A Church Born from a Mill Village

First Baptist Church Lyman stands on Groce Road in the Spartanburg County village of Lyman, South Carolina, where a textile plant once drew hard-working families to a planned community on the Middle Tyger River. The town of Lyman was built in the early 1920s by Pacific Mills, which purchased 750 acres for a new plant and named the village for a former company president, Arthur T. Lyman. A grammar school, a community building, store fronts, and more than 300 rental houses for mill workers came with the project, and from those workers a group of 39 people met in the grammar school on July 24, 1924 to organize a Baptist church. That meeting gave rise to First Baptist Church of Lyman, which celebrated its centennial on July 24, 2024 and remains the spiritual center of the village a century later.

A Century on Groce Road

The congregation was founded under the leadership of its first pastor, Rev. Ernest G. Ross, who served the new church while it met first in the grammar school and later in the town Community Building. After Rev. Ross left in 1925, Rev. H Haydock became the second pastor, and by early 1926 the church was moving forward with plans to build. The original sanctuary was dedicated on November 27, 1926 at a cost of $21,785, and the notes were burned just over five years later on January 10, 1932, when the building was "dedicated free of debt, to the glory of God and the good of mankind."

Rev. A Howard Wilson began a 13-year pastorate in 1929, during which 881 members joined the fellowship and a three-story education building was constructed. After the local school burned in 1930, the church opened its building to the community. A parsonage was built on Ridge Road in 1937 on land donated by Pacific Mills, and in 1940 ground was broken for the Ross Building, named for the founding pastor. Rev. R. Von King accepted the call in 1955 and led for fifteen years, a stretch that saw the Fellowship Building constructed and the Pacific Heights Mission established; the mission later grew into Calvary Baptist Church.

Rev. Gideon M. Long Jr. became pastor in 1972 and served for twenty years, during which the King and Craine educational buildings were connected in 1974. The old sanctuary was demolished in 1982 and a new one completed in 1984; the church paid off that debt within five years. The Family Life Center was erected and dedicated to the Lord in 1992. Rev. James W. Thompson III was called in 1994 and served more than eight years. Rev. Scott Stancil was called in 2008, and Pastor Bill Morris became pastor in 2016 and continues to lead the church today.

Sundays at First Lyman

Sunday worship gathers at 9:30 a.m. in the Worship Center and is open to all ages, with the building filling as greeters from the First Impressions Team welcome visitors at the doors. Services are livestreamed on Vimeo for those who cannot attend in person, and recordings of recent sermons by Pastor Bill Morris and guest preachers such as David North, Dr. Allen McWhite, Dr. Gene Fant, and Family Pastor Joey Bodie remain available on demand. The music ministry blends congregational singing led by the Worship Choir with the Worship Team, and the spirit of the gathering is described by the church as worship "in Spirit and in truth," after John 4:24.

After the service, Sunday Morning Life Groups meet at 10:45 a.m. in classrooms around the building. The hour-long classes run from nursery care through senior adults, giving every generation a place to study Scripture together. Worship is followed by the Student Gathering for sixth through twelfth graders, who share a meal, worship, and study from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Student Center and Gym.

Kingdom Kids: From Nursery Through Sixth Grade

Children's ministry at First Lyman is called Kingdom Kids and serves families from the moment they arrive on campus. The teaching team expresses a conviction that "our children are not the church of tomorrow but the church of today," and treats the discipleship of children with the same weight as that of adults.

The youngest children are cared for in Nursery 1 and Nursery 2, where infants and toddlers up to four years old are loved while their parents are in worship and life groups. Foundations serves three- to five-year-olds with Bible lessons, stories, and worship time tailored to their energy and curiosity. Pathfinders welcomes first through third graders and brings the stories they learned as toddlers into fuller focus. Voyagers, the fourth through sixth grade class, builds a foundation for the teen years around walking in faith, being like Christ, and serving as an example to others.

On a first visit, families stop at the kids' check-in area, where volunteers gather allergy and contact information and issue matching stickers for parent and child. The same matching code appears on screen if a parent needs to be reached during the gathering, and only adults eighteen and over with a matching tag may pick up a child. Elementary-aged children do not need to bring anything, and nursery families are invited to leave diaper bags and supplies. Children's Director Angela Conner oversees the program and welcomes volunteers.

Students in Sixth Through Twelfth Grade

The student ministry at First Lyman is built around three weekly touchpoints. Students meet in the youth room (Rooms 300 and 301) during the Sunday Morning Life Group hour at 10:45 a.m. for deeper study of the Word and as a starting point for newcomers. Sunday nights bring the group together from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Student Center and Gym for a shared meal, engaging worship, biblical teaching, and time together. On Wednesdays, Discipleship Groups (D-Groups) gather at 6:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center for small-group Bible study, discussion, and prayer, following the church's regular midweek schedule.

Outside the weekly rhythm, the student ministry runs trips throughout the year. A Student Ministry Fall Retreat takes students away for a weekend of fun and teaching, summer days bring outings like the Carowinds trip, and mission trips such as the Eleuthera Mission Trip extend the ministry beyond the Upstate. Worship Pastor Randall Martin oversees the student ministry alongside Student Ministry Intern Samantha Peacock.

Wednesdays on Campus: Meal, Bible Study, and Choir

Mid-Week is described by the church as "a highlight of our week" and follows a layered schedule that brings every age group together. The Midweek Meal begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, with reservations due by noon on Mondays. At 6:00 p.m., Bible study opens for kids, youth, and adults in age-appropriate groups across the campus. Worship follows at 7:00 p.m., and the Worship Choir rehearses at 7:00 p.m. during the Midweek semester and at 6:00 p.m. during Midweek break, gathering in the Choir Room.

The Midweek Choir is the centerpiece of the music ministry. Rehearsals are open to anyone interested in joining, and the choir leads worship each Sunday morning. Vocalists on the Worship Team must also be active members of the Worship Choir, and instrumentalists and singers audition with the Worship Pastor before serving.

J.O.Y. Choir and JOY Club: Senior Adults on the Move

Senior adults have a long tradition at First Lyman. The J.O.Y. Choir (Just Older Youth) rehearses on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Choir Room, where coffee and snacks are guaranteed. The choir travels to nearby ministries to sing, taking the congregation's music out into the community.

The JOY Club gathers the church's senior adults for regular outings throughout the year. Recent trips have included a Low Country Boil in the Fellowship Hall, a Hymn Jam, a fall drive to Forest City and Big Daves Fish Camp, and a Southern Manner restaurant visit paired with an apple orchard stop. These gatherings give the church's older members a steady rhythm of fellowship beyond Sunday morning.

Life Groups, Growth Groups, and Core Classes

The small-group system at First Lyman is built on two rhythms. Life Groups meet on Sunday mornings at 10:45 a.m. in classes organized by life stage: Genesis for college-aged and young singles and married couples, Legacy Builders for young couples and singles in their late twenties to early forties, The Journey for middle-aged adults, Branches for empty nesters, and two Senior Adult classes for those in their mid-sixties and older. Each class is led by teachers who walk through Scripture together.

Growth Groups meet throughout the week in homes and on the campus in smaller, more intimate settings. They focus on practical, personal application and give members a place to share life's burdens and sharpen one another. Core Classes round out the discipleship pathway. Pastor Bill Morris teaches "How to Study the Bible," a course on learning to interpret Scripture faithfully, and Dr. Greg Wood leads "How to Know the Will of God," which examines what the Bible says about decision-making.

Missions: Lyman, Utah, Uganda, and Sri Lanka

Missions is a defining heartbeat of First Lyman. Pastor Bill Morris, himself a former missionary, oversees the work and welcomes anyone interested in serving.

Locally, the church partners with Piedmont Women's Center, which provides free pregnancy tests and counseling to young women in need. Volunteers from the church run Good News Club, a weekly after-school program at Beech Springs Intermediate School with songs, activities, and Bible lessons. Ongoing support is given to local relief centers and nursing homes, including the Reed House, Breaking Bread for Jesus, and Ashlan Village.

Nationally, the church supports the Southern Baptist Convention's disaster relief efforts, the North American Mission Board, and missionaries Jason and Mallory Parker, who serve alongside Redemption Church, a church plant in Ogden, Utah. Internationally, the church has sent teams to Uganda, where they support orphanages in the Jinja region, and to Sri Lanka, where they partner with national pastors and like-minded churches for church planting. The church also supports Samaritan's Purse and the International Mission Board.

Women's and Men's Ministry

Women's Ministry at First Lyman exists to encourage women in worship, the study and application of Scripture, and the deepening of relationships for fellowship and accountability. Events are added throughout the year and publicized through the weekly newsletter. Men's Ministry follows the same pattern, gathering men for the study of Scripture, accountability, and fellowship, with a particular emphasis on equipping husbands, fathers, and leaders to strengthen the church and her mission. A monthly Men's Breakfast meets at 8:00 a.m. at M & J's at the Four Way (and at Eggs Up Grill in Duncan for some months) for conversation over a meal.

Beliefs and Leadership

First Baptist Church Lyman teaches that the Christian church, as the Bride of Christ, is "the most important institution in the world." Worship is to be offered in Spirit and in truth, in keeping with John 4:24. The church affirms the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, and supports the cooperative missions efforts of the Southern Baptist Convention through the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board. Tithes and offerings are received during Sunday worship as an act of worship, and online giving is available through a secure platform. Giving is paired with the reminder of 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: "God loves a cheerful giver."

Pastor Bill Morris has served as senior pastor since 2016. Worship Pastor Randall Martin leads the music ministry, Children's Director Angela Conner oversees Kingdom Kids, Worship Associate Wade Rodgers supports the music ministry, and Student Ministry Intern Samantha Peacock assists with students. Allison Walker serves as Financial Assistant, and John Eubanks serves as Building Superintendent.

Visiting First Lyman

First Baptist Church Lyman sits between Greenville and Spartanburg in the Upstate and welcomes visitors each week. Sunday worship begins at 9:30 a.m. and is followed by Sunday Morning Life Groups at 10:45 a.m. The Wednesday Midweek Meal begins at 5:00 p.m. and Midweek Bible Study begins at 6:00 p.m. Visitors are invited to come as they are: a glance around the room shows the range of attire from business casual to casual. The main parking lot is on the north side of Church Street, with handicap parking on the south side of the building beside the church. The First Impressions Team meets visitors at the Worship Center doors and points them in the right direction. A children's check-in area opens at 9:15 a.m. for families. Those who would like to plan ahead can find directions, campus maps, and contact information through the church office at 80 Groce Road, Lyman, SC 29365, by phone at (864) 439-8721, or by email at mail@firstlyman.org.