December 29, 2014
Ridge Spring News
Happy New Year!!
We
are beginning a new year. Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions?
I am but I will not tell anyone.
The days are getting longer again and the future looks bright. Our small town and region is moving forward
and we have so much to be thankful for.
I generally take the month of January off in writing the column and have
guest writers to fill in. I have been
doing this column for 12 ½ years with no pay yet I keep doing it with the help
of so many. I am so thankful. Help me do it for another 6 years.
Lee Ann Perez - One Ash Farm & Dairy: We have finally dried out and now we are
enjoying watching the piglets grow, and learn how to run in and out of their
pen. All of the animals are enjoying the sunshine after all that rain,
and we have seen so many doves and other birds flying around. On
Christmas night we marveled at the clear sky and all of the stars. As we
get ready to embark on 2015, we are reflecting back on the blessings from this
past year. Thanks to all we have met and done business with and special
thanks to all our friends, for being an important part of our 2014! We hope
you all have had a good year, and are looking forward to a happy and prosperous
New Year!
Happy New Year! Off the Beaten Path is celebrating 6 months in business in Ridge
Spring. We are so excited to be downtown and looking forward to the
serving you with incredible handcrafted merchandise and artisans' work.
We are looking forward to the addition of 3 new vendors in January. Be
sure to stop in and see what we have to offer. We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday from 10 AM-5PM
The following story is by Sadie Davis. I appreciate her dedication, faith and love
for others. Thank you, Sadie Davis.
This Is
My Story
By Sadie Davis
As Director of Mt. Alpha Baptist Church
Vacation Bible School, I became interested in new ideas to improve or add to
our VBS Classes. This interest motivated
me to visit some local churches VBS’s such as Ridge Spring Baptist, Philippi
Baptist and Mt. Pleasant Baptist. These churches along with Mt. Pleasant
Baptist would invite us to attend. Each
church had its own charity mission and we (our grandchildren and cousins)
participated and contributed to their charities. Philippi Baptist Church
encouraged students to support the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Ministry
by donating toys, educational items, money for postage and other non-perishable
items that would brighten a child’s eyes. The purpose of this ministry is to
spread the love and acceptance of Jesus. Samaritan’s Purse first began
collecting shoe box gifts in 1993. By 2013, God blessed the ministry to reach
almost 10 million children.
One year later, I met this lady (Jennifer
Jutkofsky) in Lexington, SC and she
asked if I were familiar with the Samaritan’s Purse/OCC Shoe Box Ministry. I said,
“No, I am not”. She gave me a bulletin
which was a Special Report on the mission to read. I became interested and
continued my research on the internet. The one seed Jennifer Jutkofsky planted
began to grow inside of me. My love and
interest for children inspired me to embark upon this journey. God’s Spirit touched me and there was no
turning back. I asked God to help me collect enough children items to fill 100
shoe boxes. I had great faith and no
doubt that I would reach this goal. As a result of God’s working behind the
scene, the love of Christians in our church and community, Christians helped to
reach my expected goal and beyond by filling 130 shoe boxes. One hundred and thirty children will learn
about the love of Jesus! Because of my
overly whelming excitement, I didn’t realize at the moment that I would need
$7.00 postage for each box! “Wow!!!” I said. I went back to God and asked Him
to help me collect the postage to mail as many boxes as possible. Because of
God’s love, my faith, loving Christians In our church, community Christians and
friends, $ 731.00 was collected!! The amazing thing about this charity
assignment from God is, I never doubted that the mission would not be
fulfilled. I maintained a joy and still
have this joy about helping some deprived child to be happy and most of all,
teaching them while they are young about the love of Jesus!
One of
our church members, Calvin Felder, shared his experience while stationed in
Afghanistan. He said the children are so thankful for the small things they
receive. He said, “The mission is needed
and thank God we are willing to share the word of Jesus through the OCC”.
I went back to God and ask for help
again! I said, God, I need another
Christian who would understand my Christian motive and drive and willing to
work (excluding self gratification) and share my joy. Believe it or not, God blessed me with one
Christian, Madelyn Martin. We worked two
separate days packing 130 boxes and applying the bar code postage. There was so
much joy in our task packing the boxes.
We acted and worked as if we were working for
pay to feed our family. Near the end there were 30 boxes to be wrapped with
Christmas paper. We needed Christmas
paper and someone to help wrap the boxes. God delegated two helpers, Bea Davis
donated paper and Angelin Butler wrapped all the boxes! Thank God, I decided to purchase 100
decorated shoe boxes which eliminated more wrapping. Dollar General in Ridge
Spring, SC donated big boxes to pack the shoe boxes for easy delivery. They were carried to Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Church located off Hwy. No. 1 one of the local drop- off stations.
Boxes
will be shipped to Charlotte, NC and packed for international shipping. Six of us (Clifton Felder, Joseph Butler,
Madelyn Martin, Beatrice Davis, Angelin Butler and Sadie Davis) plan to go to
Charlotte, NC, December 11th to help inspect and pack boxes for
international shipping. We ask that you
pray that we have a safe trip and a spiritual experience. I have been called to work on many Christian missions but this seems to be one
of the largest. I thank God for using me and others to accomplish this mission
to help spread the Word of Jesus. My love and sincere gratitude are more than
words can express to all of you who helped me fill the 130 boxes and generous
donations for the postage. I am so thankful to all and may God continue to
bless you for your giving!! My experience has been great and rewarding!! God
bless your gifts and may God continue to bless all of you.
Dear Reader,
It is amazing how
certain seasons and occasions can bring the very best out of us. We live in a culture that enjoys
celebrating. We celebrate anniversaries,
retirements, birthdays, Halloween, Father’s/ Mother’s Day, and the list goes
on. This Christmas Season will be filled
with gifts, dinners and other ways of having fun with friends and family
gatherings. All this is great and these
gatherings are good for relationships.
The greatest celebration we can
be a part of is the announcement or learning about the good news that a Savior
has come into the world. This celebration is important because it gives us
hope. This hope is for all because God
sent a Savior to give salvation to mankind.
Initially, many people might have a different response to the
gospel. The most important
thing is that they come to accept the message of salvation at some point
in their lives.
Celebrating Christmas
is great but remember there is a reason for the season. We celebrate His Birth. Once we have accepted
Jesus as our Savior, a new person is born. This new person will have Christ
like characteristics, that will be loving, caring, sharing and compassionate
characteristics that becomes a part of this new person. During this season,
which is great, people extend themselves to give to families, friends,
charities, homeless and other needy groups. What happens after Christmas? Do we
revert to normalcy or just wait for another holiday to continue our
giving? People who might be suffering
this season will have same problems after Christmas or some other holiday we
celebrate. Other words, strive to be
Christ like every day. That is, be
loving, kind hearted, sharing and sensitive to one’s needs throughout the
year. Yes, scams might be prevalent in
our society but stay focused and be directed by Holy Spirit. Merry Christmas to
all in Reader’s Land, celebrate His birth and have a blessed New Year.
Sadie and her
committee took the boxes to Charlotte and in her own words “It was awesome!!!!”
Few more reminders:
CHRISTMAS ON THE RIDGE
HOLIDAY SHOWCASE at Cumbee Place, 401 E. Main St. Ridge Spring, SC will
continue until January 3, 2015. Hours
are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 12:30-5 p.m. and Saturdays: 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cumbee Place has been enjoying seeing everyone for the
Holiday Showcase it is still going on until January 3rd so stop by
and see us. We are putting together winter workshops for everyone to enjoy to
find out about the workshops go to our website www.cumbeeplace.com and click on the workshop
link.
Patsy Asbill: The Ridge Spring Library has been fortunate in
getting people to volunteer to help keep the library open. We have enough
people that we can now be open the entire day on Friday.
Harriet’s Garden will be closed for the month of January which
really means I just won’t have regular hours.
If you need me call the shop.
Reminders:
Dec. 21-Jan.5: Christmas on the Ridge Holiday Showcase
Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 a.m. -
12 p.m.; Thurs 8:30 am - 12:30 pm; Fri 12:30 pm -4:30 pm; Sat 9 am -12:00 pm.
Every 2nd
& 4th Monday: Kids'
Corner Story Time 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Ridge Spring Library.
Every 2nd Monday: RSM Elem PTO meets at 6:30 pm in the media
center.
Every
Friday & Saturday: AARS hours 10 – 4
or by appt, free admission
Every
first Tuesday of the Month: AARS meets
at 6:30, 685-5783
Every
Wednesday: AA meets at Recovery Works
Every Monday & Friday: Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous
meetings 7 pm at Recovery
Works (enter on Ponderosa Drive; park in Visitor Parking Area)
Every 3rd Thursday: FORS at Cumbee Place 5 pm
