History of The Rescue Church

It all started when…

In 2007 Pastor Derrick Gardner of Life Springs Worship Center (LSWC) had a vision to plant a church in the Pelion, SC area. The church he was currently pastoring agreed to purchase land in that area for a future church plant. LSWC purchased 25 acres on Old Charleston Road, Pelion, SC across from the Pelion Airport.

In December 2009 Pastor Tim McIver, the pastor of a non-denominational church (Tabernacle of God), brought his church into the International Pentecostal Holiness Church Denomination. These two pastors joined efforts to place a church in Pelion. The Pelion High School was acquired in February of 2010 and Pastor Tim began having church services in the school. In May of 2010, Pastor Tim resigned and in July of that same year Pastor R. Donald Bodie was elected as Senior Pastor.

The South Carolina Conference Bishop suggested the church make a change in the name. The church body voted and approved United Tabernacle of God, IPHC (UTG).

In March of 2011 Pastor Derrick and his congregation issued a challenge to UTG. The challenge was to raise $50,000 for the building fund (not for the purchase of the property) and LSWC would release the deed for the land on Old Charleston Road to the church. The UTG congregation started fundraising efforts in April on Easter Sunday with Project Foundation and Faith Commitments. From that day to the end of 2011 the church raised the $50,000. To God be all the glory and honor. LSWC deeded the property to UTG.

In August 2014, UTG changed the name of the local church to The Rescue and in November 2016 moved its meeting location from Forts Pond Elementary School to Pelion High School.

The first of a multi-phase building plan began in September 2019 with construction of a multi-purpose building. A Celebration Service was held on August 8, 2021 in this building. All Worship Services, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministries, Adult Ministry and any ministries that will be developed to benefit the spiritual growth of the Pelion community will take place in this facility.

Future:

The Rescue Church vision includes multiple structures and multiple ministries. This would be accomplished in a series of phases before the entire campus would be complete.

The next step would be to complete a Worship Center (Sanctuary), office building and educational wing to house most of the ministries that were held in the multi-purpose building. This would free the first phase structure to be used for additional activities including social gatherings of the church and rental space for the surrounding community.

Once these structures are completed, The Rescue Church would have a Worship Center with office complex and adjoining educational wings that would be used for the spiritual development of the members and the community. The facilities would also be used to provide a gathering place for the spiritual development and expanding of God’s Kingdom through conferences, revivals, and other meetings from outside the community.

Additional structures would be added as God supplies to provide housing for missionaries while they are in the states on furlough. It is difficult for missionaries to raise the necessary financial support without having to worry about where they are going to live while they are visiting. They will have to pay their living expenses while here unless The Rescue Church is financially able to lift that burden as well.

These will not be permanent living houses for anyone, and the criteria will have to be developed at that time. Another part of the Vision is to build separate structures to provide a Boys and Girls Home for children in need of structured living arrangements. These homes would have a set of house parents that would provide the needed guidance and biblical teaching that a developing child or teenage boy/girl would need before entering society on their own as an adult. In these facilities the children/youth will be taught basic living skills and given a biblical foundation to make godly decisions once they have left this ministry. Here their lives will be changed from hopelessness to hopefulness. These will not be permanent living arrangements for anyone and the criteria will have to be developed as the vision is fulfilled.

There is also a business plan inside The Rescue Church vision that would involve a partnering of the church with businesses in and around the Pelion community. The plan would be to develop a business to fund the expenses of the church and ministries, writing of grants to obtain government money, and many outreach ministries that transform our community from being known for the drugs and alcohol to being known for its love for God and each other.

Some of this vision was prophesied by Brian Carn and has been included:

Prophetic Message to The Rescue Church, IPHC – Pelion, SC

Given by Brain Carn at Life Springs Worship Center on Thursday - February 17, 2011

For the Spirit of God would say unto thee, For yea over the course of the last 2 years, He’s tested you. Been in a place of testing for the last 2 years.

But the Spirit of God says Entrepreneurship is on you strong, and there’s something you want to do concerning a business. God’s getting ready to open the door. He’s gonna give you the favor. He’s gonna give you the insight.

God told me to tell you this: He said, tell him don’t give up, for the work that I started, I’m gonna finish it. God gave you a vision, He gave you a dream. And God said your dream is getting ready to come to pass.

Not only do I see that, but I see a passion that you have for children. I see a passion that you have for young people and for young men. God told me to tell ya: If you want it, I’ll give you a boy’s home.

Get ready for this is your season of change and deliverance says the Spirit.

I see you taking a trip. South. Maybe Georgia, I don’t know what it is. And when you come back God says everything will be in place.

Remember I told you this, there’s about three to thirteen acres of land…There’s about three to 13 acres of land that you want to build on. God told me to tell ya: prepare yourself, cause I’m working out all the zoning right now.

All of the favor that you need to build that building is yours. God told me to tell ya: don’t worry about nothing, I heard your prayer.

And the Lord say: get ready, cause ya getting ready to travel overseas like ya want to.

You watch God. Lift ya hands. I say lift your sanctified hands.