President’s Perspective: Let’s Leave!

Nobody was going to heaven from Thessalonica. It was a spiritual wasteland: no Jesus, no hope. Jesus had come into the world, done His amazing work, and returned to the Father; but the folks way over in Thessalonica were completely oblivious. It was a long way from Bethlehem, Golgotha, and the empty tomb. Somehow, though, […]

President’s Perspective: Engaging Lostness Overseas

Part of the turf that goes with pastoring Southern Baptist churches is the annual tipping of the hat to international missions under the banner of Lottie Moon. At least that’s how I viewed it for many years: “It’s Lottie time again, let me work up a missions sermon and slide it in somewhere between Thanksgiving […]

Hollingsworth recognized for service to S.C. Baptists

Messengers to the annual meeting at Irmo’s Riverland Hills Baptist Church took time to honor Executive Director-Treasurer Gary Hollingsworth for his seven years of service to South Carolina Baptists. Hollingsworth has set his retirement date as April 30, 2023. Calling his years at the state convention’s helm the pinnacle of his 48 years of ministry, […]

Meet the New SCBC President

Albert Allen, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Newberry, is the new president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He has served as a pastor, missionary, chair of the SCBC Executive Board, and president-elect of the convention. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1986 and practiced law until 1987 […]

S.C. Baptists adopt SATF recommendations, elect Columbia pastor

With “Wake Up!” as their theme, messengers to the annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention approved a report from their Sexual Abuse Task Force, honored their retiring executive, and elected a Columbia pastor as president-elect. Gathering at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo, Nov. 14-15, the 703 registered messengers also adopted a $26.5 […]

President’s Perspective: God’s Plan and God’s Power

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). We’ve all been there — the point of confusion and desperation. Things have not gone according to our plans, and […]

Legislative Update: S.C. Senate votes to ‘insist’

More than 12O people, many carrying signs that simply read “recede,” gathered at the Statehouse in Columbia on Oct. 18 to encourage the Senate to pass the House version of the Human Life Protection Act (H5399). Since late August, the Senate and House have been passing H5399 back and forth, with neither chamber willing to […]

Bray names 2023 SCBC Committee on Committees

In accordance with the South Carolina Baptist Convention Bylaws, convention president Wayne Bray has selected the 2023 Committee on Committees. The committee consists of at least one person from churches with 500 in worship or more, at least three from churches with 200 to 499 in worship; at least three from churches with fewer than […]

SCBC Sexual Abuse Task Force chair shares insights into work

The South Carolina Baptist Sexual Abuse Task Force has completed nearly a year of research, prayer, and work. Their report, after approval from the Executive Board, will be presented at this year’s annual meeting Nov. 13-14 at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo. The Courier sat down with D.J. Horton, lead pastor at Church at […]