Welcome Home!

Here, you will be able to get a snapshot of all we have to offer at Swansea First Baptist Church.

Having started serving here in 2018 as the Student Minister I can honestly say there is nowhere else like SFBC and it has been an honor to serve as Senior Pastor since August 1, 2022.

Our church is full of kind hearted people seeking to serve the Lord in their lives every day. When you step through our doors you will be met with a smiling face eager to find a place for you. We offer a wide range of service options from Sunday School, Sunday Worship, Wednesday Night groups for all ages and other small groups and Bible Studies that have just begun. We invite you to join us for a service and see all we have to offer.

When it comes to worship style we are not heavily traditional or contemporary. Our Music Minister, Rev. Chad Meredith, has done a great job ensuring we are well balanced and "blended" in our worship style. So when you come expect to get some of today's music mixed with the hymns we all know and love.

We are a mission minded church engaging in local, national and global missions. We serve locally through our Community Changers program, nationally through Mission Serve and globally through our own Kenya Missions. Rev. Terry Wilder instilled the heart for Kenya in our church over his 32 year ministry and we continue that today.

Our church has a rich history dating all the way back to 1892, when the town itself was founded. We have grown over these years and continue to grow. We are excited about all God has planned for our church and hope you will join us.


In Christ,

Rev. Matt Elmore

Meet The Team

Rev. Matt Elmore

Senior Pastor

Matt, his wife Alyssa, and dog Larry, enjoy trips to the mountains, taking a sip of a good dark roast coffee, watching a documentary, or keeping up with the latest in Clemson Athletics! Matt has been our Senior Pastor since August 1, 2022.

Lauren Corley

Ministry Assistant

Lauren, her husband Ashley, & son Will, love to spend time outdoors! Along with hunting & fishing, Lauren also plays bass guitar in her home church contemporary worship band!

Rev. Aubrey Day

Children & Youth

With a musical theater background, Aubrey enjoys attending live shows, singing, spending time with friends & his dog Buck!

Cindy Grimsley

Preschool Director

When not loving on the kids in the Preschool program, Cindy & her husband Wayne love to travel! Whether it be in Florida, or on a cruise ship-you'll always see them on the move!

Rev. Chad Meredith

Music

Chad enjoys good 'ol southern gospel music, USC athletics, & spending time with his wife, Jane Ann-who is also our Organist! Chad also doubles as a math teacher at Swansea High!

Kim Taylor

Environmental Support

After keeping our church spotless & sanitized, Kim & her husband Allen love to spend time with their grandchildren & extended family! When not in Swansea, you can find Kim soaking up the sun at Edisto Beach!

Faith

Faith is the cornerstone of our church. It is part of every activity that we do, every meeting that we hold. We believe in our Lord, and that our actions are a reflection of his goodness. 

Scripture

We look to the Lord for guidance in our lives. We believe that all Scripture is God-breathed and that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God and never to be compromised. You will find that Scripture is our central focus, from our small groups to our sermons, uncompromised Scripture is our foundation.

Community

Join us. We welcome each and every one of you to encounter the Lord's unconditional love with us. Inside each of us is a purpose and meaning to be fulfilled by God. 

Our Mission

Our mission is to foster and maintain public worship, to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, and to promote Christian fellowship and growth. We do this through service, both internationally and locally, to those we come in contact with. We believe that everything is to be done through a spiritual act of worship. In this we encourage all people to serve, and join us in serving, our Lord through the many avenues He opens for us. We hold fast to the Baptist Faith & Message and the core tenants it provides.

Our History

The Swansea First Baptist Church was founded in 1892. The church has been a staple of continued ministry in our community. The church buildings and the people have changed over the years, but the ministry is still the same, to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The present sanctuary and educational building was built in 1951 and the fellowship hall was added in 1978. In March of 2004 we entered our newest building, the Hazel and Susan Dowling Educational Annex. This new addition gave us 14 new classrooms. We have also renovated the sanctuary, changing the colors from a burgundy to a blue. The chandeliers were also added to beautify this special place of worship. Our worship style is "blended" seeking to meet the need of all who attend. Our Minister of Music, Rev. Chad Meredith, does a great job of mixing both traditional and contemporary music throughout our service. We are also in “good standing” with the Lexington Baptist Association, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Like all churches, we have experienced the ups and downs of years of ministry. In the last several years there has been a resurgence for our congregation. The Lord has blessed us in many ways. We strongly believe that the best years are still ahead for us. The ministry opportunities are numerous for our people, and we attempt new ones each year. We believe that God will bless us even more, if we are willing to hear His voice and be obedient to Him. If you do not have a church home, pray about the possibility of ministering with us! May the Lord bless you and keep you!

WHAT WE BELIEVE

From the Baptist Faith & Message 2000

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