New Light Beulah Baptist Church
Hopkins SC

Our Vision statement:
T.E.A.M.
Together Everyone Accomplishes Much

Our Mission statement:
“The Church that gives Hope, Help and Healing, not by might nor by power, but through the Holy Spirit” Zechariah 4:6

 

https://newlightbeulah.net/  

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING NEW LIGHT BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOPKINS, RICHLAND COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA ON THE JOYFUL OCCASION OF ITS TWO HUNDRED TENTH ANNIVERSARY, AND WISHING THE PASTOR TAYLOR AND CHURCH MEMBERS A BRIGHT PRODUCTIVE FUTURE AND MANY MORE YEARS OF SUCCESS, HAPPINESS, AND ACHIEVEMENTS. Whereas, On March 15, 1806 nine Caucasian members were dismissed from Congaree Baptist with the intent of organizing a new church to be called Beulah Baptist Church. The new church was organized April 26, 1806 with seventeen slaves being baptized on the same day with the church calling Reverend Ambrose Dubose as pastor; and Whereas, the church meet in Minerva Academy until the first sanctuary was constructed around 1829 about the same time eleven slaves (Primus Adams, Mill Adams, Charles Moye, Peter Hopkins, Ned Hopkins, Robin Adams, Hampton Goodwin, York Reese, Humphrey Howell, Adam Chappell and Lew Partridge) were appointed as Deacons to care for the African-American membership; and Whereas, Beulah’s Caucasian membership began to decline when the most prosperous and liberal members sought letters of dismissal to organize St. John Episcopal Church in 1858 followed by the final straw of Reverend James Lawrence Reynolds pastor since 1863 submitting his resignation due to the difficulty of reaching the church from Columbia since the federal troop had destroyed the railroad tracks to Lower Richland. Prior to Reverend Reynolds resignation, he ordained on November 12, 1865 three former slaves William Weston Adams, William Adams and Charles Moye as Baptist Ministers of the Gospel; and Whereas, the strong Black congregation of Beulah Baptist opted to worship without lapse of time separately on the second and fourth Sunday calling William Weston Adams as their first African-American pastor along with other spiritual leaders including Preston Richardson, John Dinkins, Pharaoh Smith, Robert Jones, Lewis Tucker, Paul Sims, Charles Howell, Ned Middleton and James Taylor around December 1867 some 149 years ago; and Whereas, the church progressed until a dispute arose between the African-American and Caucasian citizens of Grovewood (Congaree) that lead to the expulsion of the Black members from the Beulah sanctuary when Jesse Reese Adams (White) half-brother of Reverend William Weston Adams moved his family into the building and forcing the congregation away by way of a shotgun; and Whereas, the Black congregation of Beulah (now New Light Beulah Baptist) continued to worship and grow despite the departure of the Caucasian members including the last former White member and church clerk Deacon John D. Smith who’s final recorded church minute occurred on April 15th, 1868; and Whereas, the former White members of Beulah re-established what is now a thriving fellowship located on Garners Ferry Road in Hopkins, South Carolina in 1877 after a 10 year lapse; and Whereas, the Black congregation of Beulah Baptist change their name to New Light Beulah Baptist in 1873 the same year affiliating with the Gethsemane Baptist Association, then later with the Gethsemane Baptist Association, Upper Division, Pee Dee Baptist Association, Wateree Baptist Association, and finally the Wateree Baptist Association, Upper Division; and Whereas, New Light Beulah purchased two acres of land from the Kaminers, at a cost $25.00 on December 26, 1886 under the leadership of trustees Abram Weston, Jacob Gallman, Pompey Smith, Thomas Stocker, Warwick Howell, Hampton Jamison and Julius Goodwin completing her sanctuary by 1889, the same being burned to the ground in 1916; and Whereas, the Church continued its missionary works by supporting missions, missionaries and birthing Shiloh Baptist – May 14, 1866, Zion Benevolent Baptist – 1871, Zion Pilgrim Baptist – 1873, both St. John and St. Matthew Baptist in 1875, Zion Mt. Moriah – 1877, Jerusalem Baptist -1877, St. James Baptist – 1880, Siloam Baptist 1885, Friendship Baptist – 1891 and Progressive Believers in 2012 while sharing the Word of God by way of great pastors coming after Reverend William Weston Adams including Reverends Daniel Boyd, Isom William Simon, George Washington Taylor, Andrew Richbourg, Jesse William Neal, John Benjamin Barber, Westberry Homer Neal, William C. Henderson, Lawrence Thomas David, Jeremiah Tillman, Gregory Benjamin Cunningham and the current Pastor Malcolm Taylor; and Whereas, New Light Beulah has been the beacon light for Christ in the Lower Richland area she continues to be a church with the Spirit of Excellence and Whereas, the Reverend Malcolm Taylor was called to New Light Beulah Baptist Church in 2015, and immediately revived the vision and planning of Christ’s Ministry in Lower Richland; and Whereas, today New Light Beulah Chapel Baptist Church has a substantial large membership. The church is concerned for the spiritual development of its youth, young adults, seniors (Young at Heart) and has a strong progressive and successful Sunday School program and ministry. The church has many outstanding auxiliaries including Youth Council, Music Ministries, Girls Ministry, Missionary Ministry, Children Ministry, Benevolence Committee, Educational Society and numerous other ministries that assist the church members, as well as the community, in numerous ways. New Light is thoroughly involved in the community and has made Jesus known among the people of Hopkins, Gadsden, Eastover, Columbia and Sumter. Church members are dedicated, hard-working, and devoted to their religious beliefs and calling. New Light Baptist Church truly has a wonderful future ahead of it and is an integral part of the life and accomplishments of Richland County; and Whereas, we are greatly pleased to have the opportunity to recognize this great congregation on her Two Hundred and Tenth Anniversary and her One Hundred Forty Ninth year of independent rule. Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring: That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognizes and honors New Light Baptist Church of Richland County on the joyful occasion of its two hundred tenth anniversary and wishes the pastor and church members a bright future and many more years of success, happiness, and achievements. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to New Light Beulah Baptist Church, in care of the church's pastor, the Reverend Malcolm Taylor.