St. Andrews Baptist Church, Columbia, member Barbara Jeffcoat has written an account of the church’s 50-year history in a new children’s book entitled “Our Church – His Story.”

Jeffcoat, an elementary music teacher, said the idea to write a children’s version of the church’s history came to her because so many of the stories were ones children could relate to.  “It is fascinating to hear stories about our church’s history, and a shame that so few people knew about them.  I thought I’d write a book because the stories were a perfect way for children to know about how our church came to be.”

Jeffcoat used language that children can understand, and chose to include blank space for the children to create their own illustrations so that they would have a part in making the history of the church their own.

“I hope to give them a feeling of ‘this is what I can do for my church, I am important and the things I do make a difference.’  What these children are doing makes a difference now and in the future in our church or where ever they may go to church throughout their lives,” Jeffcoat said.

The book highlights memorable moments in St. Andrews Church’s past including an outdoor tent revival which was interrupted by a future church member accidentally riding his bicycle into the tent and down the aisle.  Another chronicled how St. Andrews Church actually began as Broad River Mission in 1950. 

Sharon Simpson, director of childhood education at St. Andrews Church, said the history book emphasizes that, in the midst of every challenging situation, God has a plan.  “Throughout the book they can see God’s faithfulness to His people, and the commitment and sacrifice of this congregation to Him as they followed that plan.  What a great legacy to pass on to the next generation,” Simpson said.

“It is my prayer that this book will make a difference for our children and maybe in their families as they read it together,” Jeffcoat said, adding that a book like this could be used as a study to help children gain insight on how churches begin and their role in that process. 

“Our Church – His Story” ends with a challenging statement for children – “By having faith and being obedient to God, you will write the next pages in this, His story.  Because God has a plan…”