As the northern section of Greenwood, SC began to grow, a group of believers felt the need to plant a church in that area. In October of 1965, weekly prayer meetings began in area homes. In less than a month, the prayer group had grown to 65 people. With plans for a worship center underway, a temporary meeting place was secured and an official name was adopted. These people would call themselves, North Side Baptist Church. The group broke ground on their first facility in the summer of 1966.
The seven acres of land that North Side would be built upon was bought for $8,337.50. The first formal worship service was held on the grounds in the Alcoholics Anonymous building on November 14, 1965. Rev. Malcomb P. Nodine gave the first message to about 125 people in attendance. Construction for the chapel took about seven months.
Now forty years later, the house of worship has changed but the heart of worship continues. With a vision that focuses ever outward, North Side seeks to impact the world one life at a time. Beginning in our own backyard and reaching to wherever God leads us, our mission is to share and show the love of God to people everywhere. Today, new hearts are leading, but the same desires exist.
North Side has greatly changed since 1967. It has grown from 124 charter members to 1,467 members as of the summer of 2007. Forty years ago, church planters showed their faithfulness and love for God by following His call and the need. Today, the North Side family continues to seek the leadership of God in all things.
Over the past forty years, North Side has grown in both membership and facilities. However, our greatest growth has come in a more clear understanding of our mission: we are to love God and love people. In an effort to keep church simple and accomplish the mission, North Side focuses on creating three basic environments which enable us to love God and love people. Those environments are built around worship, community and missions. By focusing on these three areas, we believe we can help people become fully developing followers of Jesus Christ.