Jay Hardwick joining SCBC staff as director of church planting

Jay Hardwick, 37, pastor of North Rock Hill Church, in Rock Hill, will join the South Carolina Baptist Convention staff in July as director of church planting.

Gary Hollingsworth, executive director-treasurer of the SCBC, made the announcement on Tuesday, May 24, saying, “As an experienced church planter in our state, Jay is a respected voice and leader among a significant group of church planters both in state and around the nation. He will bring that wealth of experience into our work here.”

Hardwick, a native of Columbia, was licensed and ordained to the ministry by Spring Valley Baptist Church, Columbia. He has a bachelor of arts in mass communication degree from North Greenville University, and a master of divinity degree with a concentration on missions, evangelism, and church growth from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He is working on his doctor of ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

Hardwick served as lead pastor/planting pastor of Catalyst Church/North Point Ministries, in Greenville, S.C., and Alpharetta, Ga., 2005-2007; lead pastor/planting pastor of Awaken Church (SCBC), Columbia, 2007-2011; and as lead pastor of North Rock Hill Church since December 2011. He has also served in student ministry at several churches in South Carolina and while in seminary in Kentucky.

He is a former member of the SCBC Executive Board and a regular camp preacher at SummerSalt, the student summer camp of the state convention.

“I am honored by the opportunity to join the SCBC team, working together with our churches to see every life saturated and transformed by the Gospel,” Hardwick said. “I believe South Carolina Baptists can be national and global leaders when it comes to church multiplication. I’m excited about where we are going and the opportunities God is giving us to join in His mission.”

Hardwick is married to Lara Beth, and they have three daughters, Molly, Ellie, and Caroline.