Area residents jam for Jesus

July 23, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

ABBEVILLE — About the same time the National Weather Service was issuing a severe thunderstorm warning for Abbeville County, the Rev. Alice Ridgill was issuing up a prayer to God to keep the storms away from the hundreds of people who gathered Saturday night at Abbeville High School’s Hite Stadium.
And though the rain eventually came, those people were able to see a majority of JesusFest, an annual event that features praise, song, dance and personal testimonies and brings the community together to worship as Christians.
The theme of the event was “Jammin’ for Jesus.”
“Our prayer is to turn this stadium into a sanctuary for the glory of God,” Ridgill told the crowd. “Just because we aren’t in church doesn’t mean we can’t praise Him.”Ridgill, founder and coordinator of JesusFest, said the event provides a “fun, festive environment” where people of all races, ages and denominations can come together and “lift up the name of Jesus.”
She has said young people need events such as JesusFest to show them being a Christian is “cool” and to offer them a place where their voices can be heard.
“It’s been awesome,” she said. “It’s just something different ... and we do it for a good cause.” Abbeville resident Joyce Phillips, whose daughter was performing at the event, said JesusFest is a motivational tool to keep youths on the right path.
“It’s a good thing to do for kids to keep them out of trouble,” Phillips said, adding that those youths who are not in church are sometimes hard to reach. “Some of these kids here have never been in church. This is an opportunity to get them into music like this. Once they get into it, they’ll love it and they’ll rejoice.”
The music, which featured songs and interpretive dances by the On Fire Dance Team, Tiny Tots children’s mass choir, Hands of Grace, and 1 Voice 4 Him, is a powerful way to spiritually reach young people, said Jean Miller, who traveled from Greenville with husband Steve to see the event.
“I want to see young people learn more about Jesus in the form of music. Hopefully, they’ll understand the significance of coming together as Christians to express themselves here for Jesus,” Miller said. “Music draws them here and, hopefully, they’ll get the message spiritually.”
For 17-year-old Justin Williams, a rising junior at Dixie High School, last year’s JesusFest was a turning point in his life, and he returned this year to share his new faith in the Lord with those in the crowd. As a teenager, Williams often found himself in trouble, he said, missing school and arguing with his parents.
Though he attended church, he said his heart and soul were not connected with God.
“I came to church but I never understood the meaning,” he said.
That all changed at last year’s festival, when he heard Ridgill speaking of the hurdles in life she overcame to make it to where she is.
“I sat there and listened and, at that point, I felt like I was at the bottom. And once you hit the bottom, you’ve got no choice but to go up,” he said. “She was speaking words, but they were touching my heart harder than anyone’s before.”
Williams said he was saved that night at the festival, and, since then, he has turned his life around.
“I urge all of you to try to get your lives straight,” he told the crowd. “This past year has been the best one I’ve had in my life, and I have Jesus to thank for it.”
Associate Pastor Garry James, of Christian Life Assembly in Columbia, was scheduled to speak at the end of the program, but organizers shut down JesusFest because of the weather before he could take the stage. A fireworks display also had to be canceled.

Dorothy Cepeda

NINETY SIX — Dorothy Jane Voiles Cepeda, 72, resident of 2607 Louden Road, died Saturday, July 22, 2006 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Harvey, Ill., she was a daughter of the late Claire and Elizabeth McMahon Voiles. Formerly employed with Nantex, she was more recently a retired homemaker. She was of Catholic faith.
Survivors include four daughters, Brenda L. Gonzalez of the home, Pauline Lollis of Donalds, Ann Hughes and Dorothy Wood, both of Greenwood; a sister, Elizabeth Ladd of Ill.; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 4 p.m. Monday at Oakbrook Memorial Park conducted by the Rev. Father Timothy Tebalt. Visitation is after services.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House of Greenwood, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Margaret Bagwell Mabry

CLINTON — Margaret Bagwell Mabry, age 93 of 501 N. Adair St., widow of John J. Mabry died Saturday, July 22nd in the National Health Care of Clinton.
She was born in Ware Shoals, SC and was the daughter of the late John Henry and Maggie Crawford Bagwell.
Mrs. Mabry, along with her late husband were the owners and operators of the Beacon Drive-In. She later retired from the Presbyterian College Dining Hall staff as a Blue Lady. She was a member of the First Pentecostal Holiness Church, member of the Eastern Star and of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
Surviving are two sons; Charles C. Mabry of Clinton, Johnny E. Mabry and wife Claudia of Fayetteville, NC; six grandchildren, Cher Mabry Hembree and spouse Dennis, Charles Cason Mabry, Jr., Emily Mabry Reyes, John Matthew Mabry, William Robert Finley, Eric Preston Finley and six great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be conducted Monday, July 24th at 2:00 p.m. in the First Pentecostal Holiness Church with interment in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 403 Academy St., Clinton, SC 29325.
The family will be at the residence, 501 N. Adair St., Clinton.
Gray Funeral Home, Clinton, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Jack Threadgill

NINETY SIX — Jack Carey Threadgill, 57, resident of 422 Herndon Drive, husband of Deborah Lynn Woods Threadgill, died Saturday, July 22, 2006 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Spartanburg, he was a son of the late Eric Gladstone and Eunice Sue Smith Threadgill. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, he was a U.S. Navy veteran, was employed by Ridgeway Appraisal Co., and was the former owner of Econ-O-Bug Pest Control Co. and Panorama Lodge Restaurant. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, a Mason, and an active supporter of the Greenwood Humane Society.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Mary Melissa Threadgill of Ninety Six; two sisters, Peggy West of Spartanburg and Kay Williams of Naperville, Ill.; two brothers, Ron Threadgill of Lexington, Ky. and Eric Threadgill of Ninety Six.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Monday at St. Paul United Methodist Church conducted by Dr. Steven Todd. Visitation is after services.
The family is at 218 Irvine’s Circle.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to The Humane Society of Greenwood, PO Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Lucy Zatko

Lucy Inez Payton Zatko, 86, of 314 Blyth Road, died Friday, July 21, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Elberton, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Wylie and Lillie Payton. She was retired from Panola Plant of Greenwood Mills and was a member of Blyth Road Church of God of Prophecy.
Survivors include two sons, David Payton of Greenwood and Herbert Payton of Prosperity; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home conducted by the Revs. Dewain Willis and Mack Willis.
Visitation is 1-2 Tuesday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a son, David, 233 E. Cambridge Ave. Apt. #2.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Wider liberal boundaries encourage a wider probe

July 23, 2006

It wouldn’t be surprising if more than a few people are concerned about what appears to be an erosion of the historical religious and moral standards that have always been associated with this country, especially people in this Bible Belt of South Carolina. Sometimes it almost appears conspiratorial, although any allusion to such thinking likely would run the risk of extremist labeling.
One recent example: A Christian-themed motion picture about a football coach’s faith in God is getting a hard look from several members of Congress ..... not because of its inspirational message, but for the PG rating it received. House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and other lawmakers are demanding explanations after hearing complaints that the movie “Facing the Giants” was rated PG instead of G because of religious content.

THE MOTION PICTURE Association of America says the controversy arose from a miscommunication with the flimmakers, and that religion was not the reason for the rating.
That hasn’t satisfied those lawmakers who see it differently. “The incident raises the disquieting possibility that the MPAA considers exposure to Christian themes more dangerous for children than exposure to gratuitous sex and violence, Blunt said in a letter to the MPAA. After meeting with MPAA officials, Blunt and other lawmakers remained concerned about the rating system. They indicate hearings may be held on the issue.
Considering how sex, violence and the liberal use of offensive language have become part of movie and television fare in recent times, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the MPAA to convince many people that there was no conspiratorial effort to make such liberalization routine.

IN FACT, THE EVIDENCE could make a good case that it is indeed a planned effort.
When you add the obvious anti-religious and anti-American “messages” that are becoming more of an issue in the entertainment world in general, it ought not be surprising that Congress, acting with the encouragement of constituents, would delve more and more into the decision-making process regarding ratings and content.
In another respect, look at the new Superman movie. Whereas it used to be said that Superman fights for “truth, justice and the American way,” now the “American way” is conveniently eliminated. On purpose? Convince the public it’s not. Convince Congress. Under the circumstances, that may be harder than leapin’ tall buildings.