Barnwell-Bamberg Baptists mark sesquicentennial year

Barnwell-Bamberg Baptists gathered Oct. 10 at Springtown Baptist Church, Bamberg, the site of their first meeting 150 years ago, to celebrate the association’s sesquicentennial. Carlisle Driggers, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, was keynote speaker for the anniversary observance.

Billy Mew, left, presented his book, "Remembering the Past," during the Oct. 10 meeting of Barnwell-Bamberg Association. With him is moderator Larry Davis of Elko.

The 11th oldest association affiliated with the state convention, Barnwell-Bamberg formed with 14 charter churches that had 1,318 members in 1856. The association’s membership now totals more than 9,700 persons, and during the proceeding of its 2006 meeting, the association welcomed its 38th congregation, New Hope, which grew out of the association’s “ABC” ministry to Hispanics.

The association also adopted a resolution encouraging support of its member churches for the South Carolina Marriage Amendment to be voted upon by the state’s citizens Nov. 7. The resolution also stated opposition to any legislation that undermines the biblical model of marriage between one man and one woman.

Billy Mew, the association's 12th director of missions and author of “Remembering the Past,” a history of the association, shared with the more than 200 persons in attendance some of the interesting facts that he had discovered during the research process for his book. D.W. Heckle has the record for holding the most pastorates at the same time, with seven churches; J.D. Peacock held the longest pastorate to date, serving 44 years at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Elko, he said.

Since 1925, the association’s churches have contributed more than $10 million through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program for missions and ministries, added Mew. In 1899, all church property in the association was valued at approximately $40,000, noted Mew, while today that figure surpasses $44 million.

Copies of Mew’s 250-page book, which features nearly 100 pictures and more than 900 names, are available through the association’s offices for $35, plus $3.50 for shipping, by calling (843) 793-3525.