Our History
The Beginning
In 1886, Jerusalem African Methodist Episcopal Church felt it had a ministry of its own to provide and no longer wanted to make the long journey each Sunday to St. James Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Our founding members, with God’s guidance, separated themselves out from St. James Bethel on Maybank Highway and began construction on a new building on Bears Bluff Road.
Worship services were held in the initial building, near the palm tree, for twenty-seven years. Due to the tremendous increase in membership, the congregation took a leap of faith and decided to build a new church building in 1910. Under the leadership of the Reverend W. H. Turner, the building was completed in 1913. Throughout the years, our forefathers and mothers were excited over their accomplishments after many years of hard work in this house of worship.
Steadily Growing
Most of the people who pastored the church were from Johns Island, Edisto Island, and Charleston. There were no bridges to cross. Access to the island was only by boat. The pastors would often stay overnight at the homes of class leaders when the tides were too low for traveling. Due to the inconvenience, a church parsonage was built under the leadership of the Reverend R. A. Royal. The parsonage was occupied by many of the pastors and their families. The membership continued to increase; therefore, a Senior Choir began under the leadership of the Reverend J. J. Judon. Many of their voices are no longer heard, but their dedication to singing praises to the Lord will never be forgotten.
Coming Together in the Midst of Tragedy
In 1946, tragedy struck Jerusalem when Reverend I. S. Dozier of Charleston was in an automobile accident and was unable to return to the churches in the Wadmalaw Circuit. The Reverend D. B. Mack, an upcoming minister at Mother Bethel, took over the pastorate until the South Carolina Annual Conference appointed the Reverend W. D. Williams, who served for four years. The Pastors and their family members played important roles in the community as well as the church. Reverend Alston was a schoolteacher at Rockville School, the Reverend P. C. Lisbon’s daughter, Bertha Lisbon, taught at Bears Bluff School, and the Reverend W. D. Williams taught agriculture at Rockville School.
A New Era
The Reverend John H. Baldwin was appointed to the Wadmalaw Circuit in 1957. The Reverend Baldwin was very concerned about the condition of the leaking roof, decaying windowsills, and no indoor restrooms. His first project was to purchase property for a church cemetery. Most of the members were buried on the white men’s plantations: Rivers Point, Jenkins, Wilson Point, Bailey, and Hart’s cemeteries.
In 1959, land was purchased from the White Family of Tacky Point for Jerusalem’s Cemetery. In 1968, the church’s ceiling was replaced, and wall paneling and the first indoor restrooms were installed. Over the following eight years, the Lord continued to bless Jerusalem. The choir stand was remodeled, the floors sanded and stained, new pews were installed, and a fellowship hall was built. By 1976, the entire church was remodeled and remained New Jerusalem, thus having the first cornerstone laid.
Continued Expansion
In 1978, the South Carolina Annual Conference appointed the Reverend Renty Pinckney, and he pastored for eight years (1978–1985). Under his leadership, the upstairs balcony was built, and two additional restrooms were installed in the vestibule area.
The Reverend Matthew W. Brown was appointed by the South Carolina Annual Conference in 1985 and he pastored for four years (1985-1989). In 1989, Hurricane Hugo came upon the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. With 135 miles an hour and a fifteen-to-seventeen-foot tidal surge, a tremendous amount of property damage was caused that was estimated at millions of dollars. God spared many lives as well as our homes and properties. New Jerusalem only suffered minor damage to the roof and front entrance doors.
The South Carolina Annual Conference appointed the Reverend Clyde Corbin in 1989 (1989-1991). Under his leadership, the members continued with structural improvements. The Male Chorus was formed, and the Youth Choir was reorganized. Two new HVAC (air conditioning/heating units) and new carpets were installed, and the floors were redone. The church installed a handicap ramp and hand railings at all entrances.
Coming of Age
In 1991, at the Seventh Episcopal District Planning Meeting held in Columbia, South Carolina, God saw the Reverend Theodore Gates as the ‘Moses’ to lead God’s people through the times to come (1991-1997). We were able to overcome those difficult times with Reverend Gates’ spiritual comfort and personal touch. Under his leadership, a Pastor’s Aide Society and the Voices of Inspiration Mass Choir were formed. Plans were made to do additional roof repairs, replace the stained glass windows, and do renovations. The Reverend Gates established a Building Fund and funds began coming in. He was not the one to take us through the renovation.
At the South Carolina Annual Conference held at Bethel AME Church, St. George, South Carolina, the Reverend Lawrence E. Gordon was appointed, and he pastored for thirteen years (1997-2010). He continued his support of the monetary giving for our building fund campaign. Under his leadership, a fifteen-passenger van was purchased with cash, a playground area, inclusive of a swing set and basketball court, was established for our youth. The Young Adult Choir and the Spiritual Voices were organized and renamed. The children’s choir was named COPS (Children of Praise Singers), and the youth choir was named Youth Ensemble. Also organized were the Girls’ Dance Ministry and the Boys’ Step Team Ministry.
In 2002, our church began a major renovation project that was completed in January 2003. This project cost us approximately a million dollars. New Jerusalem AME Church is a unique congregation with a strong connection to the past, but we are also very focused on the future of the church and the extraordinary call God has placed before us. We worked diligently towards being debt-free by making extra payments monthly and annually at the end of the conference year.
God’s Favor
God said He would supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. By God’s grace and through committed tithes, offerings, and gracious gifts, the church was able to liquidate our $800,000.00 mortgage in eight years. The final loan payment in the amount of $134,000.00 was made in August 2008. The church initially borrowed $500,000.00 in 2000. In 2003, the church financed its building addition of four multi-purpose rooms, a fellowship hall expansion, and a kitchen storage room. Now that the mortgage is paid off, our tithes and offerings can totally be used for needed repairs and to further expand our ministries to provide scholarships and needed services in our community. Thanks to the faithful who gave out of their substance through the years to make this possible!
All of the glory goes to God for what He has accomplished, not because of us but in spite of us. The mortgage celebration was not just about paying off a bill, but burning our mortgage signifies more of a new beginning and the end of a debt. The officers and members really focused on how this event in our history positions us for new and exciting ministry with and for God. We were excited about not having to make a mortgage payment, but more importantly, it was a chance to ask God, “What’s next for New Jerusalem?”
Multi-Generational Evangelism
In September 2010, the Right Reverend Preston Warren Williams, II, at the 147th Session of the South Carolina Annual Conference hosted by St. Stephen AME Church, Hardeeville, South Carolina, appointed the Reverend Joseph Swinton, Jr., Pastor of New Jerusalem AME Church. Under the leadership of Reverend Swinton, an anointed preacher, and teacher, our main focus was on growing the church spiritually through intense church school and bible study. Therefore, increasing the involvement of our youth and young adults and having adults be more knowledgeable about the bible and attract others through bible-based evangelism.
We know that God has chosen Reverend Swinton because the gospel comes to him not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. We thank God for the anointing He has placed on his life. His genuine love for God’s people has inspired others to be motivated and committed to their service.
To God, we give praise and thanks for His wonderful blessings during the past 129 years of worship. We are thankful for the wisdom and foresight of our forefathers and the many individuals who laid such a solid foundation. This is a tremendous milestone and one that we can reflect upon and appreciate from where we’ve come. We’ve come this far by faith and God has truly blessed our congregation. Our founding members planted seeds of faith, through which God is blessing us today. We have a glorious past, and God’s expectations of us are even greater today.
The Late Reverend Calvin Morris (Itinerant Elder); the Reverend Ronald Jones (Itinerant Elder); the Reverend Israel Rivers, Jr. (Local Elder); the Reverend Ann Robinson (Itinerant Elder); the Reverend Melvin Hunter (Itinerant Elder); and the Reverend Eugene A. Minson, III. (Itinerant Elder) were the six (6) individuals God had chosen to lead others to the Throne of Grace from New Jerusalem.
We must follow the example of Jesus and do as He did, avoiding anything that did not relate to His mission of spreading the gospel and service to people.