On Aug. 30, Impact Community Church, who’s been meeting at the Middle Tyger YMCA in Duncan for 12 years, broke ground on their first church building located in Greer. The church started as a Bible study that stemmed from a church split. But that Bible study led to a steady congregation with a passionate heart for outreach. The church has been mobile since its planting in August 2014.
“God can do great things through any circumstances,” said Tony Quillen, who’s served in leadership since the beginning.
Quillen said the church is the living body of Christ, not brick and mortar. Though meeting at the YMCA proved to be difficult with constant set up and tear down, the church saw how God used their location to reach the community. He said that not having their own building meant that church members had to be invested in ministry. Even events like VBS took place at various locations — such as a public park.
Church members gather around for prayer.
Before the YMCA, they met at the Hampton Inn in Duncan, where they officially covenanted together as a church. David Walker was their first pastor, and he, along with the congregation, felt God was calling them to plant a church that was accessible to those who may not otherwise attend church. Tony Beam, who’s currently a part-time pastor at the church, said they’ve seen a lot of people come to know the Lord.
Quillen said, “The person who feels like they don’t fit in somewhere and they don’t belong in church, that’s the person we want to come to our church.”
The church hopes to continue reaching their community even when they move into their new building. Nicole Kelly, the children’s ministry director, said she wants to use their building to start a faith-based preschool where kids not only learn, but mothers are welcomed in for Bible study. Like Quillen, Kelly has been there since the church’s early days. She said what kept her around were the people who God continually brought to them to love on and be a light to.
She said, “What a blessing it is in anybody’s life to see what His impact is in the world around us.”
Though she was speaking primarily of impacting the local community, God is indeed using Impact Community Church to reach the world. Quillen said one man who’s been going to their church since he was 11 years old recently moved to Southeast Asia as a missionary. They also have a couple in their church who are part of ministry in Jamaica. And a few others have left to minister in other states.
Dave Carrol, who’s been their lead pastor for over three years now, said a key verse in the history of the church is Mark 10:27, which says, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’” In light of their past, Carrol said of “how man made it impossible, but God still made it possible.”
Kelly, the children’s ministry director, agrees. Looking back on God’s faithfulness and looking forward to what’s ahead, she said, “From all of the trials from the past, it’s amazing to see where the church is. The provision that He has just bestowed on Impact and for us to be able to move forward stepping into a building … what a blessing it is for anyone who has been through this journey with us to say, “Oh wow, He really has worked in mysterious ways to keep everything going.”