“God is a friend on your side, when things don’t go your way,” was the message Rev. Alfred Griffin, Pastor of Franklin United Methodist Church and Orange Grove United Methodist tried to convey to the members, family and friends of the Bamberg County Family and Community Leaders Organization, which held their annual holiday banquet Friday night at the Bamberg Civic Center.

“Integrity is all that we have, in trusting in God,” Rev. Griffin added in his speech to the group whose creed says in part, “we strive to promote a better way of life for all through fellowship, continuing education and service; to provide guidance in our homes and communities for the uniting of people to make the world a better place in which to live.”

The program followed the following order and included the following participants: Mistress of Ceremony was Cindy Kennedy. Following the song “O Come All Ye Faithful,” the welcome was provided by Gwendolyn Folk, with devotion by Evangelist Mary Tarrant and Reverend Marion Tarrant. The organization’s Creed, Pledge and Salute were done by Cindy Kennedy, followed by a Christmas Carol “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” followed by poems from Emma Orr and Josephine Duncan, a solo by Jessie Irons, introduction of the speaker by Lena Dowling and blessing by Evangelist Mary A. Tarrant. After a fantastic Christmas dinner, a Christmas Carol “Joy to the World” the group was entertained by the fantastic voices of “The Smith Sisters” of Bamberg, that precede closing remarks by Ms. Evelyn Jones, who thanked all of those in attendance for coming and the members of the organization for their hard work.