. Matthews First Baptist and Swansea First Baptist churches met to raise money for Bibles. They had read about Bibles being needed in South Africa and discussed ideas of ways to raise funds and came up with “Flowers for Bibles.” They all had flowers in their yards and decided to pot some of their plants and sell them. They have since raised thousands of dollars for Bibles and medical supplies and to help orphanages in Kenya. The ladies have built hot houses and even put down a well and an irrigation system to make sure their plants and flowers survive the hot summer and cold winter. They sell a variety of shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. The next sale is planned for the Orangeburg Fair Grounds April 8-9.