Myrtle Beach Update

Myrtle Beach, SC, is known as one of our nation’s top summer vacation spots.  The sun, sand and waves draw people from all over the US to come, relax and be entertained.  This vacation destination has quickly become more than a spot to come and stay for a few days. For the past 3 years it has been named one of the fastest growing metro areas in the United States.  People are moving there in droves.  That kind of rapid growth has made this an area of great focus for our convention of churches regarding the need for church planting efforts.  

Recently leadership from Taylors FBC were invited by SCBC staff to go on a vision tour of Myrtle Beach to explore ways that we might become actively involved in the work of church planting there.  It was exciting to meet with leadership from some of the existing churches in the area to discuss ways that we might work together with them in the days ahead.  It’s hard to deny God’s impeccable timing as we consider the correlation between the discovery of this opportunity and our churches growing intentionality in the area of preparing more laborers to be sent out to plant churches.  Praise the Lord! 

The goal of our vision trip was to discover how Taylors can best partner with the fastest growing city in our state, Myrtle Beach, in efforts to engage the community with the gospel and establish the church. We had the opportunity to go around the area and meet with pastors and church planters that are already doing this work and are experiencing the need for more like-minded followers of Jesus to come alongside them to reach people for Christ. I am excited to get to partner with Ross Grall, who has planted Rivers Edge Church, to engage their community through sports camps and evangelism with a group of our 7th – 9th grade students this summer. I am expectant of all the Lord is going to do in the Myrtle Beach area and how Taylors FBC can join him in this mission. — Josh Duncan, Minister of Students

I have visited Myrtle Beach many times as a tourist on vacation, but this time was different. Through conversations with pastors and church planters we were given a glimpse of the great spiritual need, and incredible opportunity for the gospel along the Grand Strand. I am looking forward to seeing how God will develop new partnerships with pastors to share the gospel, make disciples, and establish the church. — Jeremy Thompson, Equip Pastor

Please join in praying for discernment regarding how our church can play an active role in the work in Myrtle Beach.  Pray for teams of students and adults who will serve there this summer.  Pray for our relationships with churches and planters in that area who have a burden for seeing the work advance.  Pray for those in our church whom God may call out to play a more active role in establishing churches in Myrtle Beach.