SC Mill Community Impacted by Inasmuch

            About 15 years ago the Lydia Textile Mill in Clinton, SC, closed as did hundreds of other textile mills throughout the South.  When the mill closed, the community around it changed forever.  Families of former mill workers moved out; people with no prior connection to that community moved in; houses went vacant; and churches in Lydia have suffered ever since.
            On Saturday, October 3rd, about 75 volunteers from neighborhood churches and other groups “worked over” the Lydia community in a collaborative Operation Inasmuch.  They cleaned the community cemetery, park, vacant lots and 18 blocks of streets.  Flyers were passed out prior to Inasmuch explaining to Lydia residents what would take place on Oct 3rd and asking them to put old tires and abandoned furniture curbside for pickup.  A couple of the residents not associated with any of the churches participated in the Inasmuch event.
            Volunteers came from 5 area churches, the local Boy Scout troop, and children from the Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton.  The City of Clinton assisted by providing materials for refurbishing street signs and cleaning. 
            Lydia Baptist Church served as Command Central for the Clinton Inasmuch.  The church has declined significantly as a result of the mill closing.  Their average attendance is about 30 but half of their active members most of whom are senior adults participated in Inasmuch.  Dr. James Dubose, Lydia’s Pastor, says their members really appreciated being involved in Inasmuch.  Several commented how good it was to see the church reaching out to the community.  “Operation Inasmuch is the kind of ministry that breathes new life into a struggling church impacted by drastic changes in their community,” says Dubose.  David Crocker spoke at Lydia Baptist and conducted a workshop on Operation Inasmuch earlier this year.  Says Crocker, “It’s very rewarding to see that seeds planted last winter are bearing fruit in Lydia now.”
            Doris Straight of Bethany Presbyterian Church served as the Coordinator of the Lydia Inasmuch.  She says conversations are already underway to conduct an Operation Inasmuch again next year.  They are planning on more involvement from residents and churches now that they understand what Operation Inasmuch is and what it does for the community.

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