A decade ago I visited the grave of William Screven in Georgetown, SC. It was the start of a day that was spiritually one of the most meaningful of my life. So this week’s Wednesday News & Views is dedicated to William Screven.
Born in England (1629-1713) Screven immigrated to New England in the 1640s. Later he was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Boston and in 1682 established a church in Kittery, Maine. Screven and his small congregation suffered persecution in Maine from the Puritans and fourteen years later moved to Charleston, SC, where they founded the First Baptist Church of Charleston…the oldest Baptist church in the south and one of the oldest in the country. He served as pastor until 1706.
When he died in 1713, he was buried on his personal property in Georgetown. Today his grave is enclosed by a fence and surrounded by a public parking lot. Very few people who park there have any idea who he was or how he impacted the religious life of people living in the south.
I had been in Georgetown for a week preaching a revival. That morning, after praying as I stood by his grave, I began my drive home going through the country in order to visit certain sites. Among them was the church I had previously served in Sumter…Bethel Baptist. A few miles away, I stopped at New Bethel Baptist…the African American church started after the civil war by former slaves who had been members of the Bethel I had served. Again, I spent time praying and reflecting on the history of race in our churches…not always a “good” history. I then drove to the High Hills of the Santee Baptist Church in Stateburg, SC. Founded in 1770, its first pastor was Richard Furman (whom I’ll write about in the future). Furman would become one of the most influential ministers in Baptist history and this church would give birth to many Baptist churches in our state. I stood in front of this church and prayed for our convention and for our church in Rock Hill. Our relocation from downtown was about a year away and I prayed about our future. An overwhelming awareness of how God works in history seized me and I wanted us to be part of His story.
That day remains one of the more meaningful experiences of my walk with our Lord and it began as I reflected on the life of a faithful servant whose story is known today only by God and a few people who know our Baptist history. Buried in what is now a parking lot, it seems a sad memorial to his legacy. Yet he is known by the one who matters most and that is really what matters most. So this News & Views is dedicated to Rev. William Screven.
Now to the News & Views:
Duck Dynasty, back for its fourth season, is the highest rated cable TV reality show. In addition to being funny, the Robertson clan consistently portrays a family that is unapologetic about their Christian faith and their affection for one another. The pop culture phenomenon is making it harder for television executives to ignore the demand for shows that portray families who put God first in their lives. To this I say, “AMEN!”
In news that may surprise you, eighteen Christian artists and bands, including TobyMac, MercyMe, Steven Curtis Chapman, and the Newsboys, will rock the “Night of Joy” concert at Orlando’s Walt Disney World next weekend, while 17 more – including Lecrae, Relient K, and Switchfoot – will jam out at nearby Universal Studios Orlando. Once again I say, “AMEN!”
We surveyed those attending worship this past Sunday @ FBC about which social media platform they use most and it wasn’t even close: FACEBOOK was the top choice by a wide margin. Research tells us that one out of every seven minutes spent online is on Facebook. The fastest growing demographic on Facebook is the 45 to 54 year age bracket. Traditionally churches spend most of their effort and money on communicating with people during the week via printed newsletters. Perhaps we should put more effort into other forms of communication and spend less time and money on printed materials.
Pastor Steve Hogg
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