Hope amid the COVID-19 crisis is the focus of a new ebook, “A Pandemic Proposal: Viral Vitality … Hope for the Human Soul” by former Baptist Press editor Art Toalston, with contributions from two South Carolina Baptists. Even amid the horrors of a global pandemic, Toalston writes, “a distinct vitality” can be experienced “in our […]
GuideStone covering in-network, inpatient hospital care for COVID-19 treatment
Participants in GuideStone’s U.S.-based Highmark BCBS health plans will be able to receive physician-ordered, in-network, inpatient hospital care for COVID-19 treatment at no cost for claims incurred through May 31. This coverage is also available to health plan participants in HSA-qualified High Deductible Health Plans and Secure Health 3000. GuideStone’s health plans were among the […]
LifeWay cancels June camps in response to coronavirus
LifeWay Christian Resources announced that FUGE, StudentLife, Student Life for Kids and CentriKid camps, as well as World Changers projects scheduled for June have been canceled due to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak. “We’ve been closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus and following the guidance of government and health authorities to ensure we […]
Decision to cancel SBC meeting was made, putting ‘Gospel Above All’
“I was warned that it would be tricky to lead the Southern Baptist Convention. But I don’t think any of us saw this coming,” said SBC President J.D. Greear in announcing that for the first time in 75 years, the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in June had been canceled due to the […]
Baptist church launches national virtual Easter egg hunt
Simply by playing video games with his children, Curtis James came up with a ministry idea that went nationwide. The virtual Easter egg hunt, hosted on a Minecraft server on Easter Sunday, April 12, stemmed from the desire of Tate Springs Baptist Church in Texas to engage entire families, both adults and children, even as […]
SCBC Executive Board approves applying for federal aid
The Executive Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention held a called meeting on April 10 in order to consider making application for emergency payroll support through the Federal CARES Act and the Payroll Protection Plan. After prayer and much discussion, the board approved directing SCBC Executive Director-Treasurer Gary Hollingsworth and his team to proceed […]
Hickory Grove Baptist Church notes 150th year
Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Brunson recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. A bamboo arbor was built in front of the church steps to bring back the early days when church members held services under an arbor. The church was established in 1869. More than 200 people attended the celebration on Nov. 3, 2019. Former pastor […]
Obituary: Tim Tomlinson
Tim Tomlinson, 61, of Ridgeland, died March 16, 2020. A native of Homestead, Fla., he was a graduate of Baptist College at Charleston and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of several churches around South Carolina, most recently as pastor of Okatee Baptist Church for the past 14 years. Survivors include his […]
Obituary: Hugh V. Brinson Jr.
Hugh Vance Brinson Jr., 76, of Anderson, died April 3, 2020. He was a graduate of Anderson College and Carson Newman College, and received his master’s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He served as minister of music in Southern Baptist churches in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. He was a member […]
UPDATED: SCBC receives approval for CARES grant
The South Carolina Baptist Convention has been approved for grant money made available through the Payroll Protection Plan of the CARES Act, Executive Director-Treasurer Gary Hollingsworth announced April 27. Earlier, SCBC Executive Board members were informed during their first-ever virtual meeting on April 21 that the state convention had applied for, but did not receive CARES […]