Volunteers from First Baptist Church of Spartanburg first began making mission trips to Bell County, Ky., in 1969, under the leadership of Alastair Walker. Walker, the church’s pastor, had formerly served at First Baptist Church of Middlesboro and took his heart for Kentucky with him when he went to South Carolina. This church has now been ministering in Kentucky each summer for 42 years.
Bill MackeySeth Buckley became youth minister at the church in 1996 and asked for the opportunity to really see what God would do with the missions work here. The first summer he provided leadership, the church had about 40 participants who ministered at eight sites.
This year, more than 250 volunteers participated with ministry conducted at 31 sites, including a prison. In addition to conducting Vacation Bible Schools, the group led basketball camps at high schools in Barbourville in Knox County and at Pineville and Middlesboro in Bell County.
Each summer, the group arrives on a Saturday and starts knocking on doors near ministry sites to invite people to participate in the various events. Then they work hard each day to make friends and share the gospel.
After clean-up and preparation is completed each evening, all ministry teams meet for updates, Bible study and inspiration for the next day. The teams depart the next Saturday, following a busy and fulfilling week of ministry.
Some 1,650 children participated in the events led by the Spartanburg church group this summer. The food teams from the church provided at least one meal per day for each of the children.
I do not know of any summer missions ministry like this that has a record of 42 years of consecutive ministry. It is most commendable that laypeople in the church have been so faithful through the years to support this effort.
Linda Gilden, known affectionately as the “Queen of the Mountain Mamas,” washes clothes every night for the group to help reduce the amount of luggage they need to bring and also manages crafts. Linda is the only one from the original group still participating.
I have known and worked with other participants like Bill Cox of Concoxions Ministries, who, along with many others, was called to vocational Christian service due in part to these mission trips. In recent years, Cox’s three children have participated in the mission trips. His two sons also are in vocational ministry now.
Don Wilton is the current pastor and continues to lead this church to be faithful in evangelism, missions giving and church development.
On behalf of Kentucky Baptists, I say “thank you” to all who, like the wonderful volunteers from First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, provide missions ministries in Kentucky.
– Mackey is executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and former associate executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Reprinted with permission of The Western Recorder, newsjournal of Kentucky Baptists.