Connie Maxwell Baptist Church
09.24.17 —Connie Maxwell Baptist Church marked 105 years of ministry with a celebration service on Sunday, September 24. The program included appearances from former pastors Dr. Jay Collins and Rev. Doug Kauffmann. Since 1912, there have only been five full-time pastors at the helm, including current pastor Rev. Miller Murphy who assumed that role in October 2016.
Dr. Jay Collins reflected on the history of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church, noting that for the first 20 years children attended Sunday School on the Greenwood campus but traveled to worship services at First Baptist Church of Greenwood. “Over the long haul, that proved to be inconvenient and unmanageable,” said Collins. He described how issues caused by weather often created challenges because the “children were transported by wagons, mules or horses.” Those issues were eliminated on September 15, 1912 with the opening of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church.
Collins reflected on the uniqueness of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church. “The church was narrow in its focus, and its programs were aimed to meet the needs of young people —tailor made to meet their needs.”
Rev. Doug Kauffman reflected on the love and support that the ministry of Connie Maxwell has received over the years from South Carolina Baptists, commenting that most of the support has come from “very modest churches and very modest Baptists.”
Kauffman recalled a story from the forties. A small church called Dunbarton Baptist Church was informed that they had to move due to impending construction of the Savannah River Plant. “They decided to disband their ministry and church,” said Kauffmann, as they discussed what to do with their money and property. The church ultimately decided to sell everything, put all their money together, and give it to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home. “They gave all that money to form the Dunbarton Infirmary. What a great story of how Baptist churches have loved and given to this children’s home,” said Kauffmann.
Kauffman also reflected on the leadership of the organization throughout history, with Superintendent Dr. A.T. Jamison at the helm for 46 years, and his protégé Dr. Sam Smith serving for another 30 years. “From 1900 when Dr. Jamison first got here, until 1976, two men established the identity, tradition, and the heritage, along with their great staff of what this children’s home would be,” Kauffman said. “We have had great presidents, outstanding staff members, and wonderful students since Jamison and Smith have left us, but many of our greatest traditions were started under those two giants.”
Kauffman said one of the great traditions of Connie Maxwell was that of “valuing and nurturing children.” He recalled the story of a family of five boys that were coming to campus one year, with eight more children remaining at home. With a deficit of space, there were many discussions amongst the social workers about how the boys could be separated to accommodate them on campus. Dr. Sam Smith, listening to the conversation said, “No, we’re not going to do that. These boys have experienced separation and grief, their mom has just died, they have been taken from their home and removed from many of their siblings. We are going to open up a cottage that has been closed, and find whatever it takes to go and care for those five children together.”
“It wasn’t the convenience of the children’s home that was important to Dr. Sam,” Kauffmann said. “It was the nurturing; it was the caring of kids who have gone through trauma, separation and heartache who needed to be together.”
Following Kauffman’s presentation, Rev. Miller Murphy presented former Interim President James Wright with a gift and thanked him for his leadership and dedication to Connie Maxwell. “James has done a wonderful job of serving as our interim, and on behalf of the church, we thank you,” Murphy said.
Murphy shared a few words from scripture and the story of a little malnourished girl that arrived on campus one day. “She came from terrible family circumstances and was even used as a drug runner for her parents, prior to coming to Connie Maxwell,” Murphy recalled.
“One day she was walking out of the administrative building with Sam Dukes, who at that time was our Director of Crisis Care, and before they stepped outside she said, ‘What just a minute Mr. Sam, we’re about to enter onto Holy ground!’
“After all that the little girl had been through in her life, she recognized the fact that this place we call Connie Maxwell is on Holy ground,” said Murphy. “It is here that we care for and nurture children, not because of paychecks, or housing, or whatever else, but because of our commitment and our love to Christ, and His love for children.”
The service concluded as the deacons, former pastors and congregation gathered around new President Danny Nicholson and wife Debra for a time of prayer, led by Rev. Miller Murphy.
