Rev. J.W. Sanders still going strong after 60 years at Bethel

REV. J.W. SANDERS Rev. J.W. Sanders Sr. was already a minister at 19 when he answered a call to become the pastor at a fledgling church in Gaffney.

In April of 2009, Sanders will celebrate his 60th anniversary as pastor at Bethel Baptist Church. Plans are underway to mark the occasion with a banquet and special worship service April 20-21 honoring Sanders for his longtime service to the congregation.

"His life has been one of total commitment and service to the community," said Bethel Baptist Church Assistant Pastor J.W. Sanders Jr., one of the minister's three children. "He is still very active and involved in the ministry. We are so proud of how he has represented Cherokee County and look forward to celebrating his 60 years of ministry with the community in April."

Sanders Sr., 79, is still following the same routine on Sundays. He starts the day by leading an 8:30 a.m. worship service at Island Creek Baptist Church, where he has been the pastor for 31 years.

After the worship service, Sanders travels over to Bethel Baptist Church in time for Sunday School and conducts the 11 a.m. worship service.

He has no plans to retire any time soon.

"The Lord has blessed me to be able to serve three churches over the years. I have loved all the time that I have spent as a pastor over the years," Sanders said. "It is my desire and hope to continue to keep going with the church as long as I remain in good health."

Sanders lives by the attitude that nothing is impossible when guided by the will of God. It is a life philosophy the pastor has personally witnessed in his own life.

His college education almost ended before it began at Benedict College.

"I needed a $50 scholarship in order to afford to return to school for another semester," Sanders said. "God spoke to me while I was in prayer and told me I needed to go over to the president's office to apply for a scholarship. At 10 minutes after 4 p.m., I went over there and met with an administrator to explain my problem. I got a $54 scholarship that paid my way through college."

He received similar spiritual guidance many years later when he was approached about becoming pastor at a church in Washington, D.C. The congregation was familiar with Sanders from speaking engagements at churches in Maryland, New York, Virginia, California and Hawaii.

"God spoke to me one morning and said 'I can do for you here in Gaffney what I can do for you in Washington'," Sanders recalled.

Sanders stayed at Bethel Baptist Church. He has watched the church grow into a vibrant congregation with 400 members and many community ministry programs.

These include a survival fund to help church members with problems meeting rent, utility bills and other financial issues. Since 1985, Sanders can remember only two people helped by the survival fund who have not repaid the church for the assistance.

Bethel Baptist Church started an adult daycare program in 1999. Every summer the church helps youngsters get jobs in the community to help them make money.

"It keeps the youth off the street and teaches them the merits of work," Sanders said. "Our church provides scholarships to students attending any institution of higher learning. Recognizing the positive achievements of our youths must be a priority for the church and community."