These women from Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path, were among hundreds who attended the Women’s Lifestyle Evangelism Conference Jan. 27 at Taylors First Baptist Church. Duplicate programs were held Jan. 28 in Myrtle Beach and Jan. 29 in Columbia. Speakers included Rebekah Naylor of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Ruth McWhite of North Greenville University, Pat Brinsfield of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Laslene Glymph of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. (Look for additional coverage in the Feb. 17 issue of The Baptist Courier.)
Park Hills Baptist Church, Gaffney, named former pastor James E. Holder (center) as pastor emeritus on Jan. 2. The church presented him with a plaque to honor more than 23 years of service. Pictured with Holder are chairman of deacons Wayne Davis (left) and current pastor Larry Sanders.
The WMU and Senior Ladies Class at Levels Baptist Church, Aiken, recently made witnessing dolls for Helping Hands, Cumbee Center for Abused Women, and Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans. Rita Yates is WMU director at Levels.
Piney Forest Baptist Church, Andrews, ordained Luke Walker to the ministry Jan. 23. Currently a student at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., Walker is serving as pastor of Good News Baptist Church, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., where he resides with his wife, Mary Canon Walker. Pictured with Walker (right) is his father, Benny Walker, pastor of Piney Forest.
On Dec. 12, Grassy Pond Baptist Church, Gaffney, honored retiring church secretary Ramona Whitaker for 40 years of service. Pictured with Whitaker is pastor Terry Lanford.
Barker’s Creek Baptist Church, Honea Path, purchased a new bus Jan. 21. Pictured, from left, are members of the transportation team: pastor Wesley Taylor; Tommy Boggs; Richard Ellison, transportation committee chairman Brandon Martin; and Hub McGee.
Unity Baptist Church, Starr, welcomed new pastor Roger Kendrick (center) and his family on Jan. 2. Kendrick comes from Alabama with his wife, Staci, and their two sons, Joshua and Jeremiah. Pictured from left are John Dill, director of missions, Saluda Baptist Association; Kendrick; and Howard Wall, chairman of the pastor search committee.
The children’s mission organizations of Berea First Baptist Church, Greenville, raised money for international missions through the Lottie Moon post office. Church members brought cards to a “post office” staffed by the children and their mission leaders and donated what they otherwise would have spent on postage. The children delivered the cards to people in their Sunday school classes and before worship. The children, led by Julie Lunsford, education director, presented a check for $721 to pastor Ronald D. Vaughan.
The third annual Smart Seniors Seminar was held Jan. 17-18 at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community in Laurens. The event included vendors, preachers, doctors and entertainment. Valerie Rumbough, right, executive vice president of the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina, greets a guest at the seminar.
The WMU and Youth On Mission of Levels Baptist Church, Aiken, participated in the 2010 Parkinson’s Walk in Augusta, Ga., in honor of the pastor’s wife, Sandra Scales, and former pastor’s wife, Evelyn Laird – both of whom have Parkinson’s disease. Pictured at the event are (first row) Kenna Hale and Casey Underwood; (second row) Sandra Scales; (third row) Rita Yates and Karen Underwood; (fourth row) pastor Larry Scales and Tyler Papalski; (fifth row) Roger Yates.
On Dec. 22, Crosswell Baptist Church, Sumter, hosted “A Night in Bethlehem” for the community. The event targeted young families and children. More than 300 people experienced the story of Christmas and heard the gospel message during a production staged by 50 church volunteers. The fellowship hall was transformed into long-ago Bethlehem, and shopkeepers and townspeople whispered rumors about a messiah being born nearby. A group of excited shepherds came into the marketplace and took groups outside to see the newborn savior.
Mission volunteers from Ashley River Baptist Church, Charleston, shown here praying together, meet regularly with inmates at Lieber Correctional Institute in Ridgeville for Bible study. The inmates are led by Barbara Vickers, Edward Morgan and other people from the church. Several prisoners have accepted Christ as a result of the ministry. The church also sponsors a Christmas party each year for the Lieber inmates.