1/4/07

Black River Baptist Assoc. celebrates oratory winners
By Cathy Gilbert

Submitted Photo
Winners and guests celebrated the success of the Black River District oratory contest. Pictured are Jarquita Lawson, 2006 N.J. Brockman winner; Dr. Rose Hilliard-Wilder, superintendent, CSD1; Natasha Lemon, 2005 C.O. Jackson winner; Joshua Lawson, reception emcee; Jakkia Lawson, a 2006 winner; Rev. Dr. Mitchell Adger. Not pictured, Deja Culver, 2005 N.J. Brockman winner.

The dictionary defines “oratory” as the art or practice of formal speaking in public. No doubt, such an art is on the decline, with less formal, more extemporaneous speech being the practice of the day.

But for the Black River District of the Congress of Christian Education, oratory is not only an important skill, but one which is used to highlight the talents and knowledge of their youth members.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, along with their pastor, the Rev. David Lawson, hosted a reception honoring the oratorical contestants for Black River District Congress of Christian Education for 2005 and 2006.

The Congress, one of the ministries of the Black River Missionary Baptist Association, hosts an Oratorical Contest each year in March during the “Day of Giving.” Graduating 12th graders, college freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to compete in the C.O. Jackson contest and contestants in the seventh through 10th grades are eligible to compete in the N.J. Brockman contest. Contestants must be a member of a church within the Black River Missionary Baptist Association. Speakers are provided with a topic and scripture reference and must then develop a 3-5 minute speech and present it to a panel of eliminating judges. The winner of each contest represents Black River at the South Carolina Baptist Congress of Christian Education in the C.O. Jackson contest held in July and the N.J. Brockman contest held in November.

Black River contestants were first state place winners for 2005 and 2006 in the N.J. Brockman Oratorical Contest held at the Brookland Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia.

Deja Culver, daughter of Ms. Susan Culver, of the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Greeleyville won for 2005 and Jarquita Laura Lawson, daughter of Rev. Johnnie Lee and Mrs. Lee Nora Sabb Lawson Sr. from the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Summerton won for 2006.

The topic for the 2006 contest was “Biblically equipping the 21st century Christian church in ministry and witness.” In her winning speech, Jarquita Lawson spoke of members finding their role in their church and sticking to the job at hand.

“The ushers want to be trustees, the trustees want to be deacons, the choir wants to be the musician and the pastor is stuck in the middle of it all trying to satisfy everyone,” she said in her speech. “Stop worrying about someone else’s job; be in your appointed place, at your appointed time, doing your appointed thing.” Wise advice from a young high school student.

Lawson concluded her speech by exhorting church members to live Christ-like lives and treasure the time they are given.

“Our time on Earth is very short. Live each day to the edification of Christ,” she said. “For we have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it, forced upon us, can’t refuse it, didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it; but it’s up to us to use it. We must suffer if we lose it, give account if we abuse it; just a tiny little minute, eternity within it!”

Natasha Lemon, daughter of Edward Lemon and Beatrice House and Jakkia Lawson, daughter of Rev. Johnnie Lee and Mrs. Lee Nora Sabb Lawson Sr. both competed in the C.O. Jackson contest in July 2005 and 2006. Both girls are from the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Summerton.

“We are proud of all of our contestants who did remarkable jobs,” said Eva R. Gaters, who chairs the Black River Oratorical Contest committee.

In attendance at the Dec. 9 reception was Rev. E. L. Sanders, moderator of Black River Missionary Baptist Association; Rev. Dr. Mitchell Adger, president of Black River District Congress of Christian Education; Rev. Richard Addison; Rev. David Lawson, host pastor and Betty Bosier, District Congress Dean. Also present were District Congress Board members, Deacon Thomas Williams and Deacon Sammie Lee Gaters Jr. and Dr. Rose Hilliard-Wilder, superintendent of Clarendon School District 1.

“All the contestants have done an outstanding job in representing their local churches and going to the state competition,” Wilder said in her remarks. “I am amazed at the content of your speeches and encourage you to continue on. The sky is the limit!”

All contestants were presented with gifts from the hospitality ministries of the Bethlehem and Trinity churches as well as from the District Congress. Each also received a proclamation from the Honorable Kevin Johnson, mayor of the City of Manning.