Bishop J.D. Williams, a history
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In 1953, Sister Bessie Williams visited her sister, Mrs. Tiny Williams, who was ill at the time in Mullins, South Carolina. Bishop Joseph D. Williams came days later to pray for his sister-in-law. While in Mullins, Tiny Williams told Bishop Williams of a vision that the Lord had shown her of a church being established in Mullins.
In July 1953, Bishop
Williams and Elder James Anderson found a vacant church building off Highway 76
known as the “Hodges Church,” which was a family-owned church. They began
having services and souls were saved.
Bishop Williams and
Elder Anderson both preached at this church. Contention began to arise
among church members because Bishop Williams was taking a firm stand against
false doctrines. His life was endangered because of his determination to put
true holiness in the forefront. After much confusion and division, Bishop
Williams sent Elder James Anderson to find a new building, which had been used
as Ollie’s Beauty Shop in the city limits on Highway 76. He rented the
building for $30 a month.
One Saturday while Elder Anderson was cleaning the building for Sunday morning service, Ernest Finkley and Sammy Edwards stopped by on their way into town to see what was going on. Elder Anderson informed them that he was preparing for services and invited them to attend. On that Sunday morning, Ernest and Viola Finkley, along with Sammy and Letha Edwards, attended service. Elder James Anderson returned to the Hodges Church and Ernest Finkley, who was a minister at that time, preached that first sermon at the location formally known as the “Hot Spot.” The following week, Bishop Williams returned to Mullins and met with Minister Ernest Finkley. After that meeting, two weeks of services were held by Bishop Williams and he stayed in the home of Minister Ernest Finkley. The subject for those two weeks was “Every Tree That Our Heavenly Father Did Not Plant Will Be Rooted Up.” At the end of those services, our Convocation began in August. After the Convocation, weekly services were held on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, as they are still being held today.
Elder Calvin Jackson
was appointed pastor in 1953. The church prospered and saints came from the
Hodges Church to worship with us. The first officers were appointed as follows:
Elijah Finkley, Treasurer; Viola Finkley, Church Secretary; Anna Finkley, Sunday
School Secretary; and Viola Finkley, Missionary State President.
In 1956, Sister Tiny
Williams sold the church the property at 212 Clark Street. The brothers of the
church began construction of a new church building. After much hard work and
diligence, the new construction was completed. Dedication service was held on
January 26, 1958.
Elder Calvin Jackson was pastor for 5
years until his illness in March 30. 1958.
Bishop Henry J. Brakefield pastured for an undetermined period of time.
Elder Ernest Finkley was appointed pastor and labored for 7 years. The church
continued to stand through great trials and tests. Elder Rutherford became
pastor after Elder Finkley was sent to Darlington. During this pastorate, many
were saved and the church membership grew miraculously.
Elder Heyward Anderson
succeeded Elder Rutherford and worked faithfully for 16 years. Through his
leadership, the property to the left and back of the church was purchased and
renovations were made to the church building. His desire was for the church to
have everything that God wanted. When Elder Heyward Anderson became ill,
Minister John A. Deas and Minister Roy Brockington assisted him with his
ministerial duties. These men labored in the vineyard faithfully as they were
instructed to do with the aid of District Elder Ernest Finkley and other men of
God. Elder Anderson recovered from his illness and continued to strive
diligently to put true Holiness in the forefront as Bishop Williams desired.
On November 7,
1976,Bishop J. G. Washington became official pastor with Minister Henry Simmons
and J. G. Washington, Jr. as his assistants. His assistants were in charge of
our weekly services. Minister John A. Deas was reassigned to Florence, South
Carolina, and Minister Roy Brockington was assigned to Bennettsville, South
Carolina. This was a testing time for Mullins as things began to change. Even
though many souls were baptized, we were somehow drifting from God’s word. Our
church services began to change and false doctrine were being taught. A small
group of saints saw the division and began seeking help. Letters and cassette
tapes were sent to the Broad of Bishops, who were: J. G. Washington, Edward
Smith and H. J. Brakefield. That small group of saints remembered several of
Elder Heyward Anderson’s quotes from Bishop Williams and realized that there
would be a day that “every tub would have to sit on its own bottom.” This
day had come! Prayer services were held at Sister Carnella Legette’s home
instead of attending services where false doctrine was being taught.
In 1978, Minister
Brockington left Bennettsville, South Carolina and began having services at his
home for the saints, who did not want to bow to the false teachings that were
being taught on Clark Street. A building was later rented on Front Street for
church services. In 1979, the Broad of Bishops met with all the saints of both
Clark and Front Streets. There was division in the teachings and a separation at
that time. The saints who chose to stay with the Progressive Church left with
Bishops and continued to have services on Front Street. Minister Roy Brockington
was made interim pastor in 1979. He
was officially made pastor at the 1980 Convocation. We regained possession of
our property at Clark Street in September 1979.
The Progressive Church
of Mullins is still striving to put true Holiness in the forefront. The church
has grown from approximately one hundred members to about one hundred and fifty.
In 1989 the Brotherhood
was established and in 1992 the Missionary broad became the Women’s Auxiliary
under the new umbrella concept. We currently have four departmental heads of the
church established: Brotherhood, Women’s Auxiliary, Youth and Music.
In 1995, our pastor,
Elder Brockington, met with the saints to announce the purchasing of land to
build a new church in a new location. We purchased two acres of land on a road
formerly known as George Poole Road.
Our pastor came up with
a five-year plan for building the new church and we started our building fund
project in 1995. There were many contributions and donations given to the
church. The brothers cleared the land and we held Ground Breaking Services on
May 10, 1997.
In 1998, more land was purchased behind the
church. Later, in January 1999, the name of the road changed from George Poole
Road to Progressive Church Road. The work of the Lord continued and the church
is gradually approaching completion. We experienced delays and hindrances, but
our pastor was determined by God’s grace to bring his vision to pass. The work
of the Lord was completed in July of 1999. A project planned for five years was
completed in two and a half years.
God is still blessing us just as He has always done down through
the years. We are striving to regain the standard and
title that we had when Bishop Williams first came to Mullins. Our ultimate goal
is: “To put True holiness in the forefront.” To God
be the Glory!!!