A Neighborhood Church on Woodside Parkway
Central Church of the Nazarene stands on South Woodside Parkway in West Columbia, South Carolina, across the river from the state capital. Locals know the church by its warm welcome and its regular rhythm of services that draw families from Lexington County and beyond. Members describe a congregation that loves Jesus, loves its community, and loves its neighbors, and that focus shapes everything from Sunday worship to a monthly prayer drive-thru set up right in the parking lot.
The church belongs to the Church of the Nazarene, a Wesleyan-Holiness denomination with a worldwide footprint. Central's own mission is to make Christ-like disciples in the context of community - going to, inviting, welcoming, and serving its neighbor. Ministry programs focus on equipping every generation for a growing and contagious relationship with Jesus.
Lead Pastor Brent Walker
Lead Pastor Brent Walker arrived at Central in April 2016, convinced that the Lord was leading his family to West Columbia. A North Carolina native and lifelong Tar Heel fan, Brent gave his life to Christ as a young adult and later graduated from God's Bible School and College (B.A.) in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nazarene Theological Seminary (M.Div.) in Kansas City, Missouri. Ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene, he has pastored congregations in Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Brent and his wife, Victoria, share a blended family of seven grown children and four grandchildren. In his downtime he watches NFL games, college basketball, and Animal Planet, and he is known around the church for an unrestrained love of anything sweet.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Sunday morning at Central follows a single, family-friendly flow. Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. The music blends traditional and contemporary styles, and dress runs the full range from casual to dressy. The church's own guidance for first-time visitors is that it is not about appearance but about experiencing His presence.
First through sixth graders start in the sanctuary with their families during the worship hour. Activity bags are available in the foyer before the service. After worship, the kids head to their own classrooms while adults move into Sunday morning small groups that begin at 11:00 a.m.
Children's Ministry: From Nursery to Kidz Korner
The children's wing is built around safety and age-appropriate learning. Every leader, teacher, and volunteer is screened, background checked, and trained before serving.
- Nursery (birth to age 3): Open during every service. Loving staff and approved volunteers care for infants and toddlers, and parents are called or texted if they are needed during the service. Laura Martin serves as Nursery Director.
- Wild Kingdom (potty-trained 3 years through age 5): A structured worship classroom tailored to preschoolers, available during the 9:30 Sunday worship, the Sunday small groups hour, and the Wednesday evening service.
- Kidz Korner (1st through 6th grade): Music, Bible study, games, crafts, and fellowship fill this energetic classroom on Sunday mornings, during Sunday small groups, and on Wednesday nights in a themed series that runs four to eight weeks.
- Bible Quizzing during the school year: Children dig deeper into Scripture through weekly study and quiz meets against other South Carolina teams.
Children's Ministries Director Madison Martin grew up at Central and now invests the next generation with the same discipleship that shaped her.
Ignite Student Ministries
Central Student Ministries, branded locally as Ignite, gathers 7th through 12th graders for fellowship and worship each Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Director Shanda Millender describes the ministry in three words: Be (come to know Christ), Do (grow in their walk with Christ), and Go (learn to share their faith in Christ).
Throughout the year, students travel to Top Nazarene Talent at Trevecca Nazarene University, attend summer youth camp, and head to Breakaway, the Nazarene youth fall retreat. Summer and fall also bring monthly events for the group. Shanda, a Case Management Supervisor at the Richland and Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board, brings a professional heart for inclusion to her ministry and tells students plainly that they do not have to be perfect to seek God.
Wednesday Nights at 6:30
Wednesday evenings are a second front door for many at Central. Three gatherings run in parallel from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: the Midweek Worship Service for adults, Kid's Night for children, and Ignite for students.
Pastor Brent leads the adult Midweek Worship Service with a focus on prayer, interactive study, and an evening snack. Children's programming on Wednesday nights runs themed four to eight week series throughout the year, with crafts, games, and music tied to each theme.
Adult Small Groups on Sunday Morning
Sunday morning small groups form the backbone of adult discipleship at Central. Five groups meet directly after worship.
- College & Career: for those navigating life after youth group and finding their place to serve.
- Young Adults: for those still asking deep questions about faith, whether single or married.
- Upper Room: laughter and serious Bible study as leaders walk the group through Scripture.
- Ambassadors: for more seasoned adults who never stop learning and growing.
- Any Body's Bible Class (ABC): open to anybody who wants to study the Word and learn what true discipleship looks like.
Central Prime Timers gathers adults age 55 and older for activities and meals. Women's ministries are also active in the church's life. Service opportunities - from preparing meals to work-day projects to women's ministry - give newcomers a way to put down roots and form lasting friendships.
A Heart for West Columbia and Beyond
Central's outreach is built around practical acts of kindness. The Prayer Drive-Thru happens on the third Saturday of every month. Volunteers set up a tent in the parking lot, post signs along the road, and wave down anyone who will stop - to pray with, to listen to, and to encourage. Anyone is welcome to join, even those who would rather wave and smile than pray out loud.
The congregation also partners with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in two ways. Pal-Paks are filled with school supplies and sent around the world to children who need them. Crisis Care Kits hold basic hygiene items and travel to disaster zones and areas of crisis around the globe.
Closer to home, the church assembles Blessing Bags: small sacks of hygiene items, bottles of water, snacks, and a copy of the Gospel of John. Members keep a bag in their cars to hand to people experiencing homelessness in the community, showing God's love one encounter at a time. Nazarene Missions International (NMI) coordinates the missions work. Connie Hoover has led the local NMI council since 2004 and also teaches the Any Body's Bible Class.
A Wesleyan-Holiness Heritage
Central identifies as part of the Church Universal and embraces the historic Trinitarian creeds of the Christian faith. Its Wesleyan-Holiness heritage shapes its understanding of the Christian life. The church teaches that the Holy Spirit seeks to do a second work of grace in believers - sometimes called entire sanctification or the baptism with the Holy Spirit - cleansing the heart, empowering wholehearted love for God and neighbor, and producing the character of Christ.
The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church, and Central takes that commission seriously. Mission begins in worship, reaches the world through evangelism and compassion, encourages believers toward Christian maturity through discipleship, and prepares women and men for ministry. The congregation strives to live out the compassion of Christ alongside a personal commitment to Christlike living.
Staying Connected
Sunday worship and Wednesday services are streamed live for those who cannot attend in person, and past messages and devotionals live on the church's YouTube channel. Online giving is available, and a mobile app keeps the calendar, sermons, and giving tools in one place. The church can be reached at (803) 796-0595 or Info@CentralCOTN.org, and the address is 100 S. Woodside Pkwy, West Columbia, SC 29170.