ARP News

Michael S. Evans, Sr.

Michael Samuel Evans, Sr., 75, passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2018. He was the son of Joseph Samuel Evans and Florence Sims Evans.

A funeral will be held on Friday, October 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Arsenal Hill ARP Church in Columbia, with visitation one hour prior. A graveside service will follow at Brewington Presbyterian Church in Brewington, SC at 2:00 p.m.

Drafted into the Army Air Corps, Michael was wounded in Vietnam on Easter Sunday 1968, and received a Purple Heart. He retired from Shakespeare Monofilament Co. He was a lifelong member of Arsenal Hill, where he served as Deacon, Elder, Clerk, and Treasurer at various times. He was elected as Elder Emeritus in July 2018. Michael served the ARP denomination as Vice Moderator of Synod, Moderator of Catawba Presbytery, Chairman of the Bonclarken Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Dunlap Orphanage Board.

Surviving are his wife, Carol Keller Evans; his brother, John Ellison Evans; his daughter, Julie Evans Bowyer (Steve); his son, Michael Samuel Evans, Jr. (Roxana); and grandchildren, Nathan Bowyer, Sam Evans, Kristin Bowyer, and Josh Evans.

Memorials may be made to the Brewington Cemetery Association in care of Patti McElveen, 895 Pleasant Grove Rd., Lynchburg, SC 29080. Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park is assisting the family.

James (Jim) S. Kidd

James (Jim) Spray Kidd, who served as district attorney for more than two decades, passed away at his home on Friday (Sept. 28, 2018). He was 89.

He joined the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1933. He served as deacon, elder, clerk of the session, congregational chairman, moderator of the Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery and member of the choir at the Fayetteville ARP Church since 1960. He also served as an elder emeritus at the Lincoln ARP Church. From 1949 until 2014, Mr. Kidd was an active Sunday School teacher, except while stationed with his military assignments.  He served on the board of trustees for Erskine College, the executive board of Synod, board of William H. Dunlap Orphanage, Ecclesiastical Commission on Judiciary Affairs and the Board of World Witness.

Mr. Kidd loved the Lord, his church, the legal profession, his office, chocolate sauce, ice cream, tax deductions, no complications during calving season and making sure his children were up and working at 5:30 a.m. on Saturdays. His devout faith guided him to always “do some good”, and he took pride in his children’s professional accomplishments and their commitment to family. He also loved his “sweet, intelligent and faithful” wife who cared for him, their children and their home for many decades where, as he would say, “Every day is a good day.”

Mr. Kidd is survived by his wife of over 63 years, Roberta Wales Kidd; eight children, Martha Kidd Kelly (Gary ) of Fayetteville, Dr. William Kidd (Denise) of Fayetteville, Thomas Kidd (Teresa) of Lafayette, David Kidd (Luanne) of Fayetteville, Dr. Mary Kidd Barker (Reid) of Atlanta, Ga., Robert Kidd (Helen) of Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Sarah Kidd (Mike Ray) of McKenzie, Deborah Kidd Vear (Kevin) of Atlanta, Ga.; two sisters, Nancy Kidd Hall and Jessie Stewart McFerrin of Fayetteville; 19 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, September 30, at the Fayetteville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. A private burial was in Lebanon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Fayetteville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church or Gideons International.

You can read the full obituary here.

John R. de Witt Service Details

We are thankful to the Lord for the well-lived and faithful life of Dr. John R. de Witt.

Dr. John R. de Witt, former Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church and former Moderator of  the Associate Reformed Presbyterian General Synod, passed into glory on Sunday, September 30.  The service will be held Wednesday, October 3 at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC.  Burial will be in the churchyard followed by visitation in Jackson Hall.

Our prayers are with the de Witt family.

In His Grace,
David Lauten

Hurricane Florence

Charlie Phillips, Shem Creek Presbyterian Church, sons prepare for Hurricane Florence.

Please pray for the East coast as they prepare for Hurricane Florence. The exact path is not known just yet, but we do want to remember our ARP Churches near the coast:

Christ Coastal ARP Church in Southport, NC
Covenant ARP Church in Jacksonville, NC
Emmanuel ARP Church in Wilmington, NC
Scots Kirk Presbyterian Church, Summerville, SC
Shem Creek Presbyterian in Mount Pleasant, SC
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Conway, SC

“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea– the LORD on high is mighty.” (Psalm 93:4)