Palmetto Baptist Association “A Body of Churches Being His Hands and Feet”

Director of Missions

Rev. Mike Baker

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30

Monday - Wednesday

Secretary/Bookkeeper

Missy Gardo

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Mon-Thur.

Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Palmetto Baptist Association

PO Box 7

Williamston, SC 29697

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Mon-Thur.

Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

E-Mail: palbapt@bellsouth.net

Phone: (864) 847-7348

Web site: www.palmettobaptistsc.org

Operation Care: Director Kathy Cannon (864) 847-7090 Greenville Care Ministry: (864) 243-3539

VOLUME 54 February & March 2018 NO. 5 & 6

This newsletter is made possible by your gifts to Associational Missions through your local church. Thank you!

Rev. Mike Baker, Director of Missions

Rev. Mike Baker, Director of Missions

When Deb and I moved into our home in Palembang Sumatra, we needed to use our electric devices. Things like hair dryers, razors, computers, etc. In most third world countries, electricity is not as big a deal as it is here in America. We had to look around the house to find somewhere to plug in! Receptacles were few and most located near the fans mounted on the walls. Serving the Lord is much like that sometimes. As I travel around from church to church, folks will often ask me, “What can I do to help?” “Where can I plug in?” If God is leading you to serve, we know where the receptacles are! Here are some “current” activities you can get PLUGGED into through your Palmetto Baptist Association:

PBA Children’s Ministry: Rev. Ryan Steed and Rev Jamie Crawford lead in planning associational wide activities for our children. PLUG in your kids. Our children’s team planning times are a blast! Lots of laughs and fun. The next meeting is scheduled for February 19

th, at 6:30 at the Palmetto Associational office. If you work with the kids in

your church, we’d love to have you join in the fun! The next PBA children’s activity is tentatively planned for April 7

th. We hope it will be at Mineral Springs Park featuring “Hometown Heroes” from fire, police and EMTs. Stay tuned

for confirmation.

PBA Men’s Ministry: Led by Rev. Bob Clardy will be sponsoring a men’s weekend event simulcast with Johnny Hunt Feb 2

nd-3

rd at Whitefield Baptist. Beginning with a steak dinner at 5pm on Friday and concluding Saturday at

lunch. Price is $20 each, and covers it all. PLUG in by getting tickets at PBA office or call Bob Clardy at Whitefield Baptist Church at 864-841-2327.

PBA Pastors: We have a wonderful opportunity on March 14, 2018 as the dear folks at Martha Franks Retirement Center come to PBA to feed us and inform us! They will share the latest concerning their ministry to retired ministers, missionaries and others who live out their lives there under fine Christian care. PLUG in by texting me or calling the PBA office at 847-7348 to sign up for FREE lunch!

PBA Churches: God has given us a tremendous outreach mission to the Hispanic community! Sunday night we had 30 in attendance. At least 20 were children. The adults filled the office area including my office for worship and the children filled the conference room! We need help! If you want to help call me at 979-3796 to PLUG in.

Finally, all churches are encouraged to join us for the PBA ONE DAY event planned on May 19th. We will take one

day and reach out to our cities of Williamston, Pelzer and West Pelzer by picking up trash, sharing the gospel through tracts, block parties, and blood pressure screenings and other venues. PLUG in now by putting that day on your calendar. MAY 19, 2018. Youth through adults, even children will be involved. The children will stay at the PBA office and enjoy games, pizza, and a Christian ventriloquist! WOW!

God bless you as you serve our Lord Jesus! Mike Baker

P.S. We welcome Rev. Marshall Sargent back to the PBA as interim pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Pelzer!

Bobby Ramsey, PBA Sunday School Director

Several weeks ago, while perusing through some Baptist Couriers that had accumulated on my desk, I came across an article by Lee Clamp, SC Southern Baptist Evangelistic Director, regarding D-Day and the courage & bravery of those soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy in a battle that changed the course of World War II in favor of the Allies. Defeat could have meant an entirely different world than what we experience today. Many of these young men paid the ultimate sacrifice that allows us the freedoms we now enjoy. To initiate such an onslaught against the enemy obviously took much planning, preparation & training. Every conceivable angle had to be studied, including the habits & tendencies of the enemy – even down to the weather itself on that victorious but bloody day. As professed Christians, statistics show the vast majority of us are unprepared, ill-trained, and totally oblivious to the spiritual war we have been called to fight on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Clamp reports over 400 Southern Baptist Churches in South Carolina last year failed to baptize a single soul! The question begs to be asked – why not padlock the doors of these churches and better utilize these facilities for civic or community activities? A recent George Barna survey asked participants to critique their life as a professed Christian & rate their weaknesses and need for attention. By far, in order of perceived importance, prayer life, Bible study, and sharing the Gospel were rated their top three weakest links. How can we expect to win the war for souls with untrained, uncommitted and undedicated soldiers? Lack of training and preparation result in weakness and ultimate failure. The great missionary Paul confirms in Ephesians 6:10-18 the spiritual war we face and the offensive and defensive weapons we have at our disposal! But notice his request for himself in Vs. 19-20 – “PRAY ALSO FOR ME, THAT WHENEVER I OPEN MY MOUTH, WORDS MAY BE GIVEN ME SO THAT I WILL FEARLESSLY MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS. PRAY THAT I MAY DELCARE IT FEARLESSLY, AS I SHOULD.” May this be our battle cry for 2018! Sunday School affords the Christian an opportunity for training and preparation for the war we have been called to fight. There is no such thing as an AWOL Christian! May you be inspired and motivated to seek the spiritual training you require thru Sunday School in 2018 to prepare you for battle. Take the step! The collateral damage of failure is too great with eternal ramifications. Bobby Ramsey PBA Sunday School Director

Children’s Missions Day

February 17, 2018

Go Serve!

Children’s Missions Day! What a perfect opportunity to offer an associational mission event for children!

Fall and spring may seem to be too busy with other activities, however, February may be the perfect

time! Our mission is, “Birthday Bash Bag’s.” The PBA Missions Day project is an opportunity for GA’s

RA’s & CA’s to Go Serve! Please bring your Birthday Bash Bags to Operation Care on Monday,

February 19th.

Items for each bag include: birthday candles, cards, banners, plates, napkins, forks, spoons, cake mix,

icing, sprinkles, and a small gift for a boy or girl (dollar store items like coloring books, activity books,

stickers, small toys). All Items can be placed in brown/white bag and decorated by the GA’s RA’s or

CA’s.

If you have any questions, contact: Fran Cooley, PBA WMU Director at 864-934-0448 or PBA at 864-847-7348.

2018 Week of Prayer for North American Missions March 4-11, 2018

Information and resources at - http://www.anniearmstrong.com/

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NEWSLETTER NON-PROFIT Palmetto Bapt. Assoc. US Postage Paid

PO Box 7 Williamston SC

Williamston, SC 29697 Permit 43

BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY WEDDINGS

February Birthdays 3, Mrs. Marie Moon, wife of Minister of Students

Cedar Grove Baptist

10, Mrs. Brenda Clardy, wife of Assoc. Pastor, Whitefield

14, Dr. Billy Dickerson, Pastor of Cedar Grove

15, Rev. Mike Johnson, Pastor of Rehoboth

27, Mrs. Margaret Clayton, wife of Piedmont Pastor

Pastoral Anniversaries

15, Rev. Tim Moon, Minister of Students and Worship

Cedar Grove – 14 years

15, Rev. Ryan Steed, Pastor of Riverside– 3 years

23, Dr. Billy Dickerson, Pastor of Cedar Grove – 4 years

Wedding Anniversaries 12, Rev. & Mrs. Lloyd Robinson, Pastor of Open Door

March Birthdays 3, Rev. Terry Greer, Pastor of Macedonia Baptist

11, Mrs. Gwen Johnson, wife of Rehoboth Baptist Pastor

23, Rev. Bob Clardy, Associate Pastor Whitefield

29, Rev. Jeremy Sargent, Pastor of Revive Church

Wedding Anniversaries 5, Rev. & Mrs. Landrum Reece, retired Pastor

Pastoral Anniversaries 12, Rev. Rusty Freeman, Student Minister of Washington Baptist – 11 years

CONTRIBUTIONS FOM THE CHURCHES

ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONS

Year: October 2017 – September 2018

Reporting December 2017 Receipts and YTD Total

December 2017 10/17 - 9/18

Churches Receipts Year-to-Date

Beaverdam 500.00 1,500.00

Big Creek - 651.64

Calvary 226.99 792.90

Cedar Falls - -

Cedar Grove 416.66 1,249.98

Columbia 250.00 700.00

Eastview 25.00 75.00

Friendship - 280.75

Hillcrest - 1,109.83

Macedonia - -

New Hope 486.92 1,471.69

Open Door - 211.59

Piedmont Heights 166.44 640.85

Pelzer First 83.33 249.90

Rehoboth - -

Revive Church - 200.00

Riverside - 148.00

Tabernacle 321.76 655.76

Washington 600.00 1,800.00

Waycross - -

West Pelzer - 529.70

White Plains 233.14 505.75

Whitefield 200.00 400.00

Williamston First 741.66 2,149.98

Total Received 4,251.90 15,323.32

Balance Brought Forward TOTAL ALL ACCCOUNTS December 1, 2017 29,053.49

Total Receipts from Churches 4,251.90

Deposit- Designated Account: Hispanic Church Mission 400.00

Interest on Checking 1.15

PBA Total Disbursements: Designated & General Fund for December 31, 2017 (5,128.10)

Total all accounts: Designated & PBA Operations December 31, 2017 28,578.44

*DESIGNATED FUNDS ACCOUNT BALANCE:

Operation Care Project 3,205.98$

Hispanic Church Mission 2,961.73$

Special Mission Projects 2,000.00$

ESL Mission 2,802.15$

TOTAL DESIGNATED ACCOUNTS 10,969.86$

** PBA OPERATIONS GENERAL FUND 17,608.58$

TOTAL ALL ACCOUNTS: Designated & General Funds December 31, 2017 28,578.44$

Thank you for your financial gifts and support.

Associational News & Events February 12-18, 2018 Focus on WMU Week.

February 26, 2018 Nominating Committee Meeting, PBA Office @ 10:00 AM

March 4-11, 2018 Week of Prayer and Mission Study for North American Missions and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

March 11, 2018 Daylight Savings Time Begins. (Spring Forward)

March 13, 2018 PBA Senior Adult Luncheon @ Whitefield Baptist Church. Program @ 10 AM with Lunch to follow. Please

invite a friend. More information to come.

March 15, 2018 Minister’s & Church Staff Luncheon @ 12 Noon – 1: 00 PM. Speaker: Rev. Ken Wright with Martha Franks.

March 23-24, 2018 WMU Annual State Meeting, First Church, North Augusta.

March 30, 2018 Good Friday. PBA & Operation Care closed.

April 16, 2018 @ Administrative & Executive Meeting @ 6:45 PM PBA Office. Associational Council, Administrative

Committee, Finance and Properties Committee, all Pastors and church representative(s) are urged to attend. Please Mark your

calendar.

BACK PACK FOOD MINISTRY- If you or your church would like to be involved in the mission, please contact Mary Anne

Bunton at 847-9831 or Glinda McInnis at 847-5225. Donations are always needed.

OPERATION CARE FOOD MINISTRY- All food donations are welcome. Also: baby products, cleaning, and paper products.