2007 to 2020
After prayerful consideration and discussion with family and friends, Pastor James W. Nesbitt, Sr., MCM, heeded the calling of God to begin a ministry. Therefore, on the first Sunday of May 2007, the history of Beulah Christian Fellowship Church began. Pastor Nesbitt acquired the use of the Enoree River Association Facilities on Dallas Road, Greenville, South Carolina, after meeting and discussing the new ministry vision on April 25, 2007. There were thirty-eight (38) people in attendance. From that meeting a choir was formed and the church was established. The first Worship Service was to be held the first Sunday of May 2007. The newly established church was given the name “Beulah Christian Fellowship”, a name impressed upon the heart of Pastor Nesbitt taken from the scripture: Isaiah 62:4, and it was decided that the established church would thus be named. Pastor’s Nesbitt’s direction was to develop a ministry that was centered on Christ Jesus, therefore, the Motto: “Being Christ Focused for Kingdom Building” was instituted for the ministry’s focal point. As God continued to move, Church School was added to the ministry.
God continued to move the ministry. After meeting for four (4) months, God led the church to another location in August of 2007. The church began holding Church School and Worship Services in the small sanctuary of a facility, which was located at 2309 Hwy 14, Simpsonville, South Carolina. As God blessed, Children’s Church was added to the ministry. Several appointments were made on August 22, 2007. Minister Shirley Tarrant became the leader of the Outreach Ministry; Bonita Rice the church’s clerk; Ella Robinson the president of the Usher’s/Greeters Ministry; and Deborah Pickens, Church
School Superintendent. Pastor Nesbitt also established an Elders Ministry, which consisted of husbands and wives. They were James & Tracy Lyles, Wayne & Ella Robinson, Jerry & Valeria Coleman, and although Mary Meadows was already a minister, she and her husband, Jerry, were added.
Shortly thereafter, Bonita Rice accepted the calling from the Lord, thus became the first person to be ordained by Pastor Nesbitt under the new ministry. Minister Mary Meadows spearheaded the first women’s conference for Beulah. The children and youth had their first “trunk-a-treat” experience. True to her calling, Kanika Richardson coordinated the first Christmas program, which was an amazing drama of the “Birth of Christ”. The sanctuary was packed and well received by all in attendance. Later in the spring, Kanika did the first Easter program, which was just as fantastic and over the top.
The ministry continued to flourish with God’s bountiful blessings. On January 13, 2008, God opened the door for Beulah to begin worshipping in the Main Sanctuary of the same facility after the previous ministry moved to another location. This afforded Beulah to have asset to the entire building. A month later February 2008, in keeping with the Bible, Pastor Nesbitt appointed Ronald Lawson and James Lyles to the position of deacons. Their wives were affectionately known as “Deacon’s Wives”.
Between February and June of 2008, many transformations were taking place. Angela Pyles became our third Minister of Music. Angela had notes down packed; however, she was struggling with contemporary and picking up singers who started the songs without the music first. But Angela had a gift that just needed to be nurtured. Today, she has a very angelical style and is second to none. Also during this time frame, Blondell Nesbitt, Lillie Pyles and Deborah Pickens were added to the Elders Ministry. The youth had their first overnight weekend in Atlanta visiting White Water Park, which was organized by Kanika Richardson. Mary Ann Thompson, the second person to become ordained by Pastor Nesbitt under Beulah, was studying at Martin Webb. Minister Thompson took time to gain knowledge before preaching her trial sermon a few years later. Pastor Nesbitt took a group of members to a conference in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where each were highly impacted by the teachings they received.
On June 22, 2008, Ordination Service was held for the Deacons & Elders. Also, in June of 2008, God moved in a way that only God could, a move that had the appearance of evil allowed all who were a part of Beulah to truly understand what Joseph meant when he said, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.” Beulah had to move once again unexpectedly. Pastor Nesbitt was determined that the next worship center would not be a rented facility, therefore, he started looking for buildings that were for sale. Being only a little over a year in existence, God opened a door that allowed Beulah Christian Fellowship Church to miraculously purchase what was a warehouse at 1017 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina, and turned it into a worship center.
After moving into the facility in August 2008, Beulah suddenly was faced with an evil spirit again. Due to a technicality, Beulah had to hold worship services at JL Mann High School one Sunday and go back to Enoree River Association facility the next following Sunday. Afterwards, we returned to the new building where it eventually became a beautiful edifice. On Sunday, February 22, 2009, the Church Dedication Program was held. Pastor Wendell Jones from Changing Your Mind Ministries was the guest speaker.
As God continued to bless Beulah, new deacons were added to the ministry. Observing that the name “Deacon’s Wives” did not appear to be appropriate, the female elders and the deacon’s wives became known as the Deaconess Ministry, as theological understanding grew and elders were more so ordained clergy. Deborah Pickens was appointed president.
Many wonderful worship services, programs and events as well as accomplishments took place at 1017 Mauldin Road. Arionna Jones was the first baby to be born for Beulah. The parking lot was paved and improvements were continually being done to Beulah.
Beulah, fully aware that death is a part of God’s plan, were stricken with sadness at the loss of three faithful members: Curicio J Ryan on June 27, 2011; Johnnie M Hawkins on February 23, 2016; and Carol G Bowman on July 14, 2016.
Even though the edifice was beautiful, the people were being spiritually feed, and the location was well known, Pastor Nesbitt realized God’s vision for Beulah had not been completely fulfilled. Since the beginning of his vision, Pastor Nesbitt has known that Beulah needed to be in the center of a community. Pastor Nesbitt felt the Lord was calling him to a piece land in the Ridge Road community of Greenville County. However, after finding a favorable location, God blocked the sale. This left Pastor Nesbitt a little perplexed; however, believing that “An Act of Faith Precedes An Act of God”, he knew God had other plans. Those plans were to occupy Fountain Inn, South Carolina, at 307 Fairview Street.
The building at 1017 Mauldin Road was sold and the building, which was a church, at 307 Fairview Street was purchased. In order to accommodate Beulah’s congregation needs, the church had to be renovated. Needing a place to worship during the renovation, Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church was gracious enough to allow Beulah to rent their Family Life Center for two and a half months. Our last worship experience at 1017 Mauldin Road was 4th Sunday of March 2017.
On Father’s Day, 3rd Sunday, June 18, 2017, we entered the church at 307 Fairview Street, Fountain Inn, SC and had our first worship service. The worship experience was ecstatic! We felt God had put His stamp of approval on the new move. Finally, we are in a place where we can occupy the land. On September 17, 2017, the newly renovated edifice was dedicated.
As in the past, because Beulah is a church that is “Christ focused”, many wonderful events for spiritual growth for all ages continue to transpire. Along, with the many ministries that were already in place, IronMAN Ministry that caters to men and boys of all ages has been added as well as the Knights of the 21st Century, which is also an evangelism ministry for men. In addition, many leadership roles have shifted to best fit the ministry and the leader’s gifts.
It is foreseen, with God’s guidance, commitment, faith and love, Beulah will forever be a beacon in a dark world! “To God be the Glory!