Cliff Satterwhite, a familiar face to thousands of South Carolina Baptists after 50 years of denominational leadership, retired May 15.

Satterwhite began his ministry in churches as a youth and recreation minister and later served as campus minister at Anderson College (now Anderson University). He recently concluded his career as field ambassador/coordinator for the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina.

He is widely known for his leadership as director of McCall Royal Ambassador Camp for boys and for his work as founder and director of South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief, a mobilizing network of trained volunteers from South Carolina churches and associations.

Satterwhite, 70, has served the Baptist Foundation in a part-time capacity for the last six years. Reflecting on having been “an ambassador for Christ my entire life,” Satterwhite said it has been “an honor to serve Christ with so many wonderful people.”

Nathan McCarthy, Baptist Foundation president and CEO, said Satterwhite is “a special blessing to an untold number of young campers and disaster relief volunteers, not to mention every additional person he has touched with God’s Spirit along the way.”

“Cliff’s network of friends in this state is massive, and he has been instrumental in strengthening the foundation’s ministry through his ability to connect with people,” McCarthy said. “He will be greatly missed by our staff and friends.”

Satterwhite and his wife, Barbara, moved to Powdersville recently to be close to family, and he said they look forward to being active in Mt. Airy Baptist Church as well as spending special time with their children and grandchildren.