March 2, 2007 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               

SMC Athletic Director Participates in Mission to Senegal
Perdue Helped Minister to Families of Local Village, Presented SMC Jerseys

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SPARTANBURG, SC –  Spartanburg Methodist College’s athletic director Mark Perdue recently spent 10 days participating in a mission to West Africa, helping educate and minister to local families.

The mission to the village of Cewo in Senegal was sponsored by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

Perdue says that he and his wife had wanted to participate in an international mission for some time.

“The timing was right and this was a wonderful opportunity for us,” says Perdue.

The Perdues participated in a teaching of Rick Warren’s, “The Purpose Driven Life”, to adults and also taught bible lessons to the children of Cewo.

“This was a life changing experience. I never thought that I would get so much out of this personally. But the real reward was getting to meet the people and help minister to them,” Perdue says.

The Perdues were each given the African names Isa Pwoy and Della Chandune by the Cewo residents.  “They welcomed and treated us like family”, Perdue says.

While visiting Cewo, Perdue also presented the men’s soccer teams of the Cewo and Popenguine villages with Spartanburg Methodist College athletic jerseys.  Soccer is the national game and is played widely throughout Africa.  In honor of the Perdue’s, the villages of Cewo and Popenguine played an exhibition game wearing the SMC Soccer jerseys.  Cewo won the match 3-1.

Perdue adds that he and his wife will most likely participate in another mission trip to Africa sometime in the near future.

For more information, contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.                                                          

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