At 1214 Flint Hill Street in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Flint Hill Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation whose story begins with a small 1914 prayer meeting. It is known for two Sunday worship gatherings, all-ages Sunday School, a history of rebuilding after the 1978 destruction of its Frank Street church, and ministries that pair worship and teaching with food, clothing and family support.
A Prayer Meeting That Became Flint Hill Baptist Church
Flint Hill's history began in 1914 when a small group organized a prayer meeting to study God's Word and praise Him for His goodness. The group eventually moved into the Flint Hill community and met regularly in the home of Will Black, just off Frank Street behind the former church building. As the congregation grew, it recognized the need for a dedicated place of worship.
The first church was constructed in 1922 on Frank Street, and the congregation was known as the First Baptist Church of Flint Hill. Rev. Stokes served as its first pastor, Will Black was its first deacon, Bob White and Jim Nelson were its first trustees, and L. C. McCullough served as its first clerk and choir leader. The building was remodeled and enlarged in the late 1920s, and worship continued there for more than 50 years. It served as a place where members sought the Lord, confessed their sins, were baptized, received holy communion and were married.
Flint Hill continued to renew its buildings. A brick veneer and education department were added in 1940. Additional remodeling followed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the installation of wall-to-wall carpeting.
Fire, Recovery and the Christian Training Center
On Sunday, November 24, 1978, at 4:00 a.m., fire destroyed the Frank Street church building. Many people thought the fire would end the congregation. Instead, Sunday School, worship and Training Union continued at the Ralph W. McGuirt Auditorium on Crawford Road. The church met there for 75 Sundays, from November 29, 1978, through April 27, 1980.
On May 4, 1980, a group left the auditorium for a ribbon cutting at the new Christian Training Center, built on Flint Hill Street. Sunday School Superintendent Barber Knightner cut the ribbon, and the congregation held its first worship service at its present location. From 1980 to 1985, worship took place in the Christian Training Center. In October 1985, the church moved into the sanctuary it uses today.
That history of relocation and renewal sits behind a succession of pastors that included Rev. Stokes, Rev. J. S. Reid, Rev. J. C. Clark, Rev. D. C. Barber, Rev. L. F. Sanders, Rev. M. C. Moore, Rev. J. R. Ezell, Rev. W. Banks White, Rev. R. R. Pendleton Sr., Rev. D. L. Brunswick and Rev. C. C. Maddox. On October 29, 2016, the congregation elected Rev. Christopher E. Harris as its 12th senior pastor.
Christopher Harris and a Team of Ministry Leaders
Rev. Dr. Christopher E. Harris, Ed.D., leads Flint Hill with an emphasis on education, church growth and expansion of local ministry. He attended Howard D. Woodson Senior High School in Washington, D.C., and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on a football scholarship. After accepting a call to gospel ministry in 1986, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies from Charlotte Christian College in 1998, a Master of Arts in Divinity in 1999 and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from North Carolina A&T in 2014. He completed a Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership at Liberty University in 2020, was licensed to ministry in 1986, was ordained in 1990 and began pastoral ministry in 1991.
Harris was licensed by First United Missionary Baptist Church of High Point, North Carolina, and ordained by Mount Peace Missionary Baptist Association at the request of Salem Missionary Baptist Church of Charlotte. His pastoral service has included churches in Bostic, Granite Quarry, Harrisburg, Concord and Gastoria, North Carolina, before Flint Hill. Harris sums up his ministry with Matthew 6:33: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all of these other things shall be added unto you.
Reverend Angela Gordon serves as Associate Pastor for Worship, Minister Kimtricia Hudson serves as Associate Minister, and Barbara Davis directs Christian Education. Willie B. McClurkin chairs the Deacon's Ministry, while a wider team of deacons, deaconesses and ministry leaders carries responsibility for the church's worship, education, care and service.
Flint Hill's ministry structure is broad and coordinated. Pastoral and staff leaders work with leaders in the Anointed Praise Dancers, Brotherhood, Children's Church, Children's Youth Choir, Christian Education, Clothing, Deacon, Deaconess, Family & Friends Weekend, Family Life Center, Flowers, Food Pantry, Harvest Rally, Hospitality, Hymn Choir, Kitchen, Library, Media Service, Scholarship, Ushers, Women's and Youth ministries. The Church Council, led by Pastor Harris, helps the church understand its mission, studies church and community needs, recommends coordinated plans, organizes activities and evaluates the results of its work without making binding decisions on its own.
A Two-Service Sunday Morning
Sunday at Flint Hill begins with classes for every age, followed by two distinct worship gatherings:
- 9:30 a.m. Sunday School with in-person classes for all ages
- 10:15 a.m. Sunday Praise Service
- 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service
Children are included in the church's educational life through the all-ages Sunday School, Children's Church and the Children's Youth Choir. The Sunday School is an essential disciple-making strategy with groups shaped by age, culture, needs, interests and life stages.
All Sunday gatherings take place at 1214 Flint Hill Street in Rock Hill. The church's main telephone number is (803) 328-3181, and its general email address is flinthillrh@comporium.net.
Wednesday Bible Study in Fellowship Hall and Online
Wednesday morning Bible study begins at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. At 7:00 p.m., Wednesday evening Bible study is held only on Zoom and Facebook Live, with no in-person gathering. Flint Hill therefore has two weekly Bible study times, one centered in its church building and one conducted online.
Sunday School as a Discipleship Strategy
Christian Education, led by Barbara Davis, gives Sunday School a central role in Flint Hill's mission. The Bible is the primary curriculum, supported by appropriate teaching resources, and the church approaches Sunday School as a regular, systematic process of discipleship and leader development.
The purposes of Sunday School are:
- To respond to the Great Commission by making disciples who fulfill the church's mission of worship, instruction, fellowship and evangelism
- To develop leaders intentionally and systematically so they can continue the work of ministry in the local church
- To use the Bible as the primary curriculum with appropriate teaching resources
- To meet regularly with systematic teaching of Bible content and doctrine
- To build relationships involving mutual commitment and accountability
- To organize a full range of groups with sensitivity to culture, needs, interests and life stages
Hymn Choir, Youth Choir and Anointed Praise Dancers
Music has several defined places in Flint Hill's ministry. Maceo Jones leads the Hymn Choir, and Jade Harris leads the Children's Youth Choir. A'viana McCoy and DeKayla Hardin lead the Anointed Praise Dancers. Angela Gordon's role as Associate Pastor for Worship places worship alongside these music and praise ministries.
Other teams support the life of the congregation. Ushers are led by Pat Ellis, Hospitality by Cassandra McCloud, Flowers by Deaconess Arriela McClurkin, the Kitchen by Mary Brown, the Library by Kimberly Hawkins, and Media Service by James Howard and Roscoe Hawkins. The Media Service team handles publicity and design for the church.
The Brotherhood is led by Deacon Roderick Matthews, the Women's Ministry by Melody Sumter and Vicki Brown, and the Youth Council by Iris Gaines.
Food, Clothing and Care for the Flint Hill Community
The Food Pantry is led by Gloria Waddell, and the Clothing Ministry is led by Deborah Harmon. These ministries place practical support alongside the church's worship and teaching. Flint Hill Baptist Church centers part of its ministry on the Flint Hill community.
Family & Friends Weekend is led by Deacon Stevie Anderson, and the Family Life Center is led by Deacon Wyman Henderson. The deacon team also includes Glenn Camps, Maceo Jones, Willie B. McClurkin and Robert Roseboro. Hester Cole leads the Deaconess Ministry, while Deaconess Arriela McClurkin leads the Flowers Ministry.
Food, clothing, hospitality, flowers, the kitchen and the library are joined by the Family Life Center, Family & Friends Weekend, the Harvest Rally Ministry and a Scholarship Committee as parts of the church's coordinated ministry structure.
Connect, Grow, Serve
Flint Hill's core values are simple:
- Connect
- Grow
- Serve
The church's vision describes a regional ministry committed to praising God's name, expressing His love, knowing His word, doing His will and walking in His ways for stronger families and greater communities. Its mission centers on growing for the Master through worship, instruction, fellowship and evangelism.
Flint Hill's teaching emphasis rests on the Bible and the Great Commission. Bible-centered Sunday School, the instruction component of its mission, worship and evangelism express that emphasis in practice. The Church Council supports this work by reassessing the church's vision, mission and core values, coordinating studies of church and community needs, coordinating activities and evaluating progress.
Giving Online, by Mail and in Person
Flint Hill makes giving available online, by mail and in person. Gifts may be mailed to P.O. Box 3041, Rock Hill, SC 29730 or brought to the church at 1214 Flint Hill Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730. Give online is also available. The main telephone number is (803) 328-3181, and the general email address is flinthillrh@comporium.net.
Flint Hill Baptist Church's identity reaches from the prayer meeting that began in 1914 to the worship services, education, music, family care and community ministries organized at 1214 Flint Hill Street in Rock Hill. Connect, Grow and Serve remain the three words that tie its history, teaching and service together.