J.D. Shiflet retired in December 2020 after more than 48 years in the ministry. He served as pastor of New Salem Baptist Church in Pittsboro, N.C.; Pleasant Plain Baptist Church in Kershaw; Davidson Street Baptist Church in Clinton; First Baptist Church, Hemingway; and for the last 20 years at Second Baptist Church, Laurens. He and […]
State conventions take historic actions regarding sexual abuse
As many Southern Baptist state conventions celebrated regathering for the first time in two years this fall, more than a dozen took unprecedented actions toward ensuring their conventions are effectively handling sexual abuse allegations. State conventions around the country passed motions to form internal groups or task forces to look at policies and procedures regarding […]
Mesenbourg serves as fall intern at The Courier
Makena Mesenbourg, a junior communications and political science student at Anderson University, recently completed a fall semester internship with The Baptist Courier. Makena is the second intern to be selected through the Bill and Shirley Adams Internship program. As an intern, she engaged in writing feature stories, producing and editing videos, creating social media posts, […]
Three Rivers Association calls Taylors native Travis Kerns as mission strategist
Travis Kerns, a native of Taylors, has been called as mission strategist for the Three Rivers Baptist Association in Taylors. Kerns, a graduate of North Greenville University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, replaces Randy Bradley, who retired to return to the mission field. Kerns served with the North American Mission Board from 2013 to 2019 […]
Obituary: Ralph Riley
Ralph William Riley, 89, of Fort Mill, died Nov. 4, 2021. A native of Lowell, N.C., he attended Mars Hill College and was a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During almost 65 years in the ministry, he served churches in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, including Remount Baptist Church, Charleston, and […]
Obituary: Flynn Harrell
Flynn Thomas Harrell, 87, of Columbia, died July 8, 2021. Born in Columbia, he was a graduate of the University of South Carolina and received honorary degrees from Charleston Southern University and Furman University. He served two years in the U.S. Army, 21 years as the first business/financial officer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, […]
Obituary: Gene Burdette
Clinton Eugene “Gene” Burdette, 95, of Laurens, died Nov. 25, 2021. Born in Pendleton, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and attended Anderson College and Erskine College. He served several churches during his 52 years as a Baptist minister, and retired from LaFrance First Baptist Church. Survivors include two grandchildren, two […]
Obituary: Tom Brannon
Thomas J. Brannon, 83, of West Columbia, died Nov. 26, 2021, after a period of declining health. A native of Greer, he made a commitment to full-time Christian service while in high school. He was a graduate of North Greenville Junior College and Furman University, and attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. While in college, he […]
Obituary: Pat Baughman
Patrick Lee Baughman, 86, of Columbia, died Aug. 4, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. A native of Columbia, he was a graduate of The Citadel and served in the Army. A successful businessman, he was actively involved in civic and denominational organizations, including the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, and […]
Pastors Conference announces speakers in music video
Matt Henslee, president of the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors Conference, has come up with a fun and creative way to introduce the 12 pastors scheduled to speak at the conference. The video announcement, titled “The 12 Days of Pastors,” is set to the tune of, you guessed it, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Written […]