The North Greenville University Campus Band was birthed in August. The band plays contemporary praise and worship music at chapel and other venues. Jared Barber, class of 2009, is music director for the band. During his student days, Barber led the Joyful Sound band and after graduation, he toured with the Christian group “Chasen.”
Volunteers from Laurens Association held “Big Apple Adventure” Vacation Bible School Aug. 1-5 for 140 special needs adults at Evergreen Skills in Laurens.
Shannon Faulkner (right), pastor of Fairview Church in Kinards, was the winner of the Faster Pastor Race held recently at Laurens Race Track. More than 75 members of the Fairview congregation came out to support their pastor. Pictured with Faulkner are Todd Wingard, Bo Baker, Richard Johnson and David Baker.
The youth and children who attended Vacation Bible School at Pine Grove Church, Santee Association, made church birdhouses and other crafts during the week.
Two South Carolina Baptist churches from the Upstate – New Hope in Mauldin and Standing Springs in Simpsonville – joined another church in the community on a mission trip to Ecuador June 25-July 4. While there, the team visited local schools, held Vacation Bible School in area churches, and sponsored a teen camp.
First Church, North Myrtle Beach, held its annual ocean baptism Aug. 28, with 15 people being baptized by John Gambrell and Dwain Hayes.
The youth at Fairview Church, Kinards, held Vacation Bible School at Garden City Chapel in July.
Lauren Simpson, of Iva First Church, made 100 witnessing dolls to share with abused children through area agencies. She spent more than 83 hours making the dolls as part of a Girl Scout service project. Simpson learned about making the dolls for use on mission trips through her church’s WMU. The church’s missions groups have distributed more than 1,000 dolls through personal witnessing encounters. A 2011 graduate of Crescent High School, Simpson was awarded the Gold Award, the highest achievement within Girl Scouts of America.
Rising Sun Church, a new church plant housed in an apartment complex in Myrtle Beach, recently held Vacation Bible School, with 23 in attendance and seven decisions for Christ. The church, pastored by Tom Sees, has applied for membership in Carolina Association.
Sand Hill Church, Kershaw, recently recognized four members for “special service and dedication.” Pastor Chadwick Ivester presented each honoree with a plaque. Recipients included: Hugh Fletcher, for seven years as groundskeeper; Asa McKittrick, for eight years as Sunday school director; Patricia Stover for 15 years as typist; and Laura Faile, for 23 years as church clerk.
A mission team from Carolina Association traveled to Jenkins, Ky., in July to help with several projects in that community. The group did construction work, held two backyard Bible clubs, a free car wash and a baby shower for a needy family. They also ministered at a local nursing home and held a block party, where free food, games and a gospel presentation were provided. In addition, the team gave away 200 bookbags that were donated by Carolina Association churches. Pictured at the block party are director of missions Alvin Jackson, giving a “cool drink in Jesus’ name,” and missions development director Shawn Griffin praying with a woman.
Pastor Mike Kinlaw and 40 members from Bethlehem Church, Conway, traveled to Cleveland, Tenn., in July for a mission trip. The team held two Vacation Bible Schools and did construction work on three houses. They also held a block party for the community, which resulted in 26 professions of faith. The group plans to return to Cleveland next summer.
Matthew Lancaster, right, was baptized on Aug. 21 at Nebo Church, Brittons Neck. He made a profession of faith while on a mission trip to Red Springs, N.C., with the Marion Association mission team. Pictured with Lancaster is pastor Luford Pope.
Harmony Church, Hickory Grove, was recently recognized by the North American Mission Board for being the 2010 top-ranked church in per capita giving for York Association. Harmony Church was established in 1995.
Frances Brickle, a pastor’s wife and resident at Bethea Baptist Retirement Community, celebrated her 100th birthday recently with fellow members from First Church, Lake City. Her late husband, Archie, was pastor of Lake City from 1946-1963 and was a former administrator at Bethea.
On Aug. 7, more than 80 members of Providence Church, Orangeburg, led by pastor Kimmett L. Lott, assembled at the Edisto River Park to commune and to baptize new members. The late-afternoon event featured a picnic, bluegrass-style gospel music and outdoor preaching. Two Christian motorcycle groups – Lexington Baptist Life Riders and White Pond Baptist Riders – also attended and offered free rides. Seven new members were baptized in the Edisto River. In 1867, Providence was the first Baptist church to be established in the 25-mile area between Bull Swamp and Buckhead.
Harris Church, Greenwood, recently honored LaNelle Grubbs for 40 years of service as church pianist. Grubbs also serves as WMU director, TEL Sunday school class teacher and chairwoman of the benevolence committee. In addition, she volunteers once a week at the Greater Greenwood United Ministry Free Clinic after working full-time at David Crotts and Associates Insurance Company as office manager/insurance agent. Grubbs and her husband Dan have two daughters and four grandchildren. Pictured with her is Frank Thomas, pastor of Harris Church for 32 years. s
Mt. Zion Church, Great Falls, held Vacation Bible School July 24-29, with the theme “Big Apple Adventure.” Grover Johnson is pastor of Mt. Zion.