BAPTIST ROOTS: Circa 1769Jeremiah Dargan, a Baptist preacher, visited the present Stateburg section, described in those days as a “wicked...wild place.”
 In 1770, citizens of the community erected a meeting house 30x24 about 3 miles north of Stateburg on a four acre lot given by Dr. Howard. It was intended for the use of alldenominations, but very soon became a Baptist Church.
On May 16, 1774, Richard Furman was ordained and in November became pastor of High Hills Church of the Santee. High Hills is the “mother” church of First Baptist Church which was organized in 1813, the first church in Sumterville. First Baptist Church sponsored Alice Drive Baptist Church as a mission church.
 The four acre lot is located on the King’s Highway (261) near the intersection of Fish Rd. The site was a part of the Furman property on Beach Creek, dating back to the late 1700’s and 1800’s.
Furman University is named after Richard Furman. Furman is buried in the First Baptist church yard in Charleston, SC.
HISTORY OF ALICE
Alice Harby Shelor, 1883-1916, died at age 33 from tuberculosis. Her father, Henry J. Harby, built a sanitarium in 1916 for all stages of tuberculosis on the corner of Alice Drive and Wise Drive, where Prudential Real Estate and Rascal’s is now located. The hospital had 26 beds and admitted children and negroes. The access road to the hospital, off of Liberty Street, was named “Alice” and the hospital became known as “Camp Alice”. Alice Harby Shelor is buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Sumter, SC.
 1955 — Beginning
ADBC began as a mission church. In November, 34 families organized a group from the Adult Department II of Sumter’s First Baptist Church. They submitted a resolution to the church body to sponsor a new Baptist church in the western section of the city.
1956 In July, interested families formed a steering committee which made a proposal to First Baptist Church to begin a church in the vicinity of Alice Drive Junior High School. On July 30, 1956, First Baptist Church approved the resolution. The families continued to meet in the cafeteria of Alice Drive Junior High School.
October 21, 1956
At 3:00 p.m. on October 21st, Alice Drive Baptist Church was officially organized during a service at Alice Drive Elementary School cafeteria. Church enrollment at that time was 107; however, members enrolled through March 1957 were accepted as Charter Members for a total of 130 Charter Members. Regular services were conducted by visiting preachers. By November 15, Sunday School enrollment was over 200 members. Dr. W.R. McLin, pastor of First Baptist Church of Sumter preached the first sermon entitled, “Upon This Rock.”
1957-1967
1957 In January, the Church purchased a parsonage at 606 Mattison Street for a total cost of $12,750. The Church extended a call to Reverend Francis M. Batson, then pastor of the Kellytown and McBee Baptist Churches. He held his first service on February 17th. That same Sunday, the Church began a Baptist Training Union (BTU) program and evening worship services.
In November, Alice Drive Baptist Church members elected Deacons and other Church officers, and in January of 1958, women organized a Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). WMU sponsored Sunbeams which evolved into Mission Friends while Girls in Action replaced GA’s and Acteen’s replaced YWA’s, (Young Women of Action). The male counterpart to WMU was called the Brotherhood and it sponsored Royal Ambassadors (RA’s) for boys.
1958 In an effort to remain as close as possible to Alice Drive, members decided to purchase land on Miller Road, about 300 hundred yards east of Alice Drive. The church purchased the four acres of land on Miller Road for $6,000 to build a “meeting place and center of activities of the Alice Drive Baptist Church.”
Because church members had been meeting in the Alice Drive Junior High School, they opted to keep the name Alice Drive although the church building itself was never located on Alice Drive.
1959 February 1st - Completion and dedication of building. Many classes continued to use the Junior High School until educational space could be added. Eight stained glass windows purchased with four symbols on each window.
July - First wedding in new sanctuary was held for Esther Rogers and Chester Thomson.
December - Sunday School enrollment was 478.
1960 October 14 - Unit II completed which included additional classrooms.
1962 September - Membership of the Church was 359.
1965 July - The parsonage on Henderson Street was completed at a cost of $27,000, including the lot.
1967-1972
1967 Rev. Francis Batson resigned. Rev. J. Kirk Lawton was called as pastor. Baptist Volunteer Dolls was form to serve at Tuomey Hospital.
1968 The church purchased their first bus for $600.
1969 Unit III was built at a cost of $162,425 and dedicated on November 23rd which included the fellowship hall, office and music room.
1971 Four and five year old Kindergarten began. Mrs. Barbara Bradford served as Director and Mrs. Helen Wallace was an assistant.
1972 Rev. Kirk Lawton resigned.
1973-1981
1973 Dr. Ranford A. Haselden began his ministry as pastor in July. Mortgage for Units I and II were paid. The church purchased a new bus.
1974 Sanctuary expanded into the old fellowship hall.
1976 Unit III mortgage burning ceremony was held on July 4th
1977 Open door policy adopted
1981 25th Anniversary held on September 27th. Rev. Kirk Lawton was the speaker. Rev. Haselden resigned.
1982-1989
1982 Rev. Norman Gardner was called as our fourth pastor on April 12. Rev. Keith McManus joined the church staff as Minister of Education on October 27. He would be the longest serving staff minister in the church’s history.
1983 Alice Drive Baptist Church organized the first church sponsored Singles Again program.
1987 30th Anniversary was held on October 19. The guest speaker was Dr. Kirk Lawton. The first Living Christmas Tree performance was presented by Alice Drive. Alice Drive Baptist Church purchased a new bus.
1989 Rev. Norman Gardner resigned. Hugo slammed into South Carolina. Sumter county had 200 destroyed homes and loss of 1,000 mobile homes. Alice Drive Baptist Church worked with the Red Cross to help in disaster relief.
1990-1993
1990 Dr. Hubert H. Welch called as the fifth pastor on June 1.
1991 35th Anniversary. Long range planning began for the future of the church. Brotherhood reactivated.
1992 Second Sunday morning worship service started September 13th. The first Alice Drive orchestra was begun under Rev. Larry Dickens. The Brotherhood became involved in the construction of houses for Habitat for Humanity.
1993 Prison Ministry started.
May 2nd - The Korean Han Sam Evangelical Church began worship service in our church.
July - Senior Adults made the first mission trip to Portland, Maine.
September 30th - Dr. Welch resigned.
1994 – Present
1994 Dr. W. Clay Smith called as pastor to begin June 5th. Dr. Smith came from Southside Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky.
1995 PowerLunch started.
Rev. Keith McManus, Associate Pastor, retired in June. The Fellowship Hall was named McManus Hall in Keith’s honor.
Space Study began.
The church held its first Hanging of the Green.
The first Christmas drama, “Time for Christmas”, was held under the direction of Rev. Joe Buckner. This would evolve into “The Sumter Passion Play.”
1996 40th Anniversary. Celebrated at Nettles Auditorium.
1998 Voted to relocate because of growth. The church purchased 65 acres at the corner of Wise Drive and Loring Mill Road for $420,000.
1999 January – Moved worship service to Nettles Auditorium at USC Sumter. Sunday School classes also met at USC. A portable classroom building was purchased for the Youth. It became known as “The Big Ugly”.
October – Ground breaking ceremonies at the new location on Loring Mill Road was held on the 43rd Anniversary.
2000 – Millennium
Church campus on Miller Road was sold to USC Sumter for $1.4 million.
2001 February – Last service was held in the old building at Miller Road.
March – Prayer Walk at new church site. Scripture Scribble on the foundation was held before the carpet was laid. May – ADBC changed the name of the Pathway’s newsletter to Navigator.
May 13 – Church officially moved to the new location with 565 at the 8:30 am service and 661 at the 11:00 am service.
The Youth Building contract was awarded to C.F. Evans.
June - Singles Mission Trip to Aquascaliente, Mexico.
September 30 – Dedication of the new building on Loring Mill Road.
2001 Donated “The Big Ugly” to the Christian Golf Assoc.
2002 March - Kingdom Kids weekday preschool program began.
December- Sumter Passion Play “The Victor”. Approximately 3600 attended.
2003 New Constitution and By Laws adopted
2004 Continued growth led to three morning services held at 8:30 , 9:45 and 11:00 with two Sunday Schools held at 9:45 am and 11:00 am
ADBC began as a mission church sponsored by First Baptist to reach those for Christ who moved into a relatively new section of Sumter. We continue in this tradition and in the hearts and minds of those who have already sacrificed to build this church upon the rock of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to those who will come after us.
NEW VISION
 In 1956, no one had a microwave oven, a laptop computer, or a even a color television set. But a group of people had a God-given dream. They believed that God would help them establish a church to do His work in the city of Sumter, and they acted on their dream, trusting in the rock of Jesus Christ. None of them could have imagined all God would do in the 50 years that would follow. Countless prayers, visits, lessons, songs, and tithes have built this body of Christ, one life at a time. For fifty years, ADBC has been committed to helping people take their next step with Jesus. We do this by helping people: Know Jesus, Know community, Grow character, and Go Share.
Even though the world has changed greatly, with my whole heart I believe that God is not done with us. Our reason for existence is as important as ever. People still need to know they matter to God, church is a place of grace, real happiness is found when we live like Jesus, and God has purpose for their lives. Our mission is out there – to boldly take the grace of God to all the corners where darkness reigns.
For all that has been – to God be the Glory! For all that will be – Our Mighty God is with us! Thanks be to God!
Clay Smith
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