A ministry begun 24 years ago to help meet the urgent needs of families in the Batesburg-Leesville community is still going strong today, thanks to the support of churches, business and individuals in the area.
The Christian Ministry Center in the Batesburg-Leesville community depends on churches, businesses and individuals to keep the shelves full and to meet local families’ immediate needs.The Christian Ministry Center is an outreach of Lexington Baptist Association. The center is supported primarily by the churches of Lexington Association, in conjunction with other churches in the Batesburg-Leesville area, as well as some churches in Edisto and Ridge associations.
CMC was organized in 1988 when Sunny Side Baptist Church was disbanding and donated the church and land to Lexington Association. Today CMC has its own board of directors, and Lexington Association steps in when special needs are present, said Johnny Rumbough, director of missions.
CMC has been meeting the needs of families in the area – regardless of religious affiliation – for 24 years. The center serves the needs of residents in parts of four counties. On average, 325-350 families are served through CMC each month. In 2011, the center helped feed 3,443 families (more than 9,800 people).
In addition to support from area churches, CMC has been supported by several local businesses.
Suzanne Umberger, who began volunteering at CMC two and a half years ago and has been operations director since last October, said the center is staffed more than 95 percent by volunteers. “The support of the Batesburg-Leesville community is critical and overwhelming,” she said. As an example, Umberger noted the involvement last year of area school teachers in procuring canned goods and clothing.
Umberger said all clients are interviewed and prayed with on each visit, and in helping meet their families’ needs, emphasis is placed on educating the clients “in the thinking process of budgeting.”
Umberger said there is a great need for volunteers who speak Spanish. “We also need someone who is computer-literate to help us in keeping client records up-to-date,” she said. Another need is for one or more men who have pickup trucks to help with deliveries.
The center is open to assist clients on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The office number is 803-532-0033.
– Zorn is a volunteer with Lexington Baptist Association.