A Blended Family of Faith on the Brunswick Coast
Just off Mount Pisgah Road SW in Supply, North Carolina, Brunswick Islands Baptist Church draws worshipers from the surrounding coastal communities of Brunswick County and from a long list of other places. Many members are transplants - from North Carolina mountains and piedmont towns, from neighboring states, and from further afield - who have found in BIBC a congregation that mixes southern Baptist roots with a casual, chapel-like warmth. The church's stated aim is to be a place "Where everyone can grow in faith and service and discover God's plans for their lives," and its weekly rhythm, community partnerships, and outreach programs all point in that direction.
BIBC meets for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and gathers for a blended worship service at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday evenings add another layer of fellowship and study, beginning with a meal at 5:30 p.m., followed by Bible study at 6:30 p.m. and adult choir practice at 7:30 p.m. A second Bible study is offered Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. for those who prefer a daytime option. Members and visitors dress casually, the sanctuary combines hymnals and screens, and the music ranges from bluegrass and gospel to contemporary praise songs and classic hymns.
What Visitors Find on Sunday Morning
Hospitality team members greet guests at the front door, and the order of worship is intentionally accessible. The blended service mixes traditional and contemporary elements, with a biblically relevant sermon often presented in a series. Senior Pastor Keith McKinney primarily preaches out of the NASB translation, while the congregation also uses several translations in teaching and responsive readings.
A nursery is available during the worship service, and Bible-based activity bags are offered for school-aged children so they can stay engaged during the message. Sunday School classes for preschoolers, children, and youth meet at 9:30 a.m., and adults can choose from three options: the Friendship Class, the Berean Class (which follows a traditional curriculum), and a Special Topics Class that works through various books and themes throughout the year.
Wednesday Evenings Around the Table
Wednesdays at BIBC are built around food and conversation. A fellowship meal is served at 5:30 p.m., with a potluck on the first Wednesday of each month and a larger feast on the third Wednesday. After dinner, the church offers interactive Bible study at 6:30 p.m. that works through books of the Bible with a blend of teaching, conversation, and prayer. Youth in grades 7 through 12 gather at the same time for their own time of prayer, games, Bible study, and life conversation. A separate daytime Bible study meets at 11:00 a.m. for those whose schedules do not allow evening participation.
At 7:30 p.m., the adult choir gathers for about 45 minutes of rehearsal. Choir practice opens with prayer, runs through a varied repertoire from modern praise songs to gospel and anthems, and occasionally joins with the praise band for special musical moments. New voices are always welcome. The praise band rehearses separately on Thursday evenings.
Four Freedoms and a Baptist Identity
BIBC describes itself as a Baptist church, but the congregation is intentionally broad. Members and regular attenders come from many faith backgrounds - some Baptist, some from other Christian denominations, some from other religious traditions, and some with no religious background at all. What unites them, the church teaches, is a shared focus on Christ rather than uniform doctrine.
The congregation outlines its beliefs around "The Four Fragile Freedoms of the Baptist Tradition."
- Bible Freedom: Every Christian has the right to interpret and apply Scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, nurtured by the wisdom of the larger congregation.
- Soul Freedom: Each believer is individually accountable to God without the imposition of creed or the control of clergy or government, sometimes called the "priesthood of all believers."
- Church Freedom: Each local church is autonomous under the Lordship of Christ, free to determine its membership, leadership, doctrine, and practice, while still working cooperatively with other churches.
- Religious Freedom: Every person should be able to worship - or not - without government interference, including the meaningful freedom to say "no."
The church also fully supports women in ministry, believing that God calls people of all genders to serve in leadership and pastoral roles. Members and attenders serve equally as leaders.
From Thirteen Believers to a Permanent Home
The story of Brunswick Islands Baptist Church begins in the summer of 1989, when a small group of thirteen believers felt called to plant a church that would be open and welcoming to all. The Baptist State Convention initially met their vision with skepticism, but the group persisted, gathering first in the Brunswick Baptist Association Building and later in the Powell Funeral Home in Shallotte. In 1990 they settled in the Holden Beach area as Holden Beach Baptist Mission. That same year, a merger with another group nearly doubled their numbers, and in May 1992 the congregation was officially named Brunswick Islands Baptist Church.
Music was woven in from the beginning, with multiple choirs and musical groups shaping the worship experience. Interim Pastor Jack Hancox served for over four years and set the tone for a congregation open to all regardless of race, gender, or background. Members and volunteers from other churches helped build the current church building, which opened in 1993. Over the years the campus has grown with additional classrooms and a fellowship hall, all funded through the generosity of the congregation.
Children and Youth
Children's ministry at BIBC centers on Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., with age-appropriate classes for preschoolers and school-aged children. Teachers aim to build a welcoming environment where children can grow in their understanding of God's love, ask questions, and form lasting friendships. Throughout the year, children enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt, Vacation Bible School, and a community Fall Festival that brings the whole church together. During worship, kids are welcome to use Bible-based activity bags designed to help them engage with the sermon.
Youth ministry is for students in grades 7 through 12. They meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for Bible study, fellowship, and fun. Beyond weekly gatherings, the youth program includes monthly activities, an annual lock-in, summer camp experiences, and mission trips. Musical students have opportunities to sing or play instruments in worship services, and the group stages a Christmas play each year. Past outings have included trips to Myrtle Beach, bowling, beach days, and other activities designed to build friendships.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music has been central to BIBC since its founding and remains a defining feature of the worship service. The blended style brings together a traditional adult choir and a contemporary praise band, with youth musicians also contributing. The repertoire spans modern praise songs, gospel, bluegrass, classic hymns, and anthems, performed with hymnals, screens, responsive readings, and instruments. The choir rehearses Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. and the praise band on Thursday evenings, and both groups welcome new members at any skill level.
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is one of the church's most visible community ministries. As a partner of the NC Food Bank, BIBC operates the pantry on the first and third Tuesdays of every month from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. Rather than handing out pre-packed boxes, the pantry invites guests to walk through and select the items they need, an approach that reduces food waste and preserves the dignity of those being served. A walk-in refrigerator and freezer allow the pantry to distribute fresh and frozen items alongside shelf-stable goods. The pantry operates entirely on individual donations and grants.
Local and Global Partnerships
Beyond the food pantry, BIBC supports a wide range of mission partners. The church cooperates with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC and the Baptist State Convention of NC, and is part of the Brunswick Baptist Association. Baptist Children's Homes of NC, Baptist On Mission, and the Todd Pruitt family with International Sport Ministries extend the church's reach beyond Brunswick County.
Closer to home, BIBC works with Matthews Ministry, which provides weekend food backpacks for school children, and Samaras Village, a teen pregnancy ministry. The church also supports Hope Harbor, a domestic violence ministry in Supply, and partners with West Brunswick High School and Supply Elementary. Past mission teams have traveled to western North Carolina to assist with rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Helene.
Tech Team and CARE Ministry
Behind the scenes, the BIBC Tech Team handles audio, video, livestreaming, and web needs for worship services and special events. Volunteers with gifts in technology are invited to join this group of Brunswick Islands Techies. A separate CARE ministry walks alongside church members through difficult seasons, extending the pastoral reach of the congregation into everyday needs.
Senior Leadership
Keith McKinney serves as senior pastor. A North Carolina native, he grew up in Flat Rock near Hendersonville, attended Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, and then Gardner-Webb Divinity School while serving as Minister to Students at East Flat Rock First Baptist. His ministry journey has taken him to Lyman, South Carolina, and King, North Carolina, before he and his wife Renee, their son Aiden, and their two collies settled in Supply. McKinney is passionate about communicating God's love and grace and helping each person find a place of joyful service.
Michelle Babson Forrester leads the music ministry. A lifelong singer who grew up singing with her sisters in Bladenboro, North Carolina, she served for about fifteen years as music director at her home church there before moving to Brunswick County in 2018. She and her husband Kim, whose father the late Rev. Paul Forrester served as a Baptist minister, feel called to BIBC's music ministry.
Getting Connected
Visitors are welcomed throughout the year. Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. and the worship service at 10:30 a.m., with a nursery available and activity bags for school-aged children. Wednesday fellowship meals start at 5:30 p.m., Bible study for all ages meets at 6:30 p.m., and the choir rehearses at 7:30 p.m. A New Members Class is offered periodically for those exploring what it means to join the church family. Past services are available to watch on Facebook, and giving is available online, by mail, or in person during Sunday worship or at the church office during the week.
Brunswick Islands Baptist Church is located at 1672 Mt Pisgah Rd SW, Supply, NC 28462, and can be reached at (910) 842-8969 or officead.bibc@gmail.com.