Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A ministry is continuing their work at the Escambia County Detention Center this holiday season — all in honor of Renee Shipp.
Shipp, who passed away in 2022, was active in jail ministry in Escambia County and had others working by her side who are continuing the ministry.
Becky Barbas, who worked alongside Shipp, is heading up the holiday ministry detail with assistance from Beverly Carver.
“We are doing this in memory of Renee,” Barbas said. “We have several other members from area churches helping out as well.”
Several people gathered in the education center of Catawba Springs Baptist Church last week to prepare gift bags to be distributed at the Escambia County Detention Center over the past weekend.
“We have basic items in the bag along with a handwritten Christmas card done by members of the Elim Baptist Church,” Barbas said. “Those notes help to brighten the day for those who get them and they offer encouragement as well.”
Church members participating in the gift bag preparation included those from Catawba Springs Baptist church, Elim Baptist Church, East Brewton first Assembly, New Vision and True Worship Assembly church. Larry Patterson, associational missionary for the Ecambia Baptist Association was also on hand to join in the work.
The 300 bags were completed and distributed by the group on Saturday morning in Brewton. Each bag contained toiletry items, socks, snacks and religious materials provided by the group.
Barbas said 36 bags would go to the women with the remainder of the bags distributed to men at the ECDC in Brewton.