Hal Lane, pastor of West Side Baptist Church, Greenwood, was presented the E.A. McDowell Award at the 2006 annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Robert Dickard, left, makes the CLPA award presentation to Lane.Each year the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee presents the E. A. McDowell Award to an individual who demonstrates Christian involvement in the public arena.
Lane was nominated by Debbie Turner, a member of Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Greenwood.
“Hal has proven to be adept at identifying the rising issues that pose a threat to Christian values,” Turner said, “effectively verbalizing the vision imparted to him through the Holy Spirit, and pulling together the resources to ensure the voice of the Lord is widely heard on critical topics.
Turner said local media recognize Lane as the “go-to guy” for quotes on issues that impact families and churches.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Lane is chairman of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and chairman-elect of the trustees of The Baptist Courier. He is a former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Lane has been active in the following:
? Protecting students’ rights to hold annual “See You at the Pole” prayer rallies
? Discussing discrepancies in the theory of evolution with school officials and encouraging them to allow students to consider the biblical perspective of creation
? Actively opposing all forms of gambling
? Promoting sanctity of life and working with pro-life groups
? Creatively blending oldies tunes and Christian lyrics to reach the lost at secular festivals
? Reaching out to Muslims on a recent mission to London, after which he came home with a desire to teach others to see Muslims as individuals in desperate need of Christ – not a faceless threat
“Hal Lane presents an unapologetic Christian view in today’s culture war,” Turner said.
View photo gallery of 2006 SCBC Annual Meeting.
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