Our History

1963 – 1973

For the past 60 years, Bible Way Church of Atlas Road has stood as a beacon in southeast Columbia, shining its light with a global reach, fulfilling the great commission to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The passion that fuels this great commission is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, which has driven this congregation from its inception.

In 1959, “a small body of believers” led by Mother Elizabeth Simmons joined with Elder Chester A. Byrd and the congregation of the Bible Way Church of 912 Hampton Street in Columbia. Mother Simmons surrendered her leadership as pastor of this small congregation in Arthurtown after God directed them to change their baptismal belief to the Name of Jesus and to have a church covering. Convinced that God’s divine purpose was the eventual rebirth of the ministry in Arthurtown, they worshipped with the Hampton Street congregation until October 1963, when God directed them to reignite the Arthurtown ministry in the “Little Red Church on Bluff Road.” They worshipped as part of the Hampton Street congregation until God provided them with another church home.

It is often said that for every vision God gives, He also makes provision. That was certainly the case in 1963 when Mother Simmons and twelve other believers found their new home in a Little Red Church on Bluff Road. They rented this building for five dollars per month. They became known as the Bible Way Church of Arthurtown, with Elder Willie Span as their pastor. Mother Simmons continued to preach the Word of God even though the Bible Way organization did not recognize women as ministers during this time.

For several years, Mother Simmons ministered salvation to her niece, Jannie Lumpkin-Jackson, and her husband, Andrew Charles “A. C.” Jackson. And, the anointing upon this young man’s life was undeniable! In late 1963, after much fasting, praying, and travailing, Deacon A.C. Jackson accepted his call to the ministry. In November 1963, he was installed as the first official pastor of the Bible Way Church of Arthurtown.

Their church home had a pot-bellied stove and plastic on the windows and was far from weatherproof, but the joy of the Lord warmed the hearts of those 13 charter members and their families (20 children), and souls were added to the congregation each year. In 1965, God called Mother Simmons to rest, but with Minister A. C. at the helm, the group was destined for greatness! In 1966, a fire destroyed their beloved building, and the church was again homeless. For a while, the congregation met in the home of Mother Simmons and her husband, Willie Simmons, but this was hardly suitable with how the church was growing.

One of the Charter Members and sister-in-law of Pastor A. C. Jackson, Sister Mazelee Loyd, was also president of the PTA at Atlas Road Elementary School. Sister Loyd asked the principal of Atlas Road Elementary School, Mr. C. R. Neal, to provide the use of the school auditorium for church services on the weekends (and in the home of Mr. Willie Simmons on weeknights). And, although they had his consent, the church membership knew that this was a temporary measure, so they put their faith to the immediate test of securing land directly across the street from the school upon which to build their new church home. They continued in good works, encouraging one another and standing firm on God’s promises as Pastor A. C. Jackson and Deacon William Loyd walked the grounds of Atlas Road (the very same property on which the church now stands), believing that God would give them the land they were bold enough to walk.

This group of people had a mind to work. In just 21 months, against all odds and with the dedication of members like Deacon Frank and Sister Alberta English, who mortgaged their home to finance the church, these faith walkers bought property on Atlas Road in April 1967. They marched across Atlas Road into their newly constructed church just six months later, on October 8, 1967. The services there were powerfully anointed, awe-inspiring, and filled with soul-stirring hymns, contemporary and traditional gospel music, testimonies, prayer meetings, and life-changing messages from God during every service. In March 1965, God had transitioned Mother Simmons to her heavenly home, and with their anointed, faith-filled Minister A. C. as Shepherd-leader, the congregation was destined for greatness!

The Bible Way Nursery, established in 1968 by Jannie Jackson in their home on Dell Drive, was later renamed the Bible Way Child Development Center in 1969. Bible Way’s passion for youth was demonstrated with the construction of a Youth Center just three years later, in 1971. This building remains standing today and is now known as the Fellowship Hall.

1973–1983

In 1974, Pastor A. C. Jackson was consecrated as Bishop by the Bible Way National Organization. Bishop Jackson and the saints at Atlas Road served faithfully, supporting churches throughout South Carolina as part of the national organization. Bishop Jackson was always a man of vision, with the ability to recognize talent in the church’s youth. After 33 years of pastoring, he realized it was time to relinquish his tenure as pastor and appoint his successor for the next generation.

1983–1993

In 1996, Bishop A. C. Jackson ordained his eldest son, Darrell Jackson, Sr., as pastor of the Bible Way Church of Atlas Road. In his fourth year as pastor, realizing that God had exceeded every promise made to the congregants thus far and that the congregation was growing at an average rate of just over 900 new members per year, Pastor Darrell Jackson led the membership into taking another bold and expansive step.

1993–2003

And, so it was that in 2001, the Bible Way Church of Atlas Road completed the construction of its fourth and current home, from humble beginnings to shared space to a state-of-the-art Worship Center with a seating capacity of over 2,500. Despite the physical changes of the church edifice, one thing remained the same: the purpose upon which the church was founded, “Soul Winning as the number one business”! 

2003–2013

The importance of faith and worship to this congregation is inseparable from its commitment to outreach. Bible Way was founded upon five basic tenets: Discipleship, Fellowship, Worship, Service, and Outreach.

Believing that the ability to communicate Christ’s message through evangelism was the nucleus of this ministry, Pastor Jackson urged the congregants to “go beyond the walls of the church,” affirming Bible Way’s commitment to the Great Commission. In addition to church ministries such as the Prison Ministry that provides services to the incarcerated throughout South Carolina, the Foreign Missions Ministry that routinely provides support to foreign countries, the Bible Way Social Action Foundation (BSAF) was established to help members of the church and community in need through service and outreach. Bible Way has implemented and sustained many outreach efforts to meet the needs of the community and humanity through various community-wide projects such as:

  • Funding and support to a school in Africa during the 70s and 80s (The West Africa School in Liberia was dedicated and named in honor of Bishop A. C. Jackson in 1982);
  • Mission work to Africa in the 80s and 90s;
  • Relief efforts for South Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Hugo in 1989
  • Relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2004;
  • Housing for the Bantu Tribe
  • Support to local non-profits through volunteerism during “the Year of Renewed Commitment” in 2008.

In 2008, during “the Year of Renewed Commitment,” Pastor Jackson announced to the church leadership that God was leading him to define the mission of Bible Way’s ministry clearly. Later that year, the church unveiled its mission statement:

To Know God . . . Spiritually, Personally, and Collectively;
To Love . . . God, Others, and Ourselves,
To Serve . . .God, Humanity, and the Community

Bible Way Church of Atlas Road has been a pillar in Southeast Columbia and, more specifically, on Atlas Road throughout its existence. This stretch of land, once known as Lover’s Lane, is now the Bible Way Church of Atlas Road campus.
The southeast part of Columbia or Lower Richland went from becoming an overlooked part of the city to becoming an area from which measurable impact could be felt by the city, county, and state of South Carolina, particularly the area revitalized by Bible Way.
In 2008, the Bible Way Social Action Foundation, initially started in 1979, was re-named the Bible Way Social Action Ministry (BSAM). This ministry began with the vision of making sure that the members had a resource in the church to assist them in their times of need. The idea quickly expanded beyond the membership and into the community, and the church’s presence was felt through programs and initiatives such as:

  • The Establishment of the “Because We Care” program to assist residents in the Midlands affected by the economic downturn of 2009;
  • Work on several Habitat for Humanity and Home Works Projects;
  • Financial support and a mission trip to Haiti in 2010;
  • Community Clothes Giveaway in 2012;
  • Relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Matthew and the Midlands Flood of 2016.

To incorporate the importance of fellowship throughout the membership, Care Groups, initiated initially as Church Clubs, were expanded to provide small group fellowship as the church congregation increased to more than 5,000. By 2013, there were over 13,000 members and over 35 Care Groups and ministries, each providing regularly scheduled fellowship activities for their group and churchwide activities.

Another tenant upon which Bible Way was founded is worship. The purpose: to celebrate Christ’s presence as His name is magnified through genuine worship. In 1998, with Sunday services almost to capacity each Sunday morning, the church transitioned with the inclusion of an 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning worship service. Pastor Jackson delivered the messages for both worship services each Sunday. Tuesday night bible study grew into mid-week service, a time of teaching, preaching, praise, and worship.

Bible Way’s worship services have been broadcast beyond the walls of the church since their initial radio broadcast in 1972 and under Bishop A. C. Jackson, and with the help of his nephew, Calvin “Chip” Jackson, and Deacon Jerome Simmons, Bible Way had become one of the first churches in South Carolina to establish a regular church broadcast with local radio affiliate WWDM 101.3FM. In 1993, with the inception of WFMV 95.3, Bible Way expanded its radio broadcasts. In 1997, the church launched its first website, becoming one of the first churches, businesses, or organizations to provide global access to its programs and services through the Internet. And, Deacon Edward Mines and Wanda Loyd Hart introduced www.bwcar.org to the world, adding to the ministry’s global impact. Today, services continue to be heard statewide on the radio twice weekly, both live and on-demand via the church website.
Also central to the foundation of this ministry is discipleship. There has always been a commitment to educating Christ’s followers to Christian maturity through Bible teaching and training for ministry. Ministries dedicated to this purpose include:

  • Children and Youth Ministries
  • Christian Development Institute (CDI)
  • Men’s Ministry
  • Senior Enrichment Ministry
  • Sunday School
  • Usher’s and Hospitality Ministry
  • Women’s Ministry and the Personal Development Institute (PDI)
  • Young Adult Ministry

In 2004, Pastor Jackson, realizing that the daily operations of the church rivaled that of any small business, began a formal restructuring of the church, appointing his cousin, Calvin “Chip” Jackson, as Chief Operating Officer (COO), appointing Rose English as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), hiring a certified public accountant, full-time program directors, a communications staff and establishing the church’s print shop. During this time, a team of 70 people worked on campus daily to meet the operational needs of this consistently growing ministry. Additionally, he formalized the Midlands Community Development Corporation’s presence in the community by hiring a full-time director and staff and housing the non-profit entity inside the C. R. Neal Dream Center on Atlas Road—the staff, led by Director William “Bill” Loyd and Program Director Sarah Franklin “opened doors by providing programs and services” in five focus areas: personal and educational development, housing, healthcare, employment, and economic development.
Currently, the MCDC strives to create environments where individuals of all ages can dream big and access resources that improve their lives. This nonprofit corporation has developed more than ten direct services for community members, including education, character development, child development, and community service for youth, active day involvement and education for seniors, financial counseling and foreclosure mitigation for families, and healthy child nutrition programs, and Dementia and Alzheimer’s Family Resource Initiative for caregivers and families (DAFRI), and other programs that reach across the City of Columbia and Richland County providing services throughout South Carolina.

Bible Way’s social impact is also felt through the establishment of the Jannie R. Jackson Women’s Center, a non-profit service named in honor of Mother Jannie Jackson. It serves as a resource for women and girls to assist in fostering health and prosperity in every area of their lives. Girls Academy, Project Elevation, domestic violence awareness, and other service referrals are a part of the daily functions of Jannie R. Jackson Women’s Center. The services and supports offered by both of these nonprofits (the MCDC and the JRJ Women’s Center) have a focus on empowering female individuals, creating healthy families, and establishing vibrant communities in the areas they serve.

The MCDC has also been working alongside the Bible Way Church of Atlas Road to change the streetscape of Atlas Road completely. Over the past 20 years, the church and MCDC have acquired over 130 acres along Bluff and Atlas Roads for church and community development. In 2003, the church negotiated with Richland School District One to acquire the use of Atlas Road Elementary School. The facility was renamed the C. R. Neal Dream Center and became the permanent housing for the MCDC. The Midlands Health Center was also established to provide health screenings and other services. As a result, both the landscape and streetscape have improved. Buildings on campus include:

  • C. R. Neal Dream Center
  • Charter House
  • J. R. J. Women’s Center
  • Deacon’s House
  • The Dream Keepers Senior Center
  • A.C. Jackson Wellness Center
  • Fellowship Hall
  • Communications Center
  • Office of Youth Development as well as all three sanctuaries, the Memorial
  • Chapel, the Sanctuary, and the Worship Center.

Through adaptive reuse and some new construction, all of these buildings were added to the campus by 2009 and helped bring the dream of a very different Atlas Road into reality. A significant piece of the proverbial pie has been the planned development of Congaree Pointe – a brand-new residential community on Atlas Road. What was once a row of dilapidated houses became a campus community filled with natural and spiritual resources that cannot be measured. Phase One of Congaree Pointe consisted of 144 single-family homes.
From 2001 until his retirement in 2016, Deacon Calvin “Chip” Jackson worked alongside Pastor Jackson to manage the church’s day-to-day operations and assist Pastor Jackson in realizing Bishop A. C. Jackson’s vision. But the vision didn’t stop there! Efforts continued to develop Congaree Pointe and to bring commerce to the area, increasing the economic impact of the church upon Atlas Road and Southeast Columbia.

2013-2023

When the church’s mortgage was paid off and burned in November of 2020, Pastor Jackson introduced a new vision of how the church could better serve our community by offering services that support our neighbors – our working families – our children, and our seniors. This vision was captured in the Church’s 2025 Vision Plan. It includes five major projects, several new constructions accomplished through private-public partnerships, and several through upfitting and renovating existing structures.

The Villages at Congaree Pointe is a workforce housing development that allows the creation of affordable housing for young adults and working professionals. With the sale of 20 acres of land near the existing Congaree Pointe homes, the Villages at Congaree Pointe are being constructed by an outside developer. This is phase two of the development, and it includes a 240-unit multi-family complex. All units are dedicated to serving working individuals and families who are making 60% or less of the area’s median income.

The Haven at Congaree Pointe is another development constructed through private-public partnerships. This independent living facility for seniors is the third phase of the development. The Haven at Congaree Pointe is a 12.08-acre project with nearly 200 units for ages 55 and older. It provides beautiful, secure, and affordable housing - with amenities and attention to detail typically found in luxury apartment homes.

The church has restructured its partnership with Richland County School District One to bring early childhood and adult education programs to the C. R. Neal Dream Center. ThriveRichland is a birth-to-five program established by Richland County School District One to increase the percentage of children entering kindergarten ready to learn. The second phase of this partnership will help revitalize adult education programs in this area. These programs will include GED training, CDL classes, Community Education Classes, and Expediting Career Readiness for Young Adults. In addition to the programs provided at the C. R. Neal Dream Center, renovations and upfits to the Dream Center also began.

Earlier this year, construction began on a new, state-of-the-art structure, the church’s new Children and Youth Zone. This 12,000 square feet building is located next to the Worship Center. The new Zone will use technology throughout the building to help provide engaging worship, interactive Biblical teaching, and much more. This space is specifically designed for children and youth, offering high-tech, interactive areas, worship spaces, a youth café, and more. It provides a place for children to meet and learn as they grow in their Christian faith. And, just as importantly, the Children and Youth Zone will offer every child a safe and fun experience.

The former Office of Youth Development (OYD) has been beautifully transformed into a new, state-of-the-art communications and print center. The building has been retrofitted to include five offices, a reception area, a conference room, a storage room, and a breakroom, all fully equipped with new furniture and computer hardware. There is also a docking station room, and the conference room has its own smartboard. The new floors and paint, as well as the new furniture and equipment, make this an administrative and creative space to rival that of any PR firm downtown. Bible Way’s Print Shop, established in 2005, has become a full-service communications center and print shop.

Technology and communications have always been integral to the ministry and its mission. Bible Way began streaming worship services in 2003. Bible Way Church of Atlas Road was the first church in South Carolina to initiate live-streaming radio broadcasts through the internet with the help of Bishop Jackson’s son, Roderick Jackson, his niece, Wanda Loyd-Hart, and Mel Harmon. This regular live-streaming radio broadcast became live-streaming worship services now broadcast to thousands weekly. For 20 years, feedback from areas as far away as Dubai and Iceland has been received with the message that individuals are blessed as they listen, watch, and feel a part of these live services.

For the past 60 years, Bible Way Church of Atlas Road has stood as a beacon in Southeast Columbia, shining its light in unimaginable areas, reaching across the globe, fulfilling the Great Commission to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”