The Rev. Jesse Jackson is scheduled to be the guest speaker at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 31 for the seventh anniversary celebration at Lebanon Baptist Church, Rt. 17, Saluda. The public is invited.

The Rev. Teresa Sutherlin, co-pastor at Lebanon along with her husband, Robert, said she’s excited about the visit of the civil rights leader.

"It’s not something that happens every day," she said.

Sutherlin said her congregation has been blessed because a former Middlesex County resident, George Gresham, is close friends with Jackson. Gresham now resides in New York and is president of the largest union in the nation, hospital workers’ union 1199.

"He asked the Rev. Jackson to please come to our church, and he agreed," said Sutherlin. "We’re just getting blessed because of George’s connections."

Last year, the Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at the church but had to leave as soon as his remarks were finished. Sutherlin said she hop...