Tommy Kelly is a man on the go. The pastor of Varnville First Baptist Church is an inspiring leader and servant not only to the church, but to the entire community. To say he is well known in this small community would be an understatement. As members of the church described their love and appreciation […]
Jim and Joyce Carpenter have been married for 63 years and have served Christ overseas, in America, and through the opportunities presented to them in the medical field. Jim, a physician, is still practicing medicine at age 91, with the support and help of his wife. Joyce was born in China to missionary parents and […]
William James, one of the key leaders in the development of psychology in America, once said, “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” To appreciate is to realize the value, quality or magnitude of something or someone. October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and while every day should be a day […]
What a great name for a pastor: Church. Wes Church, that is. He is the new senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Columbia, having served on staff for 16 years at the church. Even though he is stepping into a new position, he has a history of faithful ministry in the 200-year-old historic church. […]
For most of his adult life, says Spartanburg family physician Robert Jackson, “I have been a disciple-maker.” The commitment to discipleship started when he and his wife-to-be, Carlotta, were students at Clemson University. Both were themselves discipled, and they developed a passion for reaching the lost and discipling those they reached. “Nobody had ever taught […]
From the “stirring” of his heart as a camper at Camp McCall to accepting the call as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbia, Wes Church’s life has been marked by God’s grace and providential leadership as he sought to be an obedient follower of Christ. In recalling that week at McCall, he said, “I […]
For most of my 37 years as a pastor, I primarily used the “Roman Road” when witnessing to lost people (Romans 3:23, 3:10, 5:12, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-13). It did not always lead to an immediate profession of faith, and there were often detours and surprises. I want to share a few of those experiences with […]
In 2016, more people were cremated than buried in the United States. It is a trend that continues to grow, with as much as 78 percent of the population estimated to choose cremation within 20 years, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Theological questions and differing viewpoints revolve around the cremation versus burial debate. […]
With all the buzz on social media focusing on the Southern Baptist Convention and its problems, it is tempting to speculate about our future. Some believe we will splinter into two or more groups. Others think we will continue on a course of decline and dysfunction, while some believe we will experience revival. There are […]
The firing of legendary Southern Baptist conservative icon Paige Patterson as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on May 30 created a whirlwind of opinions, controversies and speculations leading up to this year’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas. Charges asserting that Patterson failed to deal forthrightly with an alleged rape of […]