Pictured are front row: Von Metts,Vice President of Lutheran Men in Mission Tim Crout Second row is Dan Camp, of Blythewood, Lindy Richardson, John Boozer, III, Jerry Richardson, Jimmy Scott, St. Paul Pastor Brent Nichols, and Mark Richardson. Back row are Rick Caston, Darryl Hentz, Brian Dooley, from Pickens, Wayne Boozer, Barry Richardson and Stanley Shealy

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POMARIA — Leaders from the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission came from Lexington, Blythewood and Pickens on Sunday morning for a breakfast and fellowship meeting with the Lutheran Men’s Group at St. Paul Pomaria.

Tim Crout, vice president of the S.C. Lutheran Men in Mission, led a Bible study about the book of Acts and the formation of the early church. The event was a way to encourage the pastor and the men of St. Paul as they continue their ministry following a January fire that destroyed the church sanctuary and educational building.

Crout said he was not worried about the men working to rebuild the sanctuary or build a new educational building. Rather, he was more concerned with their hearts and minds and how they were building themselves, and their church up spiritually right now.

Informal small group discussion was the main part of the event, although the men enjoyed joking around and fellowship, too.

Dan Camp of Blythewood offered to come back in a month or so to do another Bible study and help support not only the Lutheran Men’s group but to support St. Paul’s pastor as he adjusted his ministry to address the church’s current circumstances.

John Boozer, president of the Heartland Conference Area and a member at Pomaria Lutheran Church, also attended to show support. The Lutheran Men in Mission help fund mission churches in South Carolina as an outreach ministry.

The three guests at the monthly meeting saw their presence as an extension of that ministry.

“St. Paul is so much better off than many mission churches in a lot of ways,” said lifelong member Jerry Richardson. “True, we no longer have a building but we have (generations) of personal relationships that have been formed that we can build upon as we move forward.”

For now, St. Paul Lutheran Church continues to meet on Folk Street at the old Pomaria Elementary School. People interested in donating to the churches rebuilding efforts can send donations to St. Paul Restoration Fund, First Community Bank, P.O. Box 417, Newberry, SC 29108. The public can keep up with the church’s efforts on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stpaulpomaria and its website www.stpaulpomaria.com.

The Lutheran Men’s group meets the second Sunday of each month at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and Bible study. All are welcome.