Poplar Springs calls Ken Forrester as senior pastor

Ken Forrester began duties as senior pastor of Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Moore in February. Forrester, director of church development and pastoral care for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, previously had served as a transitional pastor at Poplar Springs. Earlier, he pastored Forestville Baptist Church in Travelers Rest and Rocky Creek Baptist Church in […]

Motivating a New Generation

Don Harper is motivating a new generation of minority students at Anderson University through his book, “Blessed is the Man,” and through involvement with AU’s Diversity and Inclusion weekend. The book is filled with stories of God’s providence, especially the story of how his dad, an African-American farmer, received a loan to purchase 80 acres […]

Two join South Carolina WMU staff

Lauren Morris and Hannah Smith joined the South Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union staff in February. Morris will serve as student consultant, and Smith will serve as adult consultant. Morris has six years of missions experience with the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board. A graduate of North Greenville University, she earned a Master of […]

Easler named Broad River DOM

Dwight Easler, senior pastor of Corinth Baptist Church, Gaffney, since 2004, began duties as director of missions for Broad River Baptist Association this month. “The mission of the Broad River Baptist Association is to assist and unite churches to fulfill the Great Commission. This mission stands strong despite a new day and new challenges,” Easler […]

Philip Turner joins Connie Maxwell as director of church engagement

Philip Turner, pastor of discipleship at First Baptist Church of Columbia, was appointed as director for church engagement at Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries. He began his new duties this month. Turner has served nearly 25 years in church ministry across South Carolina. He has served at Columbia First Baptist since 2014 and previously was its […]

Churches: How to file for ERC tax refund

The Employee Retention Credit is a tax refund that is available to churches who kept employees on the payroll during the pandemic of 2020-2021. Initially, eligible employers had to choose between the Paycheck Protection Program or the Employee Retention Credit. Then in 2021, Congress allowed eligible employers to apply for both. So the two programs […]

Finn to be re-nominated for SBC recording secretary

North Greenville University provost and current SBC Recording Secretary Nathan Finn will be re-nominated for the position by Florida pastor Dean Inserra at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans, La., on June 13-14. “Nathan Finn is not only committed to being a Southern Baptist, he is also excited to be one,” Inserra […]

Wolfe to be nominated as SCBC executive director-treasurer

Tony Wolfe will be nominated as the next executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The SCBC’s Executive Director-Treasurer Search Team presented Wolfe’s nomination at a called Executive Board meeting Feb. 27 at First Baptist Church of Columbia. Team Chairman Ian Geimer made the motion, which was then affirmed by the Executive Board. “Our […]

Anderson celebrates 20th anniversary of President Whitaker’s tenure

Anderson University marked the 20-year tenure of President Evans P. Whitaker and First Lady Diane Whitaker during the university’s annual Founders Day Convocation, Feb. 22, as faculty, staff, students and friends of the university celebrated the Whitakers’ two decades of service and leadership. To mark the occasion, Whitaker received the Order of the Palmetto from […]

Jeff Robinson called as Courier editor

The board of trustees for The Courier unanimously elected Jeff Robinson as the next editor and president of The Courier at a called meeting Feb. 17. He began his duties on March 1. “God has blessed South Carolina Baptists through the ministry of The Baptist Courier for more than 150 years with a history of […]