The COVID-19 Pandemic Phase III Stimulus Package signed into law March 27 by President Trump will provide potential relief for churches and pastors. The package provides churches with the same options as small businesses and self-employed individuals attempting to financially weather the economic turmoil wrought by COVID-19. Churches that are exempt from tax under Section […]
WMU Missions Celebration canceled, Blume postponed
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WMU Executive Board has voted to cancel the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting scheduled for June 7-8, 2020, in Orlando, and to postpone Blume, a missions event for girls scheduled July 8-11, 2020, at Germantown Baptist Church in Tennessee until the summer of 2021. “I am saddened […]
200-year journey takes congregation from Cross Roads to Gowensville First
First Baptist Church of Gowensville anticipates celebrating its bicentennial year on May 3 with carriage rides between its two morning services and dinner on the grounds afterward. Local historian and church member Dean Campbell, who has written “The Bicentennial History of First Baptist Church Gowensville, 1820-2020,” describes how the “little white church on the hill” […]
Cayce First makes a fresh start with Mill City
How do you breathe new life into an historic, declining congregation? For First Baptist Church of Cayce, the answer was merging with a recent church start that was growing and needed more space. Formed in 1912, First Cayce grew to a peak of about 500 attending Sunday school near the mid-century mark. In recent years, […]
Pickens couple: On Mission in Cuba
“The beautiful people of Cuba are looking for hope,” said Gary Frazor as he prepared for his upcoming mission trip to the island. “They find it in Jesus.” Frazor and his wife, Kim, have been on several mission trips to Cuba. He says he got hooked on mission work through his family. “My wife and […]
Out of the Ashes: Friendship and Racial Reconciliation in Kingstree
God was at work the day the church burned. The Bethlehem Missionary Church building in Salters ended up a complete loss, but its African-American congregation immediately rallied under the leadership of Pastor O’Tis Prioleau. He recalls receiving the tragic news around 4 a.m. on a Tuesday night. “From the moment I got the call, my […]
LifeWay develops free coronavirus response training resources
As the coronavirus spreads in the U.S., congregations are facing a situation many have never considered. In response, the LifeWay Leadership team has developed pandemic response resources that are being made available for free to assist pastors and church leaders at MinistryGrid.com/coronavirus. “Pastors are asking questions about how their churches should react to the coronavirus,” […]
Surfside ‘Sunburn Trailer’ closed for the summer
The “Sunburn Trailer” at Surfside Beach, which has been a tool for sharing the love of Christ over the past 10 years, will not be in operation this summer. Martha Bullard, a member of First Baptist Church of Surfside Beach, said, “We will not be having this service this year because of the damage at […]
New Calvary WMU honors Sallie Ann Baker
Sallie Ann Hinson Baker (left) was recognized Jan. 5 by the Woman’s Missionary Union of New Calvary Baptist Church. The WMU bought a brick in her honor on the national WMU’s Walk of Faith in Birmingham, Ala., in an honor/memorial garden recognizing those who have devoted their lives to fulfilling the Great Commission. Jennifer Kolb (right), […]
Spartanburg First ordains Jacob Comer
First Baptist Church of Spartanburg ordained Jacob Comer (second from left), associate minister of students, on March 1. He is the son of Tommy Comer (far left), associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Gaffney, and the grandson of Heyward Comer, a former, longtime pastor of Drayton Baptist Church in Spartanburg. With them are Seth Buckley, […]