Ferndale Baptist Church

The Ferndale Baptist Church started July 23, 1944 in the garage of Mr. And Mrs. Finklea, when a group of Christians felt the need for a church in this community. The church started with 31 charter members. Rev. G. K. Revels was acting minister. The congregation met for several months in the garage until it moved into a large tent which was borrowed from the Home Mission Board.

On August13, 1944 the pulpit was declared vacant due to the fact that Rev. Revels was ill. Rev. M. O. Alsing came to pastor our church on October 8, 1944.

In October of 1944, construction began on the first real home of Ferndale Baptist Church at the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Bolton Street. The brick was put up by a contractor and the rest was built with free labor, paying as it was built.

In May of 1945 the Home Mission Board sent us a check for $500 for the Building Program. We moved into the church with our canvas benches before the church was completed because it was too hot in the tent. During the first year, church membership increased from 31 charter members to 82 with a Sunday School enrollment of 167.

In December of 1946, Rev. Alsing resigned as pastor to accept a call to the Warrenville Baptist Church. Dr. J. E. Bailey became the supply pastor on December 15, at which time membership totaled 167.

On March 16, 1947 Rev. Lowder came to pastor Ferndale Baptist Church from Lowry's Baptist Church in Lowry's, SC. Additions to the church in 1947 were 40 by baptism, 60 by letter for a total membership of 251.

In 1948 additions to the church were 19 by baptism, 49 by letter for a total membership of 312. Eight Sunday School rooms were added to our building by Mr. C. L. Harbeson with the help of Jimmy Scarborough.

On January 8, 1954 construction began on the Education Building. The church moved into them on September 26, 1954. This building was to serve as Sunday School space for the church. The attendance goal for the first Sunday School in the new building was 500, and the Lord blessed with a Sunday School attendance of 501 that morning. The Educational Building consisted of 27 classrooms and a pastor's study. Our Sunday School and Training Union was departmentalized for the first time. Additions to the church in 1954 were 38 by baptism, 28 by letter for a total membership of 552.

In 1956 the property in the rear of the church was purchased to build additional Sunday School rooms on later.

On August 16, 1961 the church voted to borrow money to buy property on Bolton Street and Piedmont Avenue over to Alton Street for a new auditorium and parking.

Rev. Thomas E. Moore, Jr. became pastor on October 11, 1964. The new sanctuary was begun on January 1, 1965 with the cooperation of the men of the church giving much of their own time for the work. The pews and pulpit furniture were given to the church by members of the church in memory or in honor of someone. Dedication services were held June 30, 1965. A new parsonage was also built on Piedmont Avenue.

In March of 1968, Dr. Bob and Gladys Besancon began their ministry at Ferndale Baptist Church.

In September of 1969, Ferndale Baptist School opened with an enrollment of 38 students. Gladys Besancon was the elementary school principal.

Construction began on the Gymnasium and High School annex in May of 1983. School enrollment was 325 in grades one through ten.

In August of 1988, the new Day Care facility opened.

In March of 1993, Dr. Bob and Gladys Besancon celebrated 25 years of ministry at Ferndale Baptist Church.

Dr. Bob Besancon retired on June 10, 2002 after 34 years here at Ferndale and 54 years in the ministry. He was given the title Pastor Emeritus at his retirement celebration on June 30, 2002.

A year later, on June 29, 2003, Ferndale Baptist Church called Dr. Tom Wheeler and family as pastor. They faithfully served the Lord here until he resigned in September 2007 to accept a position at Bob Jones University Press.

In May 2008 Ferndale Baptist School had to close operations due to financial difficulties. On August 15, 2008, daycare operations had to close as well.

In May 2008, from the sale of the parsonage, gymnasium and high school building, Ferndale Baptist purchased new property in Hanahan on which to relocate the ministry. The church is currently debt free and owns 7.499 acres of prime real estate in the Tanner Plantation area of Foster Creek Road, a new area bustling with growth. The congregation voted to change its name when it moved to “Foster Creek Baptist Church.”

On July 30, 2008, our youth pastor, Mike Betancourt accepted the church’s call to be our next pastor. Pastor Mike and his family have been serving with us since their arrival to North Charleston in 1992.

In August 2009, our church voted to hire Teamway Builders to be our general contractor/project manager for our new property.

Ferndale Baptist Church

Teaching the Word . . . Reaching the World.