During the 192nd annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee presented its annual awards.
The 2012 E.A. McDowell Award was presented to Winn Freeman of Travelers Rest. Freeman is the founder of Wisdom in Living Life Ministry, a Christ-centered addiction ministry that exists to educate, equip and empower God’s people to effectively reach individuals and families who are imprisoned by the sins of drug and alcohol addiction.
As a “former heroin addict and drunk,” Freeman founded the ministry in 2000. He developed the Beyond Recovery campus, a 45-acre complex for recovering addicts, in Travelers Rest. When completed, the facility will have fully operational living and training space for men going through the addiction program. He has partnered with South Carolina Baptist churches and taught many the principles on which his ministry is based.
The 2012 Impact Your World Award was presented to Macedonia Baptist Church in Columbia. Patrick Dye is pastor. In 2001, the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee decided to honor one church in the state each year whose members make every effort to go outside the church walls to meet people’s needs and share Christ. The church must be actively involved in addressing local social or moral issues.
With a congregation of 20 members, Macedonia hosts a booth at the South Carolina State Fair each October, invites its community to the church property for the distribution of clothes, food and school supplies, and supports pro-life initiatives in the state.
The 2012 Public Service Award, a new award, was presented to South Carolina Rep. Greg Delleney of Chester. Delleney has served in the House since 1991 and is regarded as a leading pro-life advocate, sponsoring or advocating pro-life legislation. During his tenure, he has supported the following legislation: Woman’s Right To Know, Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Choose Life Tag, Ultrasound Act, and the 24-Hour Waiting Period Act. – SCBC