Pray for Steadman Baptist Church in Leesville, SC

Steadman Baptist Church, located in Leesville, SC, began at the end of the 19th century. After 123 years of ministry to the community, with many challenges along the way, God continues to do great things for his glory through them. Neal Smith, a native of Camden, SC, serves as pastor of Steadman and is leading the church through a revitalization process. Neal’s passion is to see God glorified in the location where God has planted this church.

Neal is a graduate of Anderson University (BA) in South Carolina and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (MMin) In North Carolina. He is currently pursuing his DMin in Church Growth & Revitalization from Southeastern. Before arriving at Steadman Baptist, Neal served as the associate pastor of students and families at First Baptist Church of Batesburg for 13 years. He also serves on the administrative team at the Lexington Baptist Association. Neal and his wife, Lori, have two daughters, McKayla and Cadence, and a son-in-law, Tanner (McKayla). Recent empty-nesters, Neal and Lori enjoy concerts, Broadway shows, playing with their dogs (Holly & Luna), and the occasional getaway to the mountains or the lowcountry.

For almost 20 years, Steadman Baptist has had an outreach ministry called the Judgment House, which has been a fruitful ministry, but needs some changes considering the changing times and demographics of their community. They ask for your prayer for “revitalizing” this outreach ministry as well as several personal and ministry prayers below.

Join us as we pray for these specific prayer needs:

• • Pray for these personal requests from Neal: his sister-in-law, Liz, who has leukemia and is scheduled to receive a bone marrow transplant December 13, and for his son-in-law’s grandmother, Tommie, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

• • Pray for these church members by their first name: Wynette, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and Susan, who suffered a stroke over a year ago and is still dealing with the effects.

• • Pray for their revitalization process overall and particularly for 1) their Sunday school attendance (at an all-time low); 2) their Judgment House outreach ministry (meeting this Sunday); and 3) their Woman’s Missionary Union (more active young adults).

• • Pray for their strategic and wise use of their facilities and equipment in the following ways: 1) Developing relationships with businesses and organizations to use their family life center; 2) Beginning a sports ministry in the near future using their under-utilized gym; and 3) Funds to repair a donated church bus and repaving a parking lot through regular and increased giving. 

• • Pray for Steadman’s missions emphasis as Neal and his wife, Lori, will be able to connect with a church plant in a focused city (Send Cities) within the U.S. and that a supporting partnership will form.

• • Pray for their search for a part-time worship leader and for strengthened communication between their ministry teams.

• • Pray for their newly-formed cemetery team as they make many challenging logistical decisions.

• • Pray for developing relationships between Neal and other pastors in a neighboring city (Pelion) as they join together to build God’s kingdom.