Some homeless women may have a place of their own soon as First Baptist Church of Spartanburg begins constructing a small village of tiny houses. After seeing some similar villages on television and elsewhere, Steve Wise, missions minister at First Baptist, posed the idea: “Building small, transitional houses could be something our church could do […]
Messengers to the 200th annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention elected a Simpsonville pastor as president-elect, approved a $26.5 million Cooperative Program budget, and adopted a resolution affirming churches that also identify as Great Commission Baptists. In an abbreviated, one-day session Nov. 10 at the historic First Baptist Church of Columbia, messengers also […]
The turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie will likely taste a little sweeter to Brent and Courtney Glover this Thanksgiving. In late March, Brent, an otherwise healthy 34-year-old with an active lifestyle, began having severe headaches and felt really fatigued. He also noticed some red spots on his arms and legs, as well as a couple […]
While watching one of the first NFL games during the pandemic, I heard a strange, unexpected sound. In the background, fans were cheering. It didn’t matter if it was first down or fourth down, or if a team was about to score or a player had fumbled. They cheered all the same. The constant noise […]
All three of South Carolina Baptists’ universities reopened in August, but with modified class schedules and recommended health and safety measures being implemented during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Anderson University opened its campus Aug. 19 for in-person classes. Under a revised plan, in-person classes are to meet on Labor Day and fall break will be […]
Depending on whom one asks and their locality, doctors and nurses are having varied experiences in treating coronavirus. In some places, doctors are grateful for signs as of late that the virus may not be impacting their areas as much as anticipated. In other quarters, the number of cases and those hospitalized with life-threatening symptoms […]
Closed sanctuaries, social distancing, mask requirements, seating limits and congregational singing restrictions could put a huge damper on normal church life. Yet, in spite of having all the pandemic precautions in place, some South Carolina churches are growing. Utica Baptist in Seneca, for instance, has seen 15 baptisms in a span of three weeks that […]
The statement, “Church life has drastically changed,” is a glaring understatement. Data gleaned from a recent online sampling during the first week of August by The Baptist Courier gives a glimpse of just how much congregational life across the state now differs after nearly six months of heightened health precautions. Although in-person attendance has fallen […]
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise daily across South Carolina, several churches in harder-hit communities have decided to pause or backtrack on their reopening plans, returning to drive-in and online-only services. A recent study examining Americans’ responses to COVID-19 shows that a majority (64 percent) are “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” taking a seat in […]
“Our country is not perfect, and we all know that, but it is a country that has stood for freedom — not just within its borders, but around the world,” said Ch. Col. Greg Woodbury, who retired in July 2019 after more than 30 years as a U.S. Air Force chaplain. “As I’ve traveled the […]