Start Network

Celebrating Diversity and Growth of Church Plants in SC

The South Carolina Baptist Convention is celebrating the growth of church planting in the state. As of May 4th, 2023, 27 SCBaptist church plants are receiving funding. What’s particularly exciting about this growth is the diversity of the churches being planted. Of the 27 churches currently receiving funding, 12 are non-Anglo, including four Hispanic, three…

Answering the Call: The Journey to Plant a Church in Boston

Joe Polson, a former student pastor at First Baptist Church Cheraw, embarked on a life-changing journey after a Vision Trip to Boston in May 2018 with SCBaptist. Today, Joe and his wife have successfully planted Church at the Well in Everett, Massachusetts. Joe Polson’s journey began when he accompanied his pastor, Patrick Blackmon, on a…

First Myanmar Baptist Church Celebrates 17 years of Growth

Seventeen years ago, one refugee family relocated from Myanmar (Burma) in Southeast Asia to Columbia, South Carolina, to begin a new life. The family came with a desire to start a church that would reach other families from their homeland. Ryan Dupree, International Ministries Pastor at FBC Columbia, helped them turn a home Bible study…

Launch Day for View Church Duncan

February 12th was an exciting day for Buddy Hall and for the Start Network of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. That was the day that View Church Duncan officially launched. A new church plant in Duncan, SC, and partnering with View Church and ID Clifton, View Church Duncan exists to create disciples who love God…

Church Plants in South Carolina

This article was featured in the February 2023 edition of The Baptist Courier.  When new churches are “born,” it is miraculous. In a five-week span last fall, five new South Carolina Baptist Convention churches were “born” when they launched public worship services. Mosaic Church in Anderson, Redeemer City Church in Greenville, Rivers Edge Church in Longs, The Church at Piedmont…

SCBaptist Church Plants

Chinese Church of the Grand Strand: Tao Sun – Longs Christ Fellowship Eastside: Phil Thompson – Greenville City Hope Church: Ben Winn – Rock Hill City Hope Church: Bobby Thompson – Bluffton City View En Espanol: Jamie Cortez – Greenville Coastway Church: Jeremy Woods – Conway Communidad Batista De Charleston: Jonathan Edney – Goose Creek…

The Thankful Church Plant

This article was featured in the November 2022 edition of The Baptist Courier.  Recently, one of my mentors and heroes in ministry was called home to heaven. In the Days following his passing, I reflected on what he taught me, the legacy he left, and how I could emulate his many years of faithful service for…

New Church Plant Is Going From Pew to Pavement

In November 2013, Grace Fellowship held its first worship service in northeast Columbia. Pastor Reginald Byrden and twelve original members met in the busy Farrow Road community with the goal of showing the community what a New Testament church should be like. “Community ministry allows those on the outside of the church to see what…