"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Central Church was born out of a singular vision and love for the people of Hilton Head Island and the surrounding areas. Even before the large influx of people to Hilton Head, there was a need for an evangelical, New Testament church on the island.
We began to worship together as a congregation on Sunday, January 29, 1987 at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. There were seven people in attendance. For the next two and a half years, we continued to meet at St. Luke’s. As our church reached out in love to the community, more people came to our services. Bible studies began springing up in homes from South Forest Beach to Bluffton. Our church family grew, not only in number but also in love for each other. And as our congregation grew, our need for our own church grew too.
As we began to look for land, we learned that a mission church in Swaziland, South Africa was in desperate need of money to build a church. They made a plea to us and we responded by pledging a love offering of $5,000.00. Just a few months later, God rewarded our sowing into the Kingdom by leading us to a 3 ½ acre plot of land which we purchased. Approximately 18 months later, it was discovered that piece of land had the only complete and historic Indian Shell Enclosure in the United States! The Town of Hilton Head purchased the land from us.
After providing for us financially, the Lord provided the Palmetto Bay Plaza as a church home. Through our efforts and His blessing, we remodeled the building and converted it to a church. We worshipped there for a year. On July 3, 1992, our present location became our church home.
The journey has been filled with blessings and challenges, joy and tears and through it all, we have sensed the hand of God leading and guiding us. He has provided for us a place to rest, worship, serve and love.
