A group of Barker’s Creek Baptist Church “Keenagers” attended the Gospel/Christmas Hee Haw Dinner show in Honea Path on Dec. 22. Gregg Loner, pastor and minister of music at Princeton Baptist Church, and his family present skits and singing, along with food and fellowship in a wholesome environment. Barker’s Creek member Ella Mae Wright, 90 years “young,” is shown with Loner at a gathering after the performance.
Northside Baptist Church, West Columbia, co-sponsored a fall festival with area businesses to reach out to local families and schools. Inflatables, games, food, hayrides, and live entertainment were provided by Northside families, students and volunteers. Attendance from area school children was tallied, and the top five schools with the most participants received copy paper valued at nearly $200.
Evergreen Baptist Church, Effingham, held its 46th annual church barbecue Jan 9. The men of the church braved the early morning freezing weather to prepare the meat, which consisted of a 150-pound pig and two turkeys, and the women provided the sides. The church also recognized Elbert Owens (second photo) for his 90th birthday.
Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union, has named George McInvale, Belton Lawson and Edward Craig as honorary deacons. Presenting the certificates are pastor Carrol Caldwell, center, and chairman of deacons Tommy Inman.
Brian and Jenna Vaughan are the new youth directors at Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church, Union. They began working with the young people in October.
Doctor’s Creek Baptist Church, Walterboro, prepared and delivered 329 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes on Nov. 18. In addition, the congregation collected $2,352.96 for shipping. Pictured are Amy and Decky Avant, Sallie Neal, Joel and Estelle Holderman, and Debbie Avant.
Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church youth recently presented the church an ornament and poem in memory of Donnie Estes, their former youth minister who died last year. Kathy Burnett and some of the youth are shown presenting the ornament and poem to the congregation.
The BYKOTA group of Evergreen Baptist Church, Effingham, attended the Christmas show at the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach on Dec. 8. BYKOTA (which stands for “Be Ye Kind One To Another”) is the name of the senior adult group at Evergreen. The 23 members who attended the event also enjoyed lunch together prior to the show.
Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path, ordained William Herbert “Hub” McGee, right, as deacon on Jan. 17. Pictured with McGee are his wife Linda and pastor Wesley Taylor, left.
The Mission Friends, Girls in Action and Acteens from Ebenezer Baptist Church, Cordova, sponsored a post office in December to raise money for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Members brought their Christmas cards to the “post office” and paid 25 cents per card, which were then sorted and distributed by the girls and their leaders. A total of $290 was collected for the offering.
Billie Doyle, a member of Black Creek Baptist Church in Walterboro, recently issued a challenge to the congregation there: As coordinator and promoter of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, she agreed to kiss a donkey if the church reached its offering goal. On Jan. 3, Doyle announced that the goal had been surpassed by more than $500. Pictured is Doyle kissing Jasper the donkey, who belongs to Alyssa Knight (granddaughter of deacon Jimmy Blocker). Gene Lanier is pastor of Black Creek.
Christmas carolers from Beaver Creek Baptist Church visited homebound members in December, presenting them with gifts, prayer and carols. Pictured below are some of the carolers as they visit with Clay-Rena Jackson, center.
The Women on Mission at Forest Hill Baptist Church, Anderson, made blankets for the Foothills Alliance Child Advocacy Center as part of an ongoing missions project. Children who receive counseling at the center are given the blankets (pictured above) during their sessions and take them home once they have completed the program.
Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path, recently hosted Matt Shirley (second from right) as guest speaker on Jan. 17. Currently in his third year at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Shirley shared with the congregation his experiences while serving the last six months as a missionary in Taiwan. From Chinese versions of “Oh How I Love Jesus” to authentic Chinese food, he painted a vivid picture of the sights, sounds and smells he encountered. Shirley’s parents and grandparents are members of Barker’s Creek. Pictured with Shirley are his parents, Larry and Cathy Shirley, and pastor Wesley Taylor.
The Widowers and Widows group of First Baptist Church, Bishopville, made clothes for 100 dolls to be sent to an orphanage in Mexico. The dolls were donated to the church by Chris Boykin Watson in memory of her mother, Eunice Boykin. Pictured with the dolls are members of the Widowers and Widows group: (back row) Hazel Barnett, Vera Horton, Maxine Teal, Mary Davis and Jeanie Alexander; (front row) Ann Huggins, Elfreeda Barnes, Chris Watson, Mildred Elmore and Betty Watson. Not pictured: Lisa Whiteaker.
The Girls In Action at Latta Baptist Church, Pee Dee Baptist Association, handed out free lemonade and cookies to more than 150 people of the community on Nov. 7. Meeting at the town gazebo, the girls also handed out gospel tracts and told visitors that “Jesus loves you.” Pictured at right are the GAs at their hand-painted lemonade stand. Sharon Bowen, Frances Godwin and Sherie Sawyer are GA leaders at Latta Baptist.
Ryan Peduzzi, left, was ordained to the ministry on Jan. 10 by Juniper Bay Baptist Church, Conway. He is currently serving as minister of students at Juniper Bay. Presenting the certificate of ordination to Peduzzi is pastor Rodney Hord.