Randy C. Gardner, 69, of Gaffney, died March 28, 2022. Born in Cowpens, he was a graduate of Gardner-Webb College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of churches in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and worked as a hospice chaplain and pastoral counselor/marriage and family therapist in Gaffney and Spartanburg. Survivors […]
Obituary: Ray Allen
James Ray Allen, 87, of Pickens, died March 23, 2022. A native of Ellaville, Ga., he was a graduate of Furman University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Drew University. He served Baptist churches in the Carolinas and Georgia for 65 years, and taught at the college level for 30 years before his retirement. Survivors include […]
Buck Creek Baptists Celebrating 200 Years of Ministry
Buck Creek Baptist Church in Longs recently celebrated a series of events commemorating its bicentennial year. The church was organized in 1821 under a brush arbor and later occupied a log structure on the east side of Buck Creek. By 1850, a building was constructed on the west side of the creek. Growth has continued […]
‘Trust God’s Promises’: 10 Uplifting Assurances from Scripture
Retired pastor and former South Carolina Baptist Convention president Wayne Dickard’s newest book, “Trust God’s Promises” (Courier Publishing, 166 pages, $12.95), shares rich insight into 10 promises God has made to His followers. “God is rich in honor and keeps His promises to all generations,” said Dickard. “His eternal words will never fail. Like the […]
WMU and its foundation assist area groups helping Ukrainian refugees
Woman’s Missionary Union and the WMU Foundation have sent two HEART Fund grants to aid Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. Turlac Mission in Moldova received a $25,000 grant. Moldova shares 759 miles of border with Ukraine, and more than 25,000 refugees crossed the border in the first week of the conflict, according to Oleg […]
Longtime Upstate pastor Jim Oliver retires
Jim Oliver completed 34 years of ministry as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Moore on March 2. A party with surprise guest Franklin Graham was held earlier. Because of an emergency, Graham could not come — but his wife, Jane, and son, Roy, represented him and Samaritan’s Purse, where Oliver serves on the board […]
Journey Church calls Chris Fowler as lead pastor
Chris Fowler is the new lead pastor of Journey Church in Summerville. He attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and completed a church planting residency at Brentwood (Tenn.) Baptist Church. Fowler previously served as a teaching pastor and mission multiplication pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Ga. He and his wife, Jana, have four children. […]
Campobello pastor Henry Johnson retires after 62 years of ministry
Henry Johnson recently retired as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Campobello after serving 12 years there. He spent 62 years in pastoral ministry, having also served the following South Carolina churches: Moore First; Sandy Springs, Chesnee; West Springs, Union; Apalache, Greer; and Grace, Spartanburg. He is a graduate of North Greenville Junior College, Furman […]
Courier wins 10 South Carolina Press Association awards
In the 2021 South Carolina Press Association’s publishing contest, The Courier won 10 awards, the most in its history. Competing in the Associate and Individual Division, The Courier won four first place, four second place and two third place awards. Editor Rudy Gray stated, “We have a great team of Christians here who are skilled in […]
Lifeway trustees elect first African-American woman as trustee chair
For the first time in its 130-year history, Lifeway Christian Resources will have an African-American woman as trustee chair. Missie Branch was elected in March by Lifeway trustees during a special-called meeting. Branch is assistant dean of students to women and director of graduate life at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. A member of Imago Dei […]