Members of Rock Springs Baptist Church gathered Sept. 7 to praise God for his blessings on the Easley congregation during the past 125 years and to celebrate how God’s hand has been on the ministry of their pastor, David Gallamore, during the past quarter century.
Don Gibson, minister of music, presents a framed version of “Preach the Word,” to David Gallamore and his wife Shirley. The Rock Springs choir and orchestra performed the specially commissioned anthem to culminate the 25th anniversary celebration.The congregation’s dramatic growth is evidenced not only by the four worship facilities that it has outgrown – which successively stand next to the 3,200-seat sanctuary, constructed in 2004 – but also by the vitality of its two Sunday morning services and an impressive music program that entails a 200-plus voice choir accompanied by a large orchestra.
Current membership is approaching 5,000, and the congregation is a regular state convention leader in support of the Cooperative Program, giving more than $527,000 through the Cooperative Program and another $86,000 during the Weeks of Prayer last year. Since 1925, they have contributed more than $5.8 million through CP and state and national missions offerings.
Jim Austin, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, was on hand to express congratulations to Gallamore, a former state convention president, on “25 wonderful years” of ministry and to express the convention’s appreciation to the members of Rock Springs for “setting the pace” in cooperative missions work, calling them “a wonderful example for which we all give thanks.”
But the statistic that Gallamore and the members of Rock Springs rejoice the most in is the 2,285 baptisms that have taken place during the past 25 years. More than half of those present for the celebration service stood in recognition of either their own professions of faith or of those made by family members who were reached through the church’s evangelistic ministry.
Quoting 1 Thessalonians 5’s injunction to “recognize those who labor among you” for the sake of the gospel and “to esteem them very highly in love,” David Jones, chairman of the celebration committee, touted Gallamore for his tangible leadership style, for leading the church staff by his faithful example, and for his evangelistic preaching. Testimonials reminded the congregation how Gallamore has repeatedly taught them three things that matter most in life – faith, family and friends – and church member Walt Sweet added that one word came to mind in describing his pastor: commitment.
The evening service, which was punctuated by numerous praise anthems from the choir and orchestra, featured testimonial videos from Southern Baptist Convention leaders and evangelists, including current SBC president Johnny Hunt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga.
Shirley Gallamore was presented a diamond bracelet by Julie Caldwell, left, and Richard Lee, far right, on behalf of the congregation as Gallamore looks on.“Few preachers mean as much to me as you do,” Hunt said, adding that he would be “hard pressed to find someone in a South Carolina church doing a better job” in leading a congregation.
Among the others to deliver testimonials were Greg Mathis, pastor, Mud Creek Baptist Church, Hendersonville, N.C.; Kenneth Ridings, president of Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute; Alabama evangelist Junior Hill; Sam Cathey of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Herb Reavis of Jacksonville, Fla.
Richard Lee, Julie Caldwell, Rick Ellis and Don Gibson, members of Rock Springs, made presentations to Gallamore and his wife Shirley on behalf of the Easley congregation. Gifts included a diamond bracelet, a watch, a trip to Disney World for the entire family, a framed photo of the 7th hole at the Augusta National and an opportunity to play the famed golf course, a specially commissioned anthem, and a $20,000 scholarship endowment in his honor at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute.