In August 2021, thousands of vulnerable Afghan evacuees crammed onto airplanes as the Taliban seized control of their homeland. One of those refugee families who escaped on the last military plane out of Afghanistan has found its way to Camden, where the churches of Kershaw Baptist Association are partnering to sponsor the family. “As an […]
Reaching the Nations Next Door
Want to help reach the world for Christ? You may not have to go all that far. You might start just by meeting the new families in your neighborhood. Ethnic pastors, ministries and churches are a growing need across South Carolina, according to Ken Owens, leader of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Send Team. “Our […]
Steadman Baptist calls Camden native Neal Smith as pastor
Neal Smith, a native of Camden, has been called to serve as pastor of Steadman Baptist Church, located in Leesville. Smith continues to lead the church through revitalization. A graduate of Anderson University, he is currently pursuing his master’s degree in church revitalization from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves on the administrative team […]
Woodruff Association calls Ken Petrus as missions strategist
Ken Petrus is the new missions strategist for Woodruff Baptist Association. A retired minister, he most recently served as administrative pastor at North Side Baptist Church in Greenwood for 17 years.
Greer pastor Drew Hines retires from Washington Baptist
Drew Hines, pastor of Washington Baptist Church in Greer, retired Jan. 30. A graduate of the University of South Carolina and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Hines has been a pastor for 42 years, serving five churches. In addition to Washington, where he has served since June 2001, his South Carolina pastorates include Ebenezer Welcome in […]
Three Rivers Association calls Taylors native Travis Kerns as mission strategist
Travis Kerns, a native of Taylors, has been called as mission strategist for the Three Rivers Baptist Association in Taylors. Kerns, a graduate of North Greenville University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, replaces Randy Bradley, who retired to return to the mission field. Kerns served with the North American Mission Board from 2013 to 2019 […]
Lakelands Association starts construction on new office complex
Lakelands Baptist Association broke ground Sept. 20 for a new office complex. After selling its former office two years ago, Lakelands Association has been operating out of the old infirmary on the campus of Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries. The new office building will be a 9,350-square-foot facility located at 232 Bypass 225 South in Greenwood, […]
Three Rivers’ missions strategist heading back to mission field
Three Rivers Baptist Association’s Missions Strategist Randy B.* is retiring at the end of this year and will be returning to the international mission field. Paul Chitwood, International Mission Board president, was keynote speaker for Three Rivers’ Global Missions Celebration at First Baptist Church, Taylors, Oct. 10, which concluded with a time of commissioning for […]
CMBA executive director retires
George Bullard, executive director of Columbia Metro Baptist Association, retired June 10. The longtime denominational leader officially notified CMBA’s Visionary Leadership Community of his plans during the group’s monthly meeting in Columbia. Bullard has served the CMBA since 2017. After serving in several missions roles with the former Home Mission Board, Bullard went to Columbia […]
Letter: More Grace and Humility Needed
Once again, I found myself sitting in worship privately grieving that the pastor of the church would give his forced resignation at the end of the service. Please, God, not again! While the secular world “fires” people, I do not give up hope that His Church will do this differently. After all, this pastor was […]