The Cambodian Ministry of United Baptist Church, Spartanburg, is experiencing tremendous growth. Pastor Sam Duong, back row center, baptized 10 from United and three from Gate City in Greensboro, N.C., on July 26. These were the first children and youth to be baptized. A celebration was held Aug. 8 in honor of the 39 baptized this year.
Hunt’s Memorial Baptist Church, Easley, held Vacation Bible School July 19-24. Average nightly attendance was 90, which was a 60 percent increase over the previous year. “We praise God for what he is doing at Hunt’s Memorial,” said Wanda Wiles, youth teacher for VBS. She rewarded the youth who had perfect attendance by giving them a trip to Carowinds. Gennie Haddon was VBS director. Pictured are most of the youth who attended.
Dave Worthington, left, Welsh Neck Baptist Association director of missions, presents 1,000 pairs of reading glasses to George Atkins, center, member of First Baptist Church, Hartsville, and mission trip leader, and Ryan Goodroe, pastor of First Baptist, Hartsville, to be distributed during a Trinidad mission trip Aug. 1-8. Welsh Neck churches donated money for the glasses, which were handed out at free medical clinics in five different villages. This was the ninth year that Hartsville and Laurens First Baptist churches have had a missions partnership with Trinidad.
The Acteens of Shiloh Baptist Church, Aiken, honored their mothers on May 2 with flowers and a special Mother’s Day brunch that they prepared and served themselves. Pictured are (front row, l to r) Acteens leader Vickie Holsonback, Ashley Sanders, Kristen Cumbee, Taylor Pickering, Sarah Wells, Lynn Wells, Jordyn Corbett and Julie Corbett; (back row) leader Jamie Carter, Faith Piper, Beverly Booth, Cindy Pickering, Katelyn Hammonds, Cheryl Hammonds and Bobbie Jean Hammonds. Not pictured: Carol Crowley, leader.
Holly Ridge Baptist Church, Simpsonville, held its third annual Community Wide Patriotic Celebration on July 3. With inflatables and games for the kids, hot air balloon rides, a classic car display, a patriotic music program for the adults, free hotdogs, popcorn, nachos and snow cones, and a fireworks display, the attendance has grown from 700 to 1,000 in the last three years. “The two objectives we set were accomplished,” said Phil Blackwell, associate pastor and event coordinator. “To tell the community, ‘We are here for you,’ and to see the church membership work shoulder-to-shoulder in a servant spirit for someone else, was our plan.”
The children and youth of Tyger Baptist Church, Taylors, were “fearless” as they shined God’s light during their recent “Crocodile Dock” Vacation Bible School. Total enrollment for the week was 42, with 17 youth serving as VBS leaders. This year’s mission project was Operation Kids-to-Kids, which provided stuffed turtles for children in crisis. In addition, a record-setting mission offering of $700 was donated to Katie Doll, a Tigerville Elementary student who was critically injured in a go-cart accident in March 2008.
Roebuck Baptist Church, Spartanburg County Baptist Network, sent out three college students for international missions work this summer. Meredith O’Steen, left, recently returned from her fourth international summer mission trip, serving seven weeks in East Asia. She is a rising senior at the College of Charleston and is active in the collegiate ministry there. Esther Morrison, center, and Anna-Layne Kinsey are rising sophomores at Clemson University who are spending six weeks with Roebuck’s adopted people group in the jungles of Peru. Most of their time will be spent working with the Ashananica women. Now in its third year of a four-year commitment to work with the Ashananica people, the church has sent three teams of volunteers each year, including a medical team in the fall, a disciple team in the spring and young people in the summer. Boots and Katie Holder are the missionaries in Peru with whom the Roebuck volunteers are working during the four-year commitment.
Elizabeth Bartley, who turned 102 on Aug. 9, was honored with a surprise recognition ceremony following the morning worship service at West Side Baptist Church, Greenwood, on her birthday. Pastor Hal Lane described Bartley as a “faithful and longtime member” of the congregation.
During the week of July 12-17, 50 volunteers from Marion Baptist Association partnered with Ellis and Johnnie Bedingfield of Central Community Ministries to minister to the people of Greenville. The group assisted in a variety of projects, including Vacation Bible School, construction, visits to nursing homes, soup kitchens, face painting and ballooning. In the evenings, they participated in prayerwalking and surveying for Pendleton Street Baptist Church. A total of 13 people made professions of faith.
The Baptist Men of Calvary Baptist Church, Barnwell, led members to grow a half-acre garden to help feed the hungry. Peas, squash, cucumbers and other vegetables were distributed through the food pantry of Barnwell-Bamberg Baptist Association. Pictured are (l to r) Joe Dyches, Peggy Dyches, Judy Campbell and Dale Hutto.
Crosswell First Baptist Church, Greenville, held a licensing service for Sean Wilkins on June 28. Wilkins, right, is currently serving as student minister at Crosswell First, with plans to enroll at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in the fall. Pictured with Wilkins are deacon chairman Monta Smith, left, and pastor Randy Smith.
Fairview Baptist Church, Spartanburg, held Vacation Bible School July 20-24. With the Boomerang Express as this year’s theme, the church had an enrollment of 170 and an average attendance of 150 for the week. Ken and Kelly Kiser served as VBS directors. Ty Childers is pastor and Brandon Couch is youth minister at Fairview.