One June 13th, Pyerian Baptist Church of Dillon, SC celebrated Amanda Hardwick Day. Mrs. Hardwick is the widow of former long time pastor Dr. Lamar Hardwick, who served from 1961 to 1994. After Dr. Hardwick’s passing and through the ministries of three following pastors, Mrs. Hardwick continued to be a supporter of the church and the community. Now, in her forty-ninth year of service at Pyerian she is still going strong. She leads the senior women’s Sunday School class and is a key leader in the Helping Hands ministry outreach to local nursing homes and to local senior shut-ins. She continues to support missions locally and globally and works with the BYWM youth mission group.
Pastor James Orr, the present pastor of Pyerian, calls her the “conscience of the church as she extends the ministry of her husband. The whole church as well as my wife and I are so blessed to have her presence in our lives.”
During the service special music was performed in her honor. Janet Holder and Hal Matthews sang “My Mother’s Bible.” Gene Minshew sang “If That Isn’t Love” and Gary Vaughn sang “We Shall Not Be Moved” and played the guitar. The choir sang “Jerusalem.” Pastor Orr then preached a message of salvation and the legacy of faith.
The church gave Mrs. Hardwick a basket of cards and letters from individuals as well as a love offering from the church. Mrs. Hardwick, who was accompanied by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, said “I could not have been more surprised. I don’t’ deserve this and give all the glory to Jesus Christ.”
The service ended with a fellowship meal for all who were present. After the meal Mrs. Hardwick was presented with a banner of her day signed by all who were there.
