South Carolina is growing fast. In 2023, South Carolina was the most popular state to move to — with twice as many moving into the state than leaving. 

With 80% of South Carolinians not meaningfully connected to a Bible-teaching church, churches in these new neighborhoods are crucial.

When Adam Spurlock, lead pastor of Restoration Community Church in Hanahan, SC, added Joe Douglas to his church’s staff, he immediately sensed a pastoral calling. For six years, Douglas grew in his leadership, eventually becoming Restoration’s associate pastor. All the while, Spurlock knew he needed to be ready for when God made His call clear to Douglas.

Identifying God’s Call

In 2021, God gave Douglas a vision for planting another healthy church to reach the lost. “I told Adam, and he said, ‘I knew God would; I was just waiting on you!” Douglas laughed. 

 “Once the Lord was ready, it’s like he put a rocket on Joe,” Spurlock added.

Joel Ainsworth, Community Pastor at the Church of Cane Bay, encouraged Douglas to consider a certain part of the city. As Douglas circled Nexton, he noticed vibrant, new buildings that housed businesses, schools, and government — but didn’t see the Church. “God confirmed it at that moment for me,” emphasized Douglas.

Partnering Together

“I believe you plant in greater strength when you plan with another church,” Spurlock added. Douglas had been on staff at Restoration for seven years before beginning a residency in partnership with the Church at Cane Bay, five minutes from where the new church would be planted. This residency was meant to last for about a year, but Douglas and his team didn’t realize they were in the calm before the storm. 

They planned to launch their new church in January 2023. Then, the unexpected occurred: Joe received deployment orders from the National Guard. He had to go overseas. “I was confused,” Douglas remembered. “I felt like God was telling us not to press pause but to press forward.”

While Douglas was overseas, they continued weekly staff meetings virtually. “For me, it was 4 am, but for my team, it would be 9 am,” Douglas said. 

Weathering the Unexpected

For the year he was deployed, Douglas woke early every morning, taught Bible studies, shared a word of encouragement daily in staff meetings, counseled or had coffee with soldiers, and preached Sunday services. On top of fulfilling his chaplain duties, he also wrote the small group curriculum for his team on the ground in Nexton. 

In Douglas’s absence, his team stepped up and took responsibility. When Douglas returned from deployment, the team was ready to launch their church plant, Kingdom Church. 

“It’s overwhelming when you see the faithfulness of God’s people to God’s mission,” Douglas recounted. “When you step out as a church planter, fundraising is one of the biggest hurdles.”

Seventy-five percent of financial gifts to Kingdom Church were from families at Restoration Community Church. “That’s huge!” Douglas’s voice is full of emotion and gratitude. “It didn’t matter if it was $50 or $1000; it was their heart to support us and the mission of God.” 

Kingdom Church officially launched in January 2024. “I’m thankful for what I see in Charleston: churches partnering together to see the city reached for the Gospel,” Douglas marveled.