Dunean Baptist Church was formed as a mill village church in the textile region of South Carolina’s Upstate.

Dunean Baptist Church, nestled in a mill village neighborhood in South Carolina’s Upstate, has a rich history dating back to its founding on November 17, 1912. Eighteen adults gathered to establish a church that would grow alongside the thriving textile community, reaching a peak membership of 900 in the 1950s. The church served as the heart of the community, drawing families from the mill and surrounding neighborhoods. However, as the textile industry declined and the mill village transitioned, Dunean Baptist faced its own challenges.

In recent decades, the church experienced a steady decline in membership, largely due to an aging congregation and struggles to engage younger generations. By 2018, with an active membership of over 650 but fewer than 50 attending Sunday services, it became clear that change was necessary for the church to survive. Under the leadership of Pastor Calvin Holland, the congregation reached out to the Greenville Baptist Association for help. Recognizing the potential for renewal, First Baptist Simpsonville stepped forward with a vision to support revitalization efforts.

Modeling Church Fostering

This partnership, initiated in 2020 amid the challenges of a global pandemic, became a model of a foster church relationship. Under the leadership of Wayne Bray, Lead Pastor of First Baptist Simpsonville, the partnership focused on equipping Dunean Baptist with the resources, leadership, and guidance needed to chart a new course. The approach included a revitalization residency program, allowing a future pastor to build relationships within the community and develop ministries while preparing to lead Dunean Baptist. Pastor Holland worked closely with this revitalization pastor to ensure a smooth and meaningful succession.

During this transitional period, First Baptist Simpsonville provided financial support and resources to renovate Dunean Baptist’s facilities, creating spaces for new ministries to meet the evolving needs of the community. The neighborhood, with its mix of original mill homes and newer, revitalized properties, presented unique opportunities for outreach and connection.

The partnership was guided by a covenant agreement that respected Dunean Baptist’s autonomy while providing clear vision and leadership from First Baptist Simpsonville. This included maintaining Dunean’s existing bylaws and membership while implementing a new process for future additions. Resources were managed collaboratively, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Celebrating Growth

Over the past few years, Dunean Baptist has celebrated key milestones in its journey of revitalization. From creating environments for relational disciple-making to hosting community workdays, the church is reclaiming its role as a caring presence in the neighborhood. Most importantly, the congregation has recommitted to making the Gospel the focus of all its ministries. While growth has been slow, the church continues to persevere, trusting God’s timing and remaining faithful to its mission.

Although church growth rarely happens in our time frame, there are several things that the church can celebrate today that they’re praying will move them forward. From creating environments for relational disciple-making to implementing community workdays, the church is attempting to become a more caring presence in the community. “Most importantly, we’ve become intentional about making the Gospel the focus of all our ministries.”