The GAs of Chiquola Baptist Church, Honea Path, earned prayerwalking badges March 25. Led by GA leaders and WMU members, the girls first walked to the town hall, where they met Mayor Earl Lollis Meyers for a tour and prayed for the town leaders, the President and the military. Then the group walked to the free clinic, where they prayed for the community as a whole. Next, they walked to the schools, where they prayed for the principals, teachers and their friends and for the safety for the school. The walk ended at the church, where the GAs prayed for the pastors, church staff, members and missionaries featured in the 2007 Week of Prayer for North American Missions.
Pastor Kenneth Harmon, First Baptist Church, Newberry, was honored Feb. 4 for 25 years of service. In addition to pastoral duties, he also has led the church to do more than 25 mission trips, start a Spanish-speaking church in Newberry, build an educational building, and refurbish the existing facility. His wife Joy, who has been organist and choir accompanist for 25 years, was also recognized. Several gifts were presented to the Harmons, followed by a reception.
John Myers Graham was ordained to the ministry Feb. 11 by Scranton Baptist Church, Williamsburg Association. A graduate of Francis Marion University and a student at Southeastern Baptist Seminary, Graham is serving as interim pastor of Northside Baptist Church, Lake City.
Laurens Baptist Association and Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community hosted a joint senior adult gathering at Martha Franks March 26. The group of 40 enjoyed touring the facility and eating lunch together. The highlight was a musical program presented by Russell Dean and Adair Rogers. Pictured above is a group from Poplar Springs Baptist Church. Kay Leagans from the association and Dina Hair from Martha Franks coordinated the event.
Paul Calicutt, pastor emeritus of Colston Branch Baptist Church, Bamberg, and his wife Min, center, view a quilt presented to them during a recent Sunday morning service. The quilt was made by members of the WMU and pastor Luford Pope and his wife Mary. “Preacher Paul,” who served as interim pastor for several area churches until 2005, sometimes fills in at Colston Branch during Pope’s absence. Min Calicutt serves as Sunday school director.
Ray Russell has been called as bivocational pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, Greenville Association. A joint service of ordination was held by Park Street Baptist Church, his home church, and Riverview. Russell is a 21-year employee of Michelin and is a student at Luther Rice University. He and his wife have two daughters and one grandson.
GAs from Graham Baptist Church, Sumter, collected money in March and April to buy an alpine goat for a group of people in Croatia. Many Croatians lost their jobs and became impoverished after the war in 1990. Participating in the “Live Action Project” are (front row, l-to-r): Christian McDonald, Gus Davis, Elise Williams, Kristen Williams, KadieLynn McDonald and Lee McNair; (back row): Nikki Tobias, Bryce Williams, Reed Davis, and Sarah Tobias.
Ann Wilson recently celebrated 30 years as secretary of Eureka Baptist Church, Anderson. During a day of recognition, former pastors C.W. Jones and Robert Dickard joined current pastor Ron Fousek and the church to honor Wilson with a special resolution, a plaque of appreciation, a love offering, and a church-wide luncheon.
Nine people were baptized April 22 at Padgetts Creek Baptist Church, Union, by pastor Carrol Caldwell (first picture, back row, center), bringing the church’s total number of baptisms for this church year to 32. In the second picture, Caldwell holds a letter from Marshall Fagg, director of the evangelism and missions team of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, commending the church for the number of baptisms for 2006. The church saw 25 new believers in 2006, which is one new believer for every 10 church members. With Caldwell are Heather Loftis, outreach coordinator; Brenda Whitmire, Sunday school director; Gerald Wilson, chairman of deacons; and Emma Lee Fincher, WMU director.
Carrol Caldwell, pastor of Padgetts Creek Baptist Church, Union County Association, conducted a recognition service April 15 for the Masons, recognizing the organization for its work with youth, especially in the area of speech therapy. Masons in attendance represented 22 towns in South Carolina and one from another state. The oldest fraternity in the world, dating back to King Solomon, the Masons commit more than $2.3 million daily for their work.