Church History

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizap and Shen, and called its name EBENEZER, saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us".

1Samuel 7:12 (NKJV

Historical Reflections

Let us reflect on Ebenezer's past as we recall where the Lord has brought us from. Although we haven't uncovered very much of our early written history, we do know that God has been with us from the beginning. We have relied on those records that do exist and on the recollections of our members.

Like most rural black churches during slavery, Ebenezer started out meeting underbrush arbors somewhere in this area. Every summer there were camp meeting that included praying, singing, and good preaching. Services were led by traveling or local preachers.

By the Grace o9f God, we survived the Civil War. Since Slavery was over, and times were getting better, we wanted to build a more permanent church building. Nine trustees were authorized to buy the land on which Ebenezer now stands. The two acres cost $20.00. The trustees were W.H. Marshall, Henry Wilson, Sandy Kendale, Robert Sanders, Sharper Harrington, Frank Streeter, Allen Radcliff, Richard Faulkner, and Nero Coleman. Our 1885 hand-written deed recorded our name as Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church of the Cheraw
Circuit in Marlboro County, located North of Phil's Creek on the old Telegraph Road.

Sometime later, a small one-room church was built on the two acres. Some of the early preachers were Reverend Sharper Harrington, (Grandfather of Reverend M.F. Harrington), Reverend Richmond Brown, and Reverend Isaac Harrington ,whose tombstone can be found in the cemetery today. The tradition of BIG MEETIN", continued. Every August there was a whole week of preaching by evangelists, spirited singing and praying at the moaners bench. On Sunday there were the shared dinner boxes in the church yard that everyone looked forward to. There were also Quality Meetings.

A cornerstone indicated that the church was still standing in 1911. Many improvements have been made since then in the order of worship, and in the building itself. When electricity came through our area in the late 1940's, the Youth Choir raised the money to hook up and install the first electric lights in the sanctuary. At that time Evangeline Barnes Evans was the director and Maynard F. Harrington was the Choir President.

In 1951 Maynard F. Harrington responded to his call into the ministry. He began under the leadership of Reverend Edgar Cole. He was later called to pastor at Thomas Chapel in Rowland, North Carolina.

According to our conference archivist, Ebenezer is listed in the 1973 South Carolina Conference Journal as a church on the Bennettsville Circuit in the Old Florence District (1866). Just how old is Ebenezer? Some people say that we are over 130 years old. Since the search for written proof of our existence before 1885 continues, we may soon be able to verify our age.

For years Ebenezer was on the Cheraw Circuit with Bethel. Among the pastors that we shared were Reverend Linneaus Gregg, Reverend Robert Harrington, Reverend Rouse, Reverend A.G. Pogg, Reverend Edgar W. Cole, Reverend C. Brown, Reverend P.H. Gray, Reverend Louise J. McClam, and Reverend Woodrow W. Singletary. Pastoral Sunday was the second and fourth Sunday. It has been that our services were lively and long because everyone was having a good time in the Lord and they didn't mind tarrying. They weren't about to quench the Spirit. When we were no longer a part of this Circuit, the parsonage was sold for $1,500.00 and we split the proceeds.

By the late sixties the church was badly in need of major repairs. For more than a year our services were held across the road in the old Ebenezer Schoolhouse, Rufus Malachi donated the first $200.00 to start our building fund. With the help of many organizations, family and friends, from different states like, Michigan, Brooklyn, New York City, Washington, Baltimore, Orangeburg, and Florida, we started the work with $950.00. A cement foundation was put in place. Cinder blocks were laid onto the 1911 building frame. Since there wasn't enough money to finish the job, the trustees were authorized for the first time to mortgage the church. The trustees were Sam Cole, Charlie Malachi, George Pegues, and James Strong. The roof was then replaced, a kitchen was built, and the sanctuary was redone.

In the meantime, Ebenezer became a part of the Bennettsville Circuit. Our sister churches were Aaron Temple, Old Galilee, and Level Green. In 1967 Reverend Judge Reuben Clark pastured the Circuit. Before he left, the Methodist Churches merged and our name became Ebenezer United Methodist Church.

Good music has always been a part of Ebenezer. Over the years we have been blessed with talented singers and choirs that loved to sing and lift up the Name of Jesus. Over Thirty-two years the Adult Choir was started by Katie Short. Two of the original members are Earline Harrington Little and Julia Malachi Short, who still sing with the choir. This choir loves to travel. They have sung and gone to Baltimore, Washington, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, the Bahamas, and many places in North and South Carolina. Today the choir includes two generations of Young Adult Choir members.

The Senior Choir is a group of loving people who have worked together for years. They too don't mind singing whenever they are asked. Since several of its members have retired or passed on, the choir has recently been reorganized and is now called New Beginners. Two of the original members, Katie Short and James Strong, still sing.

The Sun Beam Choir, made up of small children, was led by Evangeline Evans, Morris Harrington, and Diane Perkins. The first King and Queen of the choir were Chauncey Malachi and Kowanika Harrington.

The Celestial Choir is directed Earline Little. This Youth Choir was named by Katie Lee Williams after a New York Choir. These children also love to sing and travel. Every year they take a trip just for fun. They have visited the White
House, Six Flags, Atlanta, Disney World, and the Amish Country in Pennsylvania.

During the early 1970's, Reverend McAllister, Sr., Organized our first Finance Committee. Since the 1940's, Fred Savannah, Leenora Pegues, Melvin Short, Sr., and James Strong "Kept the Books."

By the early 1980's we really needed a fellowship hall to accommodate our growing program needs. Ebenezer purchased two acres of land for a parking lot and built a fellowship hall. Gas heating units were installed. Since Ebenezer has been blessed with skilled workers who can build, repair, or renovate, they were called to serve. Some of them were Hilliard Harrington, James Strong, George C. Pegues, and Melvin Short, Sr.

With a renewed awareness of Methodism and our connectionalism, the church begun to pay for and encourage youths and adults to attend district-level conferences, workshop, and retreats under the leadership of Reverend Thomas Campbell, The church calendar was filled with activities such as walk-a-thons, inter-church softball games, and programs like the Four Gospels, Fifty States pageants, and concerts. With the help of Mrs. Campbell the United Methodist Women was organized. We got our first church telephone.

The Gospel Enlightners, an all-boys group, was started by Eilliam Morris Harrington and Belton Grooms. These talented boys delighted audiences all over with their singing.

As the 1980's came to a close, the Bennettsville Circuit became a three-point charge, and Old Galilee was no longer with us.

In keeping with the times, Ebenezer adopted a mission statement, set and accomplished several goals with Reverend Major Brown.III. Our mission statement is, "We will teach, preach, and witness that Jesus Christ is Lord by reaching out and receiving others as they are".

With the favor of God, much planning, two Conference Grants of $10,000.00 each, and a $30,000.00 mortgage, Ebenezer completed an extensive building project. Elmer Ray Streetet was the chairperson of the Building Committee. During Phase One, two classrooms, a library, a woman's bathroom, and a pastor's study with a bathroom were added to the fellowship hall. All able-bodied trustees, United Methodist Men and Women, including our skilled and not so skilled laborers, volunteered to help out during their spare time. During Phase Two, the sanctuary was remodeled, two additional classrooms, a men's and another women's bathroom were added. The church entrance was relocated, a steeple was erected, and, and stain-glass windows were installed. Each stain-glass window was donated by different families in memory of someone.

When the projects were completed, we had a special dedication ceremony. We were honored to have our Resident Bishop of the Columbia Area, Bishop Joseph Betha, came and delivered an inspiring message to us.

In an effort to keep the doors of the church open, lay speakers were trained and took turns speaking every first and third Sunday. Among the first lay speaking group was Clifton Harrington, Patricia Kollock Little, Earline Little, and Diane Perkins. Later Deloris Harrington, Maye Malachi, Robert Malachi, Willie Malachi, Nolan Dexter Williams, and Katie Lee Williams were trained. Sunday School was also held every Sunday. There was a remarkable increase in attendance and participation.

While Reverend Charles Branch was pastor Nolan Dexter Williams accepted his call into the ministry. For the first time in years, the Pastor Parish Relation Committee (PPRC) went into action to nurture and support a candidate.

Years ago, several other members received their call into the ministry before they left Ebenezer. Among them were Reverend Robert F. Harrington, Jr., Reverend Isaiah Harrington, Reverend John Harrington, and Reverend Henry (Jeff) Harrington.

The Boyz of Gospel, another all –boys group, was started by Morris Harrington. This group started out with four boys and expanded to one hundred. The original members were Dewayne Little, Scott Malachi, Cedric Coit, and Morris Harrington, Jr. This group has dazzled audiences all over the country with some of their contemporary gospel numbers.

In spite of the social ills of drug abuse, economic exploitation, greed, and moral decay, by the Grace of God, Ebenezer has fought her way through and has stayed focused on Him who is able to keep you from falling.

Shortly after Reverend Eddie Thomas, Jr,, became pastor, Robert and Maye Malachi responded to their call into the ministry. Before Reverend Thomas left, Reverend Robert Malachi had been appointed local pastor of the Bennettsville Parish and Maye Malachi had become a candidate for the ordained ministry.

Because of the commitment of the Finance Committee to pay off our debt early, they came up with a plan. The Finance Committee included
Robert Malachi, Katie Diane Harrington, Gary Harrington, James Strong, Patricia K. Little, and Edith Streeter. The captains worked diligently to collect two hundred dollar pledges from everyone on their list of members, friends, and family. We had an impressive mortgage – burning ceremony on October 11, 1998, in which each person present put a small piece of the mortgage into the fire.

Reverend Thomas started a circuit outreach program called Good Samaritans. Each year Ebenezer was the distribution center. Food, clothing, toys, and household items were collected and mostly distributed during the Christmas holidays.

As the twentieth century came to a close, we needed to bring Ebenezer up to date. A computer and a printer were purchase to computerize our tithes and offerings. A new septic system had to install.

Ebenezer's journey into the twenty-first century began with our first female pastor and a new vision. Reverend Dr. Jimelvia Pettiford is encouraging us to embrace revitalization and to be more open to change so that we can be more fruitful and multiply. We are now, "One Church Three Locations". The circuit has adopted a mission statement, a vision statement, and goals for the future. The circuit vision statement is, "Building God's Kingdom through unity one step at a time".

During the tenure of Reverend Dr. Jimelvia Pettiford, Fadetra Harrington was called into the ministry.

After burning of the mortgage, additional work was done around the church to include: A Vision by Reverend Dr. M. F Harrington to put a walkway in front of the church. The project came to fruition by the hard work and dedication of the United Methodist Men, where Allen Williams served as President, George E. Pegues was the Vice President, and Reverend Dr. M.F. Harrington was their Spiritual Advisor.

We can now boldly move forward, stepping out on His Words-Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the Faithful God who keeps Covenant and Mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His Commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)

Our name EBENEZER is fitting and truly summarizes our past, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV).

EBENEZER'S PASTORS