Camel duty has resumed for Lexington County Councilman Clifford Fisher after months spent grieving his beloved giant family member, Abraham.

After the 29-year-old camel, who became a local icon and was featured in multiple community events and plays, died last October due to a serious intestinal blockage, Fisher vowed not to seek another camel unless God brought him one.

Fisher said that both Abraham and God sent him a new camel to continue his community work and ministry.

The 4-month-old Dromedary camel has been named Abraham 2.0 and is already following in his namesake’s footsteps, Fisher said.

“I almost feel guilty about having another camel, to be honest. He will never replace Abraham, but he has some big shoes to fill,” he said. “News of Abraham’s story and passing traveled up and down the East Coast and all over the country. I received a call from a great Christian guy in Illinois who breeds camels and heard of my Abraham and studied his ministry. He offered me his new baby camel that was born on Thanksgiving Day. But not just a normal camel — he offered me his first white Dromedary camel that he has ever gotten in his 20 years of breeding. He told me he would love for his camel to come to South Carolina and carry the cross in Abraham’s legacy.”

Fisher’s wife, Margaret Fisher, who serves as the Lexington County Coroner, recalls getting their new camel as a “God story."

“Because his color is so rare, we didn’t think it would work out at first,” Margaret said. “But after he saw the impact Abraham made, he very willingly sold the camel to us. We weren’t seeking him out…God brought him to us.”

Clifford said he traveled 15 hours one way with a trailer in tow in February to bring his new companion home to Lexington, S.C.

Baby Abraham 2.0 has already taken to Clifford and is undergoing training to bring smiles to the community.

“So far, his training is going great. … He gets all A’s,” he said. “He has already bonded to me and follows me around. He is like a dog. He is still a baby and is being bottle-fed multiple times a day, but eventually he will be weaned off.”

Dromedary camels are also called Arabian camels, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. They can grow up to 6.6 feet tall at the shoulder, up to 11.2 feet long and weigh up to 1,100 pounds.

Clifford said he spends about four hours a day doing hands-on training with Abraham and said socialization will be the biggest contributor to his success. The camel has already been introduced to the Lexington County Blowfish baseball team and to the “Jesus Is His Name” cast, which Clifford leads every Christmas.

Abraham 2.0 was also in his first parade in downtown Lexington. He graced the crowds of the Shamrock parade on March 8.

“He did amazing with the crowd,” Clifford said. “I was very emotional over it ...there were also a good many people in the crowd crying too…it was just like walking alongside old Abraham.”

Though he is still undergoing handling and specialized training, Abraham 2.0 will follow in his predecessor’s steps, who touched the hearts of many in the Lexington community. The community can expect to see Abraham 2.0 involved in Christmas plays like “Jesus Is His Name,” church events, school visits and other community gatherings.

Much like the Fishers’ beloved original Abraham, the community is already drawn to the baby camel and is requesting appearances.

“He has only been in South Carolina for three weeks, and he is already getting bookings,” Clifford said.

Abraham 2.0 is also learning to love Mountain Dew soda, just like the original Abraham.

“He did try Mountain Dew and wasn’t too sure about it at first,” Clifford said. “Now he is starting to enjoy it more.”

While Clifford considers the camels he has owned as pets, he said they serve a deeper purpose and act as partners in his ministry. He coined the original Abraham a “Camel for Christ” because of the animal’s heavy involvement in church events and community passion plays, such as “This Man Called Jesus,” which is now known as “Jesus Is His Name,” which drew a crowd of more than 11,000 people last Christmas season, according to the Fishers.

The family also said the original Abraham served an important role in telling the story of Jesus’ birth and played a part in many people coming to salvation in Jesus Christ as the community embraced him as “Abraham, the Camel for Christ.”

“When Abraham passed, I really had no idea about the impact he made on the community,” Clifford said. “I knew people loved him, but I was truly touched when I saw that he meant so much to so many people. Seeing the whole community grieve beside me was humbling and heartbreaking.”

While Clifford hopes to make decades of memories with Abraham 2.0, he also hopes to never again endure a loss like he did with Abraham.

“It was the worst one I had ever experienced,” he said. “This camel should live until I’m 100, and I pray that I won’t lose him before my time.”

With excitement for what lies ahead with Abraham 2.0, the Lexington County councilman thanked the community for its patience as he works to train the camel to be ready for the crowds he will draw.

“It takes time to train a camel,” he said. “Also, thank you for allowing the most silly thing around to tell you about the birth of Jesus…the journey begins.”