Beulah Baptist Church was constituted on April 26,1806, and began meeting at the Minerva Academy in Hopkins. As a frame of historical reference, Thomas Jefferson was president at that time. South Carolina Baptist Convention records show that local Baptist minister Dr. Jonathan Maxey preached the first sermon based on 1 Peter 2:5, a scripture reference about believers becoming living stones.
Exactly 220 years later, on April 26, 2026, former Beulah pastor Jay Thompson preached from Joshua 4, about the Israelites being commanded to place stones in the dry riverbed as a testimony of God’s faithfulness to His people. Lead Pastor Cameron DeBrew recognizes this scripture’s symbolism, along with the 1806 sermon’s charge to become “living stones,” which speaks to the faithfulness Beulah Baptist members have shown to live out the gospel message in their contexts for more than two centuries.
“Our rich history is not something we always spend time thinking about, but it’s been cool to see the stones that have been set out before us and remember what God did before our own generation today. To think that our congregation survived the Civil War and saw the end of slavery is something that’s hard to wrap your head around,” says DeBrew of his church’s historical presence and impacts.
Beulah Baptist members celebrated the milestone, that the exact 220th anniversary happened to fall on a Sunday, with a service and lunch that included special guests and former members. The church printed a booklet with a timeline of significant happenings and events, historical photos, and well-wishes from a variety of ministry and community partners. DeBrew was glad Thompson and his wife Donna could attend, as Thompson was instrumental in moving the church’s location from near the McEntire air base to its current location on Garners Ferry Road while pastoring the church in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
“This celebration has been a humbling, convicting, and encouraging time as I see God’s plan and understand that it stretches before and beyond me. Where Beulah goes from here is dependent on our faithfulness and obedience today. For the coming generations, we must continue to be faithful and obedient to grow God’s kingdom,” says DeBrew, who also serves as the CMBA moderator.
CMBA Associational Missions Strategist Jamie Rogers reminded Beulah’s members that 220 years is a number few churches get to see. “Your congregation is such a great example to others of what happens when God’s people faithfully serve Jesus and are committed to doing His will through partnerships in your community, state, and throughout the world.”
South Carolina Baptist Convention Executive Director-Treasurer Dr. Tony Wolfe noted in written congratulations that Beulah’s first missions gift was $3.00 given in 1809 and, through 2025, the congregation has given well over $1.4 million to Baptist causes including the work of the Cooperative Program. Looking forward, Wolfe said it was his “great joy to anticipate, with you, a new season of Great Commission effectiveness ahead. May God multiply His favor toward you on this special day, and in the days ahead.”
Beulah members have long had a faithful presence in the community including through several strong partnerships with local public schools. Richland School District One School Board Commissioner Dr. Erica Hursey congratulated Beulah’s anniversary by noting the church has generationally “not only nourished the community spiritually, but you have met the physical needs of many.” Hursey went on to say the district is “truly grateful to your congregation for the countless meals shared and prayers lifted on behalf of students, families, and employees.”
For his part, DeBrew says the church service has kicked off an extended time of celebration. “It’s been a lot of fun and we’re still talking about it. We plan to keep pulling out mementos and sharing slideshows of photos of years gone by, because we will celebrate this all year long,” he says.