Rivers Edge Church is seeking to create a community of faith in Longs, SC.

Planted by Pastor Ross Grall and his wife, Erin, Rivers Edge desires to call followers of Christ deeper in their relationship with God.

The journey of Rivers Edge Church began in 2018 when Ross and Erin felt the Lord calling them to the mission field. After spending time in both Cuba and Africa, the Lord redirected their paths back home. “We also recognized that God had begun calling us into the mission field here in America,” Ross said. Despite both being teachers at the time, they heeded the call in January of 2020 and embraced the challenge of church planting, guided by their sending church, Living Water Baptist Church.

The Road to Planting

Their path was not without obstacles, particularly when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, disrupting plans and casting uncertainty. “We did what every good church planter does, which is pivot, and we waited on the Lord to give us some guidance, and through the SCBaptist Start Team, they gave us instructions on how to pursue forward,” Ross said. They forged ahead, laying the groundwork for Rivers Edge Church.

In October 2022, the church officially launched, meeting at Daisy Elementary School. Despite the challenges, the church experienced growth, baptizing 14 individuals in its first year. Ross and Erin attribute this success to the unwavering support of their sending church, Living Water, and other congregations like Mud Creek, which played a pivotal role in their journey.

Looking Ahead

One of the fastest growing areas in the nation, the Grand Strand has more people moving there than ever before, increasing the need for churches to minister to them. River’s Edge is one of five church plants in the Waccamaw Baptist Association, which serves the Grand Strand region. “We’re prayerfully expecting to see God continue to move forward in what we’re doing in this area,” Ross said.

For the future, Rivers Edge hopes to help plant other churches, believing that, “church planting is so important. It is still considered the best way to reach people in our culture,” Ross said. “There’s no better way.”