Help Rebuild Historic Bethlehem Baptist Church

During the early morning hours on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, our “little church by the side of the road”, burned down to the ground. Located at 1789 Old Gapway Road in Salters SC, Bethlehem was founded in the 1700’s by white slave owners and gifted to former slaves in 1873, making it one of the oldest historically black churches in the state of South Carolina. Our members are humble, hard-working people in the community and are anxious to rebuild and restore our beloved church. However, recovering after a traumatic and tragic event as massive as this one is a huge financial and emotional burden. Everything in our church is lost. The sanctuary, classrooms, kitchen, dining hall, pulpit, pews, hymn books, bibles, communion supplies and Sunday school materials - will all need to be replaced.

While Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and
Williamsburg County officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire, the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church family deeply appreciates your continued words of encouragement, thoughts, and prayers. We are also grateful for monetary gifts and donations as we rebuild and restore our beloved Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church.



~Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.