A six-member team of South Carolina Baptists returned June 11 after assisting with humanitarian relief efforts in a Romanian town on the Ukraine border. The team’s purpose was “to serve the precious people of Ukraine who have found themselves displaced from their homeland, forced to leave their homes and families,” said team leader Wil Bradham, […]
SCBC’s Gary Hollingworth speaks at Ridge Association
South Carolina Baptist Convention CEO Gary Hollingsworth speaks at the Ridge Association’s “old-fashioned tent meeting” in April.
International teachers present S.C. mission opportunity
More than 1,100 international teachers from 34 countries now are working in South Carolina schools each year, presenting South Carolina Baptists with a tremendous opportunity for international missions — without ever leaving home. Angela McNeal, Church and Community Ministries director with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, leads Heart4Schools, which has a goal of seeing every […]
Slavic congregation among SCBC’s newest church starts
When Igor Vovk’s family moved to South Carolina in 2020, he found a big population of Slavic people in the Upstate, but not many Slavic churches. So, Vovk and a group of friends started gathering in different homes to study God’s Word together. Their group quickly grew in size, and a second Bible study group […]
Soto leading Monaghan en Español to reach Hispanic community
By some estimates, the Hispanic population of South Carolina could grow by 100,000 or more in the next decade. Greenville Baptist Association, which now has 10 Hispanic congregations scattered throughout the county, is among the associations across the state preparing for the rapid growth by starting more churches. Erwin Soto, pastor of Monaghan en Español, […]
Kershaw churches sponsoring Afghan refugee family
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 […]