High Point Church, Lancaster, a member of the Moriah Association, celebrated its 100th anniversary on Aug. 14. Speakers included former pastor Joey Burnett, now at Arcadia First Church, Spartanburg County Network; and former members Janice Wilson, International Mission Board; and Don Kirkland, The Baptist Courier. Pictured next is High Point pastor Bobby Joyner accepting an expression of gratitude for his service at the church. From left are history committee members Pat Faulkenberry, Molly Wallace and Helen Shehane. (See “Commentary,” page 4.)
Adult Vacation Bible School at Apalache Church, Greer was held Aug. 1-5, led by Frank Lewis, senior adult director. Total enrollment was 79, with an average attendance of 75.
The youth from First Church, Sumter, recently traveled to Memphis, Tenn., to participate in PowerPlant, an outreach of LifeWay Student Ministry and the North American Mission Board designed to engage students in church planting and evangelism. The team spent their week planting a garden for a multicultural housing complex and participating in small construction and repair projects, as well as holding Vacation Bible School for 50 children in inner-city Memphis.
“Sonsurf Beach Bash” was the theme for Vacation Bible School at Trinity Way Church, Greenville. A total of 152 children and workers were enrolled in the July 11-15 VBS, and 14 professions of faith were reported. “The exciting thing is that we had more in VBS than our total enrollment of the church,” said Joan Holtzclaw, VBS director and wife of Trinity Way pastor Dennis Holtzclaw. The week’s events included Bible study, nightly meals, crafts, music and skits, and a drawing for door prizes was held on Friday night. Average attendance for the week was 138, with more than 200 in attendance for the commencement program and supper.
Luis Garcia (right), pastor of Nueva Vida Church, Darlington, recently was licensed to the ministry by Mechanicsville Church. Nueva Vida (New Life) Church is the only Hispanic congregation in Welsh Neck Association, and for the past three years has shared space with Mechanicsville. Pictured with Garcia are his wife Gwen and Mechanicsville pastor Frankie Tanner.
A group of 24 students and leaders from Seneca Church recently traveled to Roanoke, Va., as part of a World Changers missions effort. The group spent five days working on people’s homes, installing new roofs, siding, decks and porches, and painting.