St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
A Reflection on the First 25 Years
1983-2008
All your words are true. —Psalm 119:160
The grass withers and the flowers fall
but the word of our God stands forever. —Isaiah 40:8
These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name. —John 20:31
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth. —Acts 1:8
THEN
In the spring of 1983, God stirred and impassioned the hearts of a small handful of men and women to start a reformed Presbyterian church in the Seven Oaks/Irmo area. They were driven primarily by two purposes: to preserve, preach, and teach the Bible as the whole, inerrant counsel of God; and to be faithful to the Great Commission.
This was a work of God. He was preserving His Church at a time when the integrity of God’s Word was being seriously challenged and a coldness of heart had set in toward sharing the gospel and missions. He was commissioning these few to establish a church—His church—that would remain steadfast to His Word.
On June 4, 1983, a petition with 99 signatures was submitted to and approved by Calvary Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America to establish the new St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Rev. Whaley S. “Bill” Barton was called to be her minister.
On Sunday evening, June 5, 1983, 245 people gathered for worship as St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Meeting at Leaphart Elementary School on Piney Grove Road, songs were sung from borrowed hymn books, seats were carpeted risers, the offering was collected in Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets, and God was praised and glorified.
For the next 18 months, worship and Sunday School for all ages were held at that same location, and God steadily added to the fellowship. It was an exciting time, but it was also a lot of hard work because worship, Sunday School, and nursery supplies had to be set up weekly then taken down and stored in a rented trailer after worship. All meetings, youth groups, choir rehearsals, etc., were held off site in homes and in a member’s office building.
God blessed this faithful group beyond their imagination. Not only did He meet their needs, but He also graciously provided staff, programming, and new facilities to draw others to Himself.
NOW
Twenty-five years have passed since the birth of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and with the passing of time, we have grown corporately and individually as God’s “Church on the Hill.”
Each of the various ministries—children’s, youth, teens, adult, worship, music, outreach—have developed over the years into well-defined venues and opportunities for the members to use their God-given talents and spiritual gifts. Presiding over these ministries now are ordained ministers and full-time directors with assistants—all of whom are qualified, bring rich experience, and possess hearts that love God, His people, and their areas of ministry.
Local outreach, short-term mission trips, and support for those God has called to go long-term play a major role in SAPC church life. Teams have gone to Mexico, Romania, Belize, Africa, Peru, Ukraine, Haiti, W. Virginia, Miami, Louisiana, and Cherokee Territory.
Throughout the years, the faces of our shepherds (Teaching Elders) and their staffs have changed. What has remained consistent, however, is the teaching and preaching the truth of God’s Word and a continual seeking of His will for SAPC.
A FEW KEY DATES
August 28, 1983: 6.75 acres of land were purchased on St. Andrews Road, to become what is now our church home.
September 22, 1983: Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church (SAPC) was officially constituted in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). 363 were received as charter members.
April 9, 1984: Ground-breaking ceremony for a new sanctuary was held.
December 23, 1984: Only 18 months after our first worship, Christmas is celebrated in that new sanctuary.
1988: A three-story building was completed to house the family center and educational classes for adults and children.
Fall of 2002: Planted a church in Chapin, with SAPC Assistant Pastor Rev. Dan Ratchford called to be her pastor. More than 150 from our fellowship provided the new church’s foundation.
OUR LEADERS
We gratefully offer praises to our God and Father for calling these PCA ordained men to shepherd the SAPC flock over these 25 years, helping them grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Senior Pastors:
Dr. Whaley S. “Bill” Barton, Jr.
Rev. Thomas “Tom” Myers
Dr. Dale B. Welden
Assistant Pastors:
Emory O. “Chip” Watson Jr.
Carter Johnson
C. Edward “Eddie” Spencer, Jr.
Michael Cannon
James “Jim” Brown
Danny L. “Dan” Ratchford
Ralph S. Kelley
J. Paul Poyner, III
Interim Pastors:
Melvin “Mel” Wright, III
John C. Kinser
Furthermore, we are indebted to the dedicated service of the numerous program and administrative staff whom God called to serve here over the years. We also give heartfelt thanks to God for all the lay people He has called and equipped to serve here. Many we know, but many serve “under the radar,” known only to the Lord.
God has “smiled” on SAPC by giving us a staff extraordinaire. Each, having been called here by God, possesses a heart that is passionate for: what pleases God and brings Him glory, His people—building them up in the faith; and the lost who live “next door,” as well as in the world at large. As it is true that to know God is to love Him, so to know our staff here at SAPC is to love them—for they are truly God’s people and His blessing to us! We thank them for their loving service to our Lord!
What is most exciting, as we celebrate the first 25 years, is that we also celebrate the opportunities for even greater ministry in the years to come. This is the challenge before each of us serving our Savior today and tomorrow!
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church…
...Helping people
joyfully
know Jesus Christ,
love Him more,
and
serve Him better.
