Taylor reflects on life-changing experience
Sametta Taylor, a Moncks Corner resident and junior English Major at Columbia College, was accepted to participate in the summer Institute for Literary and Cultural Studies (SILCS).  
She spent June with 11 other highly motivated English majors at SLCS, based at Wheaton College, in Norton, Massachusetts.  She was selected from a competitive pool of top scholars, who were provided an opportunity to visit Harvard, Yale and other New England graduate English programs.
Sametta had a wonderful time and wrote to share her experiences with us:
“My experience at SILCS was phenomenal!  In the four-week pre-graduate program, I visited three Ivy Leagues--Harvard, Yale, and Brown--schools that I would never have dreamed of attending. I got a chance to talk to directors of graduate programs and graduate students.  Those directors and students gave me helpful advice about the graduate school application process and doctoral programs in English.
“I also took a three-week class that was created to simulate a graduate level course.  In that class, I learned about literary theory and collaborated with my classmates to apply different theoretical approaches to interpret The Color Purple by Alice Walker.  In addition to learning about literary theory, I also learned about the professoriate. 
“As a result of attending SILCS, I have decided to become a professor of English.  I plan to teach African-American literature, literature that I have always loved to read.  I hope to instill my passion for education and literacy in my future students and in everyone that I meet.
“Overall, SILCS prepared me to become an ideal candidate for graduate school.  Before I attended the program, I had no intentions of entering into a doctoral program.  I had always "run away" from my ‘call’ to teach because I didn't want to be just like my mom. 
“After attending the program, I discovered that I cannot settle for anything less than a profession that will allow me to reach so many students by encouraging them to think independently.  I left SILCS on June 28 with a group of friends and professors from all over the country who will encourage me to pursue my dreams of becoming the best English professor that I can be.”
Thanks for sharing Sametta, and we wish you much success in all endeavors.  Sametta is a daughter of Minister Sammie Jr., and Michelle B. Taylor, and granddaughter of Sammie Taylor Sr., Josephine Sanders, and Deacon Joseph A. and Emily J. Brown. Her brother is Sammie Taylor II, and her godparents are Carl and Altrise B. Weldon.
Ministry in Action
The Rev. Dr. Leon G. Brown and members of the Moncks Corner Baptist Church took their faith to the streets recently as they participated in the Independence Day Celebration Marching in the Moncks Corner.
Members wore T-shirts with the church’s’ address, name and telephone numbers.  The shirts also carried a scripture message from John 3:3.  
As they walked the route, they distributed flyers inviting everyone to fellowship and worship with them. The flyers identified dates and times of the various ministries and services, along with a statement of the church’s Mission Statement and Purpose.  
We are grateful to Ejurie Brown for sharing this information with us.
Congratulations
On July 5 at the day Dawn Baptist Church in Pineville, an Ordination Service was conducted for Minister Ronald Casey. He is now the Reverend Ronald Casey and our prayers and good wishes go with him as he continues his Kingdom work. We pray God’s continued blessings for the Rev. Ronald and Mrs. Thelma Casey.
Prayers
We continue to pray for the recovery of health for the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lloyd of Pineville. We wish them to know that they are always in our thoughts.
Items of interest
Send items of interest to Yvonne J. Barnes, 1458 Colonel Maham Dr., Pineville, SC 29468.  Telephone: 567-4182 or email: ybarnes@homesc.com.