107.3 JAMZ Celebrates Black History Month
Upstate Black History Maker Rev. Walter Belton Recognized February 17, 2007
Rev. Walter Belton: Feeding the Homeless

Feed the homeless. Evangelize the community. Reduce crime. Help improve community morale. They're not duties for a superhero, but an "Unsung Hero." These are things Rev. Walter Belton can and will do for his community in 2007.

Belton, a native of Ridgeway, SC, is pastor of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. He resides in Spartanburg, along with his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters, ages 10 and 6.

When he is not wearing the hats of father, husband and pastor, Belton is active in many organizations in the community. Among these is the Advisory Council for Cleveland Elementary School in Spartanburg County School District Seven, as a Spartanburg Herald Journal Focus on Leadership Alumni Board member, and as the Parliamentarian for the Spartanburg County Baptist Association.

He makes time to be a father first, recently sitting at the bedside of his daughter as she recovered from a brief illness in a local hospital. Belton and his wife, Sharon, are amazed at how adopting the girls a few years ago has positively impacted their lives.

Taking a look at economic conditions for African-Americans in Spartanburg County, Belton assigns the grade of "C" on the overall report card. He sites an outstanding unemployment rate among reasons his ministry is necessary to assist in improving the quality of life for African-Americans in Spartanburg.

Belton is always busy, thinking of new ways to push against the statistics piled up against Blacks. Through mentoring and a hands-on approach to helping, he hopes to accomplish many goals in 2007.

If he had things his way, they would burn the mortgage at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church this year. While Belton, a very reasonable man, believes that nothing is too hard for God, he would be satisfied simply with being able to develop more youth and senior citizens ministries.

He has only two hands and one heart. However, it is amazing how far these resources are able to extend. Reflecting on the preaching and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. recently, he shares that this would be the one person that he would have liked to meet in his lifetime.

Though they never met in life, a common mission shared by Belton and King is a captivating preaching style. More importantly, both men pushed for change among the community by carrying out simple tasks: spreading the gospel, feeding the hungry and healing the sick.