A 145-Year Heritage in Columbia County
On the second Sunday in July 1880, a small group of determined believers gathered under the leadership of Rev. James Gibson to organize a new church on land donated by Bro. John Evans. The six founders, Bro. Alfred Giles, Bro. George Harris, Bro. S. K. King, Bro. Paul Dixon, Sis. Annie Evans, and Sis. Jennie Butler, gave the church its distinctive name: Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church. The congregation quickly became a spiritual force in the rural area that would later become part of Columbia County near Evans, Georgia.
Through the span of more than 145 years, only nine pastors have shepherded the church. The longest-tenured was Rev. S. A. Jennings, who served 41 years. Others, including Rev. S. K. King, served for 17 years and was himself one of the original organizers. Today the church's motto, "The Church That Cares in Evans," reflects the same spirit of community-minded faith that called the founders together. The church's first history book, Standing on the Rock, was published in 2016 to commemorate this enduring legacy.
Pastor Robert L. Ramsey and Four Decades of Leadership
Reverend Robert L. Ramsey has served as pastor of Gospel Water Branch since May 1982, making him the longest-active pastor in the church's history. A native of Thomson, Georgia, Pastor Ramsey is a graduate of Thomson High School and went on to study at the American Baptist Theological Seminary Extension, the University Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education program, the Augusta Center for Biblical Study Bible College, Andersonville Seminary, and Paine College. He is a Licensed and Certified Pastoral Counselor and a Certified Temperament Counselor.
Before coming to Gospel Water Branch, Pastor Ramsey led Smith Grove Baptist Church in Appling, Georgia, and Jones Grove Baptist Church and Popular Spring Baptist Church in Thomson, Georgia. He has served as President of the Columbia County Church Fellowship, sat on the Board of Directors of the Partnership for Community Health and the Richmond County Youth Detention Center, and presided as President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Augusta.
Under Pastor Ramsey's leadership, the congregation built a new sanctuary and an Education and Fellowship Hall, expanded Sunday services, and developed the Summer Enrichment Program, the Christian Youth Leadership Program, and the Elderly Assisted Care Home, which is now the GWB/CDC Learning Activity Center. He is also an author, having published Principles for Christian Living in 2012, Recovering in Pandemic Times in 2022, and I'm Tired in 2025.
Sunday at Gospel Water Branch
Sunday morning at Gospel Water Branch begins with Equipping Hour, the church's Sunday School, at 9:30 AM (9:00 AM on special Sundays and holidays, with combined adult classes on every 5th Sunday). The main worship service gathers at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary. Members and visitors are encouraged to arrive a little early to find a seat. The church also operates a Transportation Ministry for anyone who needs a ride to either service or to any of the church's programs.
The Kids, Children, and Teen Church, known as KCT Church, meets upstairs on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays at 10:45 AM, providing age-appropriate worship for young people from age 4 through 18. Classes during Equipping Hour are organized by age: Beginners (2-5), Primary (6-8), Juniors (9-12), Youth (13-18), Young Adult (19-34), Adult I (35+), and Senior (55+).
Worship services are livestreamed on the church's Facebook and YouTube channels, and a sermon archive going back to 2019, with older recordings available on request, allows members to revisit or catch up on messages. Past recordings of sermons are also available on DVDs and CDs for those without internet access.
The Christian Education Department
Christian Education is the foundation of every other ministry at Gospel Water Branch. The department, directed by Sister Rosa Biles, oversees a network of teaching ministries built on the motto "Our walk is louder than our talk!" Sunday School classes meet at 9:30 AM, with a Bible Study offered on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon and 7:30 PM and on Saturdays at 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM.
The department's ministries include Equipping Hours, the Media Center, Vacation Bible School, the History Ministry, Tutoring and Educational Enhancement, the Bible Bowl Challenge, the New Christian Life class, the Evangelism Ministry, the Discipleship class, and the Orientation Ministry. The Bible Bowl Challenge, designed for ages 6 to 18, is a scripture recall competition that brings together youth teams from local churches. The Educational Enrichment and Tutoring program serves students in grades 3 through 12 in subjects such as math, science, and English, with supervised study hall time for homework help.
New believers find a home in the New Converts Class, which meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Topics include the difference between relationship and fellowship, confession and cleansing, faith and works, and how to walk in the Spirit. A separate Discipleship class, also meeting Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, helps mature believers grow in Christ-likeness. New members of all ages attend Orientation sessions, held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM, before receiving their membership certificate.
Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and the Generations
The Brotherhood Ministry gathers all the men of the church in service to the wider Gospel Water Branch family. The men host the Annual Men's Conference and the Annual Church Cookout, providing food for members across the Central Savannah River Area. They also organize the Ronnie Sadler Annual Golf Tournament, a major community fundraiser.
The Sisterhood Ministry is the women's arm of the church family. Working in tandem with the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood supports outreach, fellowship, and spiritual growth for women of every age and stage.
Young people at Gospel Water Branch find a full life of their own. Beyond the KCT Church gatherings, the church runs the Summer Enrichment Program for ages 4 through 14, with before- and after-care, weekly field trips, arts and crafts, music, drama, science, computers, and a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The program runs from late May through mid-July, with certified and retired teachers leading reading, writing, and math lessons alongside daily Bible study. The Christian Youth Leadership Program, organized under Pastor Ramsey, gives teens a chance to develop their gifts in service to the church and the community.
Reaching Out with the Good News
The Evangelism Ministry at Gospel Water Branch is built around John 3:16 and the Great Commission of Matthew 28. The team takes the gospel beyond the church walls through prayer at local schools, a street walk ministry, neighborhood visitation, outreach events, and business partnerships. Evangelism training is offered throughout the year for anyone interested in joining.
Members and visitors can support the church's work through several giving options: Zelle, Cash App ($gwbbc), PayPal, Givelify, or by texting GOSPELWATER to 73256. Tithes and offerings are described by the church as an act of love, faith, and obedience, and every member is encouraged to give consistently.
A Vision for the Future
The vision that animates Gospel Water Branch is to provide facilities, services, care, and support for members and the wider community in a caring, quality, and holistic manner. The Bible anchors this vision: expanding the Kingdom of God (Matthew 28:19-20), developing members (Ephesians 4:12-14), sustaining the family (1 Timothy 5:8), and strengthening the community (Matthew 5:13-16).
Looking ahead, the church has laid out a long-range plan that includes an Elderly Assisted Care Home, affordable housing, a Christian Academy, a credit union, a Christian book store, a youth activity center, a boys and girls transition home, a family life center, and a new sanctuary. These projects reflect a congregation that has spent 145 years growing in the same direction: outward, toward the neighbors of Columbia County, and inward, toward deeper discipleship.
For more than fourteen decades, the church has opened its doors on Fury's Ferry Road with the same invitation first extended by its founders: come and experience the presence and power of the Lord. Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time, looking for a new church home, or returning to a community of believers, Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church remains a steady presence in Evans, carrying the gospel forward into the next generation.