Brief History
	We are a church family that's made up of all kinds of people from all sorts of backgrounds.  When you walk in the doors you will readily recognize that fact. This is the type church that SBC has been since her beginning back in October of 1835.  She was first made up, as recorded in our church history, of thirteen white and a few African-American members from two churches that are now Sandy Run Lutheran Church and Rock Grove Baptist Church.  The members were land owners, share croppers and common laborers that mostly worked on farms in the surrounding area.  Just as now, their jobs, dress, race, living conditions and socio- economic levels were all different.  However they did not let those differences drive wedges between them or dictate to them whether or not they would allow God to use them in spite of their differences.  And this is the SBC of today! We have been served down through the years by forty-five different pastors.   The longest tenured pastor was Rev. R.J. Edwards, who served SBC from 1848 until 1867. His ministry was marked by numerical growth; a strict code of conduct for members, which led to some being dismissed or excommunicated; and, the ravages of disease and war.   Revs H.L. Baggott and T.E. Hammonds are the second longest tenured pastors, both having served for eleven years each.  Rev. Baggott’s ministry, which went from 1885 until 1895, was marked by numerical growth and the planting of Swansea First Baptist Church in 1892.  At times he was pastor to four different churches simultaneously in the area: Antioch, Sardis, Sandy Run at Gaston and Swansea First.  Rev. Hammonds’ ministry, which went from 1944 until 1954, was marked by great numerical and ministry growth.  It is evident in looking at church minutes that Rev. Hammonds is one that God used to lead SBC to become known as the church in the Swansea area that was concerned and willing to reach children, young people and young families.  Both of these men were dearly loved and respected.   God has used all of our pastors to bring us to the point we are today.  We are thankful for each of them and the many wonderful things that they allowed God to do through them as they faithfully served Him here.  Today we are very thankful for their many sacrifices and know that our Lord has or will reward them immensely.  Many of them have gone on now to their rewards and crowns in heaven and we look forward to seeing them around the throne of God one day.   For those that are still with us in this world we continue to trust our Lord to bless them for their faithfulness and many sacrifices.
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