history of swift creek baptist church

Our history is the story of God's continual blessing on our family of believers.

  • 1978

    In January 1978, ninety-eight Christians met to form a new church, with Tommy Davidson as pastor. By March 1978, 121 people constituted the new Swift Creek Baptist Church, meeting in a local school. By God's grace, thirty people joined the church by baptism that first year.

  • 1979-1988

    In 1979, the church bought property on Branders Bridge Road for the construction of a permanent home, and on March 23, 1980 the new building was dedicated to the Lord. Norman Harris became the church's pastor in 1984, and later the church called Steve Felker as pastor in 1987.

  • 1989-1997

    God continued to bless us with new members, and that meant that we needed more space. in March, 1992 we dedicated a new building to the Lord, to include a new sanctuary, fellowship hall and kitchen. In 1997, we established our first web page, and expanded our Staff to include a full-time Associate Pastor/Youth Director.

  • 1998-2007

    As we continued to grow, we began a second Sunday morning worship service in 1999, and began the AWANA program for children in 2003. We began broadcasting Sunday services on local cable outlets in 2006.

  • 2008-present

    In 2008, we opened another 9,000 sq. ft. building extension to include staff offices, a gymnasium and kitchen. During this era of our history members when on mission trips to West VA, Oregon, India, the Philippines, Uganda, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and South Africa. In 2015, with God's continual blessing, we made the final payment on that building extension. We also further expanded our staff with a Nursery Director, as well as a full-time Music & Worship Pastor. Called Drew Cheatham as our Full-time Youth/Assoc. Pastor. In 2017 the Music Leader's position was scaled back to part-time and Eunice Cheatham filled that position. That year the Church approved recommendations of the Church Health Team, which used Transformational Church as a resource. In 2020 we upgraded our video equipment and became streaming on Facebook Live.  In 2021 Dr. Steve Felker retired as Senior Pastor after 34 years of service. Later that year Dr. Robert Shehane became Interim Pastor, and then Transition Pastor, to lead the church through an 8-stage transition period, preparing the church to call our next pastor.