Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church today.Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church in North Augusta observed its 250th anniversary in October, capped by a celebration service on Oct. 21.
Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee and a former pastor in North Augusta, was guest speaker.
Congregants of Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church met in plain wooden frame buildings for the church’s first 200 years.The service included presentations and a testimonial video featuring several long-time members. A highlight of the day was being able to celebrate 55 people professing faith in Christ as a result of an evangelistic crusade the weekend before, said pastor Tommy Meador.
Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church is a product of Connecticut-born Daniel Marshall’s church-planting efforts of the late 1700s. Founded in 1762, Big Stevens Creek became the center of activities for Marshall as he branched out to establish other churches, including Horns Creek in 1768, Republican in 1805, Mt. Zion in 1829 and Sweetwater in 1832. Kiokee Baptist Church in Georgia was also started from Big Stevens Creek.
Wood structures served the church until 1973, when Big Stevens Creek held its first service in a brick building. In September 1980, the church took its greatest step forward in faith as it voted to call a full-time pastor. Meador began his pastorate in 2009. In recent years, the church has added other full-time ministers as the church has needed.
Due to steady growth, Big Stevens Creek in recent years moved into a new worship center and education facility that can seat 440 in worship and approximately 350 in Sunday school. In 2006, the church opened a new family life center and recreation outreach center.
“Having survived the ravages of the Indian Wars, the American Revolution and the Civil War, the church and its people have stood strong for 250 years,” Meador said. “Big Stevens Creek has and continues to strive to be a New Testament Church that seeks to know Christ and make him known to our community and our world.”