Pacolet First Baptist Church celebrated homecoming on Oct. 21 with guest speaker Glenn Rusher and special music by Ronnie Bright. Pictured from left are Rusher, pastor Tommy Sparks, and Bright.
More than 200 Royal Ambassador boys and their leaders participated in RA Day activities at North Greenville University Nov. 3. After a football game that saw North Greenville defeat Wingate University, the RAs were welcomed onto the field to meet the players.
First Baptist Church, Abbeville, recognized Dewey Goin, left, for 28 years of service as Royal Ambassadors leader. He has also served as deacon and Sunday school teacher, as well as on numerous church committees. Goin and his wife, Betty, have been members of Abbeville First Baptist for more than 55 years. Presenting a plaque of appreciation to Goin is Barry Kinard, current RA leader.
The Mission Friends of Fairview Baptist Church, Spartanburg, saved their coins for more than two months to give an offering to a current Acteen and a former Acteen who were scheduled to travel to Haiti earlier this month. The young women were part of Fairview’s “Jesus4Haiti” mission trip, where a team of 14 members worked on a variety of projects, including construction, volunteering in an orphanage, preaching and teaching. Brenda Cooksey and Jennifer Oglesby are Mission Friends leaders at Fairview. Pictured are the Mission Friends presenting a check to the young women.
Members of Rising Sun Community Church, Carolina Association, and three other churches traveled to Jamaica in early November for a mission trip. In addition to construction work, the group ministered at a rest home and a public school and distributed Bibles, tracts and eyeglasses. Tom Sees, pastor of Rising Sun, led the trip, his 27th, to the region.
Members of NewKirk Baptist Church, Rock Hill, in cooperation with the Rock Hill Housing Authority, recently spent a day painting the home of an elderly citizen. The project was part of the “Rolling in Rock Hill” emphasis.
Elim Baptist Church, Effingham, celebrated its 226th anniversary in a special worship service on Oct. 14. Scott Wiggins, who grew up at Elim and now serves as associate pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethtown, Ky., was guest speaker. Pictured, from left: deacon chairman Wilbur M. Ham Jr., Wiggins, and Elim pastor Ken Moore.
Buffalo Baptist Church, Kershaw, celebrated Nov. 18 with seven baptisms. Pictured with pastor James A. Way (second from right) are those who were baptized, along with Jon Parker (third from right) and his son Noah, who also participated in the baptism service. During the altar call, two more professed faith in Christ and will be baptized at a later date.
The GAs of Eureka Baptist Church, Anderson, have created a large poster to remind themselves and others to “be a guiding light and show people the light of Christ,” said their director, Joy Vaughn. “The poster has been a wonderful witnessing tool to every person who passes it,” Vaughn said. The Eureka GA group has grown from three to six members in the last two months.
A shower and laundry unit from Waccamaw Association is stationed in North Brunswick, N.J., as part of South Carolina Baptists’ response to Hurricane Sandy. The unit arrived Nov. 3 with volunteers Jane Sluder, Ernie Sluder, Deana Altman, Larry Moore and Brenda Pruett, who served through Nov. 9. Another team, with Legrand Floyd, Nell Vereen, Billy Rogers and Billy Barker served a second week, and a third team departed Nov. 16 to replace the returning second team.
A healthy team rivalry exists at Congaree Baptist Church, West Columbia. Some members of the congregation are diehard Clemson fans, while others are devoted South Carolina supporters. For several weeks, both groups donated either peanut butter (for Carolina) or jelly (for Clemson), with each side vying to give the most. The competition concluded on Nov. 18 with the final tally: peanut butter, 27 gallons; jelly, 67 gallons. The real winners are Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, the church’s food pantry and local ministries.
Mechanicsville Baptist Church, Welsh Neck Association, has baptized 16 new members during the church’s 2012 fiscal year. Pastor Frankie Tanner has served at Mechanicsville Church for the past 16 years.
Members of Beaver Creek Baptist Church, Neeses, recently restored Old Beaver Creek and added benches and flowers for the community. Kenneth Davis donated his time and his bulldozer to remove debris from the creek, and the church’s Children in Action raked and cleaned the yard. Church member Ricky Williamson is pictured beside Old Beaver Creek. Also pictured are members who recently participated in a groundbreaking for an addition to their current fellowship hall.
A team of 25 South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers joined with a group from Pennsylvania to help prepare meals for Hurricane Sandy victims in Hammonton, N.J., on Oct. 31. Pictured are seven team members from Allendale-Hampton Association: (front row) Gretchen Blakeney and Sharon Blakeney; (back row) Bernie Richburn, Don Blakeney, Joe Smith, Pete Brunson and Ernest Williams.
Evergreen Baptist Church, Effingham, hosted a community Thanksgiving service with four area churches on Nov. 18. Worshipers gave an offering of $663 for Lighthouse Ministries and canned goods for Harvest Hope Food Bank. From left: Tyler Suggs, speaker; Randy Ward, musician; and Quinn Hooks, pastor.
The congregation of Springfield First Baptist Church honored retiring pastor Stephen Gantt, left, and his wife, Martha, on Oct. 28. Gantt came to Springfield First Baptist as interim pastor in 2003 and was called as pastor the following year. He was instrumental in starting the annual Edisto Area Tent Revival, which has been held each May for the past eight years. Pictured with the Gantts are deacon chairman Wayne Furtick and his wife, Julia.
The Women on Mission group of First Baptist Church, Gaston, recently served their community by making 13 baby blankets. Many of the women in the group had no sewing experience. Seven more hand-crocheted blankets were donated, and two more were finished at home. The blankets will go to expectant mothers through Palmetto Health’s “Healthy Start” prenatal care program.