Reviving faith: The transformation of Tigerville Baptist Church
Photo by Treasure Hardwick
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
Churches are popping up left and right in Greenville. The Gospel is being proclaimed beautifully on every corner. However, sometimes churches die, and strong men and women must be willing to step up and put in the work to revitalize it.
In 1915, North Greenville Baptist church, now known as Tigerville Baptist, was planted by Leonard Simpson. Simpson was the principle of North Greenville Baptist Academy and wanted to extend the reach and influence of the academy by creating a space on Sunday where students and those in the surrounding community could worship Jesus.
The church expanded and gained many attendees. However, on December 26, 1960, the church burned down. Despite the difficult circumstances, the church was rebuilt. Over the years, attendance began to dimmish, and the church slowly began to die.
In the fall of 2024, Rocky Creek Baptist church decided to partner with Tigerville Baptist and began the process of revitalization.
Joshua Gilmore, director of church and community relations at North Greenville University, had attended Rocky Creek Baptist for quite some time when the church prompted him with the idea of becoming the interim pastor at Tigerville Baptist.
After much prayer and consideration, Gilmore committed to taking on the role at Tigerville Baptist.
Since he stepped into his role as pastor, Gilmore has watched the church grow significantly in a couple of areas. In addition to attendance skyrocketing, members in the church have begun leading Sunday school services and engaging with attendees in any way possible.
Balancing his position at NGU and pastoring a church has been a stretching experience for Gilmore. He explained that he spends his days at NGU loving on college students, and then he goes home and pours into his family. After his children go to bed around 8 p.m., he writes his sermons.
“I have had to pray that God would help me write my sermons faster and help me balance everything while doing it for God’s glory,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore received a call to ministry at a young age. He has seen church revitalization take place before. The revitalization of Tigerville Baptist is the first time he has seen it in such an obvious way. He explained that recently he has begun to understand the meaning of revitalization on a deeper level.
“What I’ve learned is that planting a church is like giving birth. Revitalizing a church is like raising the dead,” said Gilmore.
Logan Ratliff, junior health science major at NGU, began attending Tigerville Baptist his freshman year. After falling in love with the church’s welcoming community and encouraging messages, he began serving by using his talent in worship leading.
Before the church revitalization, Ratliff explained that the amount of people attending services on Sunday was small, but the sermons still were encouraging.
“The Holy Spirit moved among the church even if there were only 10 or 15 people there. You could still feel God there. I could just see Him working in that place,” Ratliff said.
Since the revitalization began at Tigerville Baptist, Ratliff has seen the church drastically change. He explained that there is a new camera crew and college groups before church. The community grew overnight, and the Holy Spirit continues to move every week.
Daniel Stamps, junior intercultural studies major, transferred to NGU in the fall. Initially, he was attending Rocky Creek Baptist church. However, when he met Joshua Gilmore and heard about the revitalization at Tigerville Baptist, Stamps decided to trust God’s calling to lead the college ministry at Tigerville Baptist.
Originally, the church didn’t have a college group. Sunday attendance usually consisted of a more elderly crowd. But as the church grew, so did the number of young faces. Stamps explained that he was surprised about just how many new people have been showing up on a weekly basis and attending the service and Sunday school.
“I think the most unexpected thing would probably be just God’s providence in people showing up. Because honestly, I was expecting showing up and there being no one, or just one person or two. But the very first time we met, there was eight people, and then 12, and then 14 this past week,” said Stamps.
As the church continues to grow, Gilmore encourages those looking for a Godly community to visit Tigerville Baptist and to get plugged in. Services begin at 10:45 a.m. every Sunday.
In a recent Instagram reel, Gilmore made a simple yet convincing appeal.
“We would love to see you come. I want to do anything I can to get to you and encourage you. So, if you are in any of these communities surrounding North Greenville, and you don’t have a church home, please come and be a part,” he said.
