Allendale and Hampton County are located in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, approximately one hour between Augusta and Beaufort. The economic conditions and history surrounding this area of the state captured the attention of Grace Church over a decade ago and led us to our current partnership with Varnville First Baptist Church, in Hampton. Each year, our commitment to the people of the Lowcountry grows as we see how God moves and makes himself known.
We believe communities are best transformed through the gospel-centered work of their own local churches, and we desire to serve with them on their terms. Grace Church has been invited into ministry with Varnville First Baptist Church to invest in the youth of the community to help them build relationships with the local church and with Christ. Our goal is to provide people and resources as an asset in empowering the local church’s vision for their community.
In order to invest in the youth of the community, Grace Church and Varnville First Baptist Church focus on providing opportunities for children and teens to know Christ, know Scripture, and become leaders in their areas of influence through a summer camp program called BridgeBuilders.
Our partnership in the Lowcountry provides Grace Church interns an opportunity to participate in domestic missions by serving as camp counselors at BridgeBuilders. Summer staffers work for 11 weeks, organizing and coordinating summer camp for children ages 5–12 in the Allendale and Hampton communities, while also leading campers, high school students, and short-term mission teams. To find out more, visit our internship page.
Family-friendly mission trips introduce families to God’s work in different parts of the world. This opportunity in the Lowcountry provides parents an intentional environment in which to lead their children in becoming involved in God’s global mission while growing as disciples. These trips give families a context to serve sacrificially and process the experience as a family unit.
Student ministry trips to the Lowcountry help students get outside of their normal environment and encourage them to love other people more than they love themselves. Our goal is for students to grow as disciples by sharing the gospel in word and action in a way that equips them for a life on mission at home.