South Baptist Receives Community Award

Posted March 13, 2008 in Association News, GARBCnews

FLINT, Mich.— Pastor Will Payne and South Baptist Church, Flint, Michigan, have received a community award from Priority Children, a Genesee County, Michigan social services organization. The church was presented with the Children’s Champion Award, designed to recognize and thank individuals, businesses and organizations for their tremendous contributions toward improving the lives of children in the community.

Under Pastor Payne’s direction, South Baptist has been involved in the Carmen Ainsworth school district by giving away backpacks to underprivileged children, establishing ongoing mentoring and tutoring programs in the elementary schools and teaching parenting classes for interested people after school hours. Cindy Johns and Joyce Dunckel, members of South Baptist, wrote an etiquette training program called Girl Power which they taught in the elementary school. Pastor Payne also serves as the chaplain for Carman’s basketball team, giving devotionals before the game.

South Baptist just completed their third year of Upwards Basketball, an outreach program that teaches basketball fundamentals and character to young children. This year the program hosted more than 200 children whose family and friends heard a ten-minute Bible message at the half time of every game. South Baptist Church takes seriously Jesus’ instructions about ministering to children—and the community has taken notice.