Pastor Clay Smith was honored June 2 at Alice Drive Baptist Church for 25 years of leadership. When Smith started in 1994, the Sumter church had a congregation of about 285 people. Now the church averages more than 1,500 people over three Sunday morning services and a Monday night service. Smith received several honors during […]
As more stories of sexual abuse involving evangelical churches and pastors — including the Southern Baptist Convention — come to light, SBC leaders have recognized the need to be responsive and educated in caring for those within their ministries who disclose abuse experiences. LifeWay Christian Resources, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and those working […]
The Southern Baptist effort to address sexual abuse in churches took another step with the launch of the “Caring Well Challenge,” a joint call for congregations to become equipped to prevent predatory behavior and to care for survivors. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the Sexual Abuse Advisory Study have issued an invitation to […]
Steven L. Ragan joined the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina staff April 29 as church relations representative. In his role, Ragan will work directly with churches, primarily in the Upstate, to introduce pastors and church leadership to financial, legacy, and investment strategies to fund Great Commission ministries through the church, both today and in the […]
Langston Baptist Church will host the annual Coastal Evangelism Conference Aug. 7-9 in its 2,500-seat sanctuary in Conway. Speakers include Mike Stone, H.B. Charles, Jeff LaBorg, Herb Reavis, Johnny Hunt, Rock Collins, Bob Pitman, and Tyler Blue. Worship leader for the week is Doug Smith. During the Thursday evening meeting, a mass choir composed of […]
Brushy Creek Baptist Church, Taylors, hosted special services on March 17 marking 225 years of ministry. The oldest church in Greenville County to operate under the same name, Brushy Creek is one of the three oldest centers of worship in Greenville. The services included messages by the congregation’s last three pastors, who total 43 years […]
Michael Shafran is the new pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Piedmont. He holds degrees from Bob Jones University, Capital Bible Seminary and a D.Min. degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since 2010, he served Fort Howard Community Church in Maryland as senior pastor. He is married to Julie and they have four children ages […]
Tracey Wilson has assumed the position of minister of music and worship at Covenant Baptist Church in Lancaster. Tracey, a Lancaster native, graduated from North Greenville University. Her husband, Rhett Wilson, after serving as a pastor for 18 years of three churches in Laurens County, is now senior writer with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association […]
Donna Winn loves earrings, but not for the usual reason. Winn, outreach secretary at Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, and members of its Ladies Fellowship are wearing and sharing earrings to support a pro-life ministry that God laid on her heart. The ministry, called “Heart of a Mom,” attaches the earrings to a card with […]
For the past 15 years, Wynness Thomas has been homebound, battling daily pain from arthritis of the spine and Parkinson’s disease. But this former church pianist and choir member at Tilly Swamp Baptist Church hasn’t let her age or ailments rob her of her love of music. Thomas, 87, is now living out a dream […]