REIGN SONG Rehoboth Baptist Church will begin celebrating its bicentennial this Saturday, July 29, as the group "Reign Song" leads in a worship service. A "love offering" will fund the group's expenses.

The next week, the church will host its Homecoming on August 6. Services are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include fellowship, singing, and preaching as some of the previous pastors are planning to attend and lead in this special time. Donald Walton will deliver the Homecoming message. Following the service, some famous Wheatley barbecue and "other good eats" will be served.

Hailing from the foothills of Tennessee, Reign Song is a unique mixed trio with tight, family-like harmony. The trio consists of a husband and wife, Stacy and Gina Cooper, and their close friend Courtney Elliott.

Reign Song travels across the U.S., the Bahamas, and Mexico performing over 200 concerts a year and has shared the stage with many of today's top artists in southern gospel music. In addition to appearing annually at the National Quartet Convention, the group has been selected to perform on the main stage at Abraham Production's Singing in the Sun for two consecutive years. They have also performed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

Reign Song is a ministry on and off the stage and a percentage of all their CD sales goes to worthwhile causes such as the American Cancer Society and the 2005 hurricane relief efforts.

According to group members, their mission is simple - "to offer encouragement to the redeemed and to spread the saving desire of Christ to the lost."

Rev. Donald Walton is an evangelist who was born in Lincoln County, Georgia, and is a graduate of Lincoln County High School. He is also a graduate of North Georgia Technical and Vocational School, Glorida Baptist College, Louisiana College, and the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

After 21 years as a pastor in Florida, Louisiana, and Missouri, he is now in his twelfth year as a fulltime evangelist. He is also past president of the Fellowship of Missouri Baptist Evangelists.

Walton and his wife, Lauren, live in Oak Grove, Missouri. They have three sons and six grandchildren.

Rehoboth's celebration will continue October 22 at 11 a.m. as Dr. J. Robert White, Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, will speak and present the church with a plaque in recognition of 200 years of service. At 7 o'clock that night, revival services will begin and run through the October 25. Dan Rosser, pastor of Lincolnton Baptist Church, will be the speaker. Pastor Stephen Rayner will lead the music.

"This is a special time in the life of Rehoboth Baptist Church," Rayner said. "All former members are encouraged to join us. Visitors and friends are welcomed to attend. We are also looking for old pictures with information about the settings and time. All pictures will be returned," he added.

Call the church office at 706-2934412 for more information or for directions.