After last month’s tornadoes, Beaverdam Association’s mission center began filling up with diapers, baby food, formula, wipes, canned goods, deodorant, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, shampoo and rubber storage containers. A local business made available a tractor-trailer and a driver. On May 12, director of missions David Shirley led a small group of volunteers to Birmingham, Ala. “Words cannot describe the reaction of the volunteers as the doors of that tractor-trailer were opened and they saw the contents,” said Shirley. Churches and individuals also gave more than $15,000 for tornado relief. In addition, on May 2, Beaverdam Association’s disaster relief team was deployed to Trenton, Ga., also heavily damaged by tornadoes.
The staff and residents of Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community in Laurens recently contributed more than $3,800 to South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging’s Mother’s Day Offering to support retired Baptist ministers, missionaries and their spouses.
The congregation of Kilbourne Park Church, Columbia, designated May 1 as “Margaret Hallman Day” to honor their longtime organist/pianist for 45 years of service. Music minister Gene Gray and associate pastor Stuart Thompson paid tribute to Hallman by chronicling some of her accomplishments, which included 18,720 hymns, 1,080 weddings and around 540 Wednesday night choir rehearsals. More than 40 members of Hallman’s family, from several states, were in attendance. Following the service, a special dinner was held in her honor.
Memorial Church, St. George, held a special service on May 15 to recognize minister of music David Driggers and his wife Lindsay for seven years of service. They recently moved to Wake Forest, N.C., where he will attend Southeastern Seminary. In addition to presenting them with a love offering and a luncheon, the congregation also committed to give them additional love offerings each quarter for the next year. Pictured are David Driggers, pastor Clay Shook, and Lindsay Driggers.
The student ministry of Juniper Bay Church, Conway, held a Disciple Now weekend April 29-May 1. The event, which focused on collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for the church food pantry, resulted in donation of more than 720 items.
First Bethany Church, McCormick, recently licensed Jordan Wilson to the ministry. He currently serves as youth pastor at First Bethany. Pictured with Wilson, right, is pastor Brian Rackley.
Latta Church, in Pee Dee Association, recently sponsored a concert by the New Vision choral group from Charleston Southern University. Pictured at the April 3 event is Ashelynn Pierce (front right), daughter of pastor Rob Pierce, along with members of New Vision.
The congregation of Maple Church in Conway broke ground for a new fellowship hall on May 1. Bibles were placed at the four corners of the building to symbolize God’s Word as the foundation on which the church has been built, and a prayer of dedication concluded the service. Participants included building committee members David Victoria, David Long, Neil Allsbrook (deacon chairman), Alan Jordan, David Norris, Angie Johnson, Keith Benton (building committee chairman), and pastor Gary Reeves.
Eight children from Starr Church participated in the Church Children’s Bible Drill on April 13. Pictured from left are Jaiden Shea (3rd grade), Cassidy Clark (2nd grade), Brensyn Marcengill (3rd grade), Audree Vaughn (1st grade), Rebecca Bannister (3rd grade), Cason McGee (1st grade), Peighton McDaniels (3rd grade), and Carson Shea (4th grade), who also represented Starr Church in the Saluda Associational Children’s Bible Drill at First Church, Anderson, on April 17.
The Brotherhood of Lake Wateree Church, Ridgeway, sponsored their third annual fishing tournament on May 7 for children ages 4-14. More than 150 participants – which included parents, grandparents and children – enjoyed a day of fishing, fun, food, and a gospel presentation. Gifts donated by Lake Wateree members and others included four new bicycles, gift cards valued at more than $500, and assorted fishing gear – and prizes were awarded to four age-group categories. Participation in the tournament has quadrupled since its inception. Bobby Miller is Brotherhood director and Ron Gregory is pastor at Lake Wateree.
North Conway Church, Conway, sponsored D-NOW, a weekend worship and mission event for youth. Guest speaker for the event was Chris Cox of Concoxions Ministries, and special music was provided by Russell and Kristie Johnson. Student volunteers from Anderson and Charleston Southern universities led Bible study. The youth worked on home improvements for two families in the community as their mission project.
The youth of Mt. Beulah Church, Windsor, recently participated in a 30-hour famine and world hunger emphasis sponsored by World Vision. In addition to fasting for 30 hours, the group also provided bag lunches for ER waiting room guests in their community, designed a large banner that read “One fingerprint, one dollar, one child fed for a day,” and raised a total of $1,866.56 for world hunger.