About Brunswick Islands Baptist Church
Who We Are
At Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, we are a loving and welcoming group of people from all over the country, united by our desire to grow in the Lord and live out our faith. We gather for heartfelt worship, blending traditional and contemporary music, and offer opportunities to deepen our faith through Bible studies, youth and children’s ministries, and meaningful fellowship. Our church family enjoys each other’s company and is committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus through local outreach, mission opportunities, and community service. Whether you’re visiting the area or looking for a church to call home, we invite you to join us as we worship, grow, and serve together!
Our Mission
To gather as God’s people to worship, pray and fellowship
To grow in faith, love and stewardship as individuals and as a church
To go into all the world through missions, evangelism and ministry
What We Believe
The Four Fragile Freedoms of The Baptist Tradition
Our members and attenders come from diverse faith backgrounds. Many are Baptist, some come from other denominations or from different religious traditions, and some have no specific faith background at all. We come together to worship and learn, to share life and pray for one another. We hope that ALL will feel welcome no matter their past experiences.
Our history and polity (how the church is organized and makes decisions) are rooted in the Baptist tradition. But what does that mean?
Unlike many Christian denominations, Baptists are not unified through a central governing authority. Baptists do not have an equivalent to the Pope. What we have are four freedoms that we piece together to create our distinctively Baptist identity.
Bible Freedom
The Bible is foundational to us as individuals and as a congregation. Every Christian has the freedom and right to interpret and apply Scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The wisdom and counsel of the larger congregation should nurture individual believers as they seek to interpret and apply Scripture.
Soul Freedom
We are each accountable to God individually without the imposition of creed or the control of clergy or government. This personal experience with God is indispensable to the Christian life and necessary for a vital church. This is sometimes described as the “priesthood of all believers.”
Church Freedom
Baptist churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ, to determine their membership, leadership, doctrine and practice. This is sometimes known as “autonomy of the local church.” Individual churches should work together to achieve goals that one church by itself could not reach.
Religious Freedom
Everyone should be able to worship (or not) as they feel led without unnecessary interference by the government. Just as religious freedom involves the freedom to practice religion, it also includes the freedom not to practice religion. If you can’t say “no,” your “yes” is meaningless. The separation of church and state affords an important constitutional protection of religious freedom for all.
In addition to these core beliefs, we also fully support women in ministry, believing that God calls people of all genders to serve in leadership and pastoral roles.
Additionally, we use multiple Bible translations in our teaching and worship to enhance understanding and application of God’s Word. Our pastor primary preaches out of the NASB translation.
Our History
In the summer of 1989, a small group of believers, only thirteen in number, were moved by God to establish a church that would be open and welcoming to all. After seeking advice from the Baptist State Convention, their vision was initially met with skepticism, but their persistence paid off. The group began meeting in the Brunswick Baptist Association Building and later in the Powell Funeral Home in Shallotte before finding a permanent location in the Holden Beach area in 1990, where the church was officially named Holden Beach Baptist Mission. This vision continued to grow as the church merged with another group in January 1990, almost doubling its membership and eventually leading to the formation of Brunswick Islands Baptist Church in May 1992.
The church’s foundation was built on a commitment to serve God and the community, with strong leadership from interim pastors like Jack Hancox, who served for over four years and laid the groundwork for a church that was open to all, regardless of race, gender, or background. Music played a vital role from the very beginning, with the formation of various choirs and musical groups enhancing the worship experience. The church’s mission extended beyond local outreach, as the congregation continued to grow, with a spirit of generosity and volunteerism driving the construction of the church building, which opened in 1993, thanks to contributions from members and volunteers from other churches.
Through the years, God’s influence has been evident in the growth and transformation of Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, both in numbers and in spirit. The church expanded further with the purchase of land and the construction of new facilities, including a fellowship hall and additional classrooms. Pastoral leadership and the support of many laity members have played crucial roles in maintaining a Christ-centered, democratically governed church. With a vision that remains open and dedicated to serving the community and the world, Brunswick Islands Baptist Church continues to be a place of worship, fellowship, and service for all.
