On the night of November 24, 1968, a group of dedicated and enthusiastic people met at the Administration Building of Saluda School District One for the purpose of organizing a new Baptist Church in the Saluda area.  This group, composed of approximately 75 families, had disbanded from Red Bank Baptist Church after many months of study, prayer and discussion thoroughly convinced that this was a worthwhile endeavor and a great challenge to witness for Christ.

The Saluda Baptist Church

On December 1, 1968 the first worship of The Saluda Baptist Church was held in the Administration Building of the Saluda School District One.  Rev. J. Thomas Morrow accepted the call to the Saluda Baptist Chapel.  On March 2, 1969 the congregation of The Saluda Baptist Chapel voted and accepted that they now be known as The Saluda Baptist Church.

Saluda Baptist Church had a special service of constitution at 3:00 pm on August 10, 1969 at the Administration Building – this being the first church to be organized within the Ridge Baptist Association in twenty-three years.

The groundbreaking service was held on the new church site on January 18, 1970 led by Rev. Morrow.  The first phase of the building program was underway with the Educational Building.

Members began to anticipate moving into new facilities and excitement continued to mount as December 20, 1970 moved closer.  The fellowship hall was used as the Worship Center with folding chairs as church pews, therefore, the congregation of Saluda Baptist Church became knows as the “folding chair” congregation.

Finally, a day to remember on February 25, 1979, Our Lord’s Day in Past and Future – A Celebration of the  ‘Folding Chairs’ was celebrated.  The members of Saluda Baptist Church left the Educational building to go to the new worship center, hymnals in hand.  Truly, this was a day of celebration of the past and future in the life of Saluda Baptist Church.  From this day on, the church members could worship in their new sanctuary.

Another milestone was reached in the life of the members of Saluda Baptist Church on December 20, 1990 when a mortgage burning was help for the worship center.  After this event, the next building phase was set – to build a new fellowship hall and office area.  The new phase was named “Building God’s Vision” and its goal was to raise $200,000 to start the new building.

Saluda Baptist Church’s first short-term mission trip out of the country was taken in September of 2004 with a team of 18 traveling to Nicaragua.  Saluda Baptist Church’s first church plant was in July 2007, in ElChague, Nicaragua.  Team members from our church built the church with resources given through the faith commitment offering.  During that first year, 25 souls accepted Christ!

Saluda Baptist Church, a “Church with a Heart for People” continues to grow and mature in the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Indeed, Jesus Loves you, and so do we!

SBC Articles of Faith

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER AT SALUDA BAPTIST CHURCH
By profession of faith in Christ and baptism by immersion
By presenting oneself as a believer who needs to be scripturally baptized
By letter from a Southern Baptist Church
By statement of faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of biblical baptism by immersion.

CHURCH MEMBER’S COMMITMENT
To develop in personal growth and sanctification
(Rom 6:19, Eph 4:25, 1 Peter 2:2)
To be faithful in attendance and participation
(Heb 10:24-25)
To support the ministries of the church through giving in personal time, energy, and resource
(1 Cor 16:1-2, 2 Cor 9:6-8, 1 Peter 4:10, Malachi 3:10-12)
To seek to preserve the unity of the church
(Eph 4:3)
To maintain a good testimony toward unbelievers
(1 Thess 1:11-12, 4:11-12)

PROCESS OF MEMBERSHIP
The primary way a prospective member initiates this process is by coming forward during the invitation at the close of a service. If you have questions or would like to discuss this in advance, please contact one of our Pastors.