On March 5, Juniper Bay Baptist Church is hosting its 7th annual Wildlife Expo and lunch.
Numerous activities, including some unique ministries and competitions, are planned, and visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy eating wild game of several different kinds. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. Everything is free.
“There will be a lot going on, and it doesn’t cost a dime,” said William White, chairman of the event. “The theme for our event again this year is ‘Experience the Wild through the Crosshairs of Christ”. We will have activities for the entire family and wild game prepared to your liking.”
Just over 100 people attended the first Expo. That number has grown to over 450 for the past few years.
People who had never eaten wild game have learned to love it by trying it there, White said.
The wildlife lunch will be cooked by the Juniper Bay chefs and served at 12:30 p.m. The menu will include deer, duck, wild hog, quail, gator tail, frog legs and fish. Some of the men in the church hunt and fish for the event, but there are many others who help make sure there is plenty of wild game available to eat, White said.
Competitions being held for children and adults include duck calling, archery, skeet, bait casting, BB gun and more.
The special guest speaker is the Rev. Tommy Richardson, the director of mission at the Waccamaw Baptist Association who also is captain of his fishing boat, which he will have at the Expo.
He will deliver his message at 1:30 p.m. for everyone in attendance.
“People who come speak for us have to have a background in sports and ministry,” White said.
Wally Elliott and his wife, Angie, own the Diamond E Farm near Mullins and train their Labrador Retrievers to hunt, compete and to become a part of a ministry that they will be presenting at the event.
White said this ministry has received a great deal of positive feedback from past events.
A trapper from North Carolina will also share his ministry and will have a camp where he demonstrates some of the “old timey ways” of hunting and fishing.
Those taking part in the Wildlife Expo and Lunch include Horry County Fire Rescue and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The Waccamaw Baptist Association will have one or more of its trailers there to show ways it helps others. At this time, Waccamaw Baptist Association volunteers are joined with Baptists from North Carolina and are still working to help people whose homes are in the flooded areas of Johnsonville.
The expo is meant to bring individuals and families together in a place where they will be “loved on.”
“Everybody needs to be loved on,” White said. “We’re just trying to make it really awesome for people to come out and have a great day. We just try to make it a big family attraction where they can come and relax and not stress and enjoy what God has given to us.”
The church is at 5265 Juniper Bay Road. Call 843-397-2787. If necessary, on the event day, call 843-397-3049.
Peggy Mishoe, pegmish@sccoast.net, 365-3885.
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