Eastlan is committed to being a place where faith is
nurtured and individuals and families are strengthened.Our desire is for you to have Christ as
the head of your household and that your life be a
reflection of God’s love.Supporting
this commitment, Eastlan constantly offers
prayer, worship, educational opportunities and church-wide activities that
reinforce and enhance your life as a Christian.
Eastlan History
EastlanBaptistChurch was organized in Greenville,
SC, by Rev. G.B. Lee in 1939. Its
charter membership included 70 people. Sunday School enrollment grew to 143
by December 26, 1943,
when a fire completely destroyed the original Laurens
Road building. With prayer, determination and
purpose, Eastlan members rebuilt the building.
By 1948, Eastlan’s
membership had grown to 464. In the spring of 1955, Pastor Ollie Owens
encouraged members to look for a new site. Greenville
had experienced rapid growth, and the Laurens Road
location had limited expansion possibilities. Land south of downtown Greenville
was available, but was located across from the city dump. Learning that the
landfill was to be relocated further south of town, Eastlan
members purchased 7 acres on the hillside property on South
Pleasantburg Drive.
The first phase of construction was competed at
a cost of $266,000 in January 1961. The first services were held in the new
chapel, which could seat more than 200 people. The second construction
phase was completed in 1973 at a cost of $485,000. It included an adult
education wing, commercial kitchen, fellowship hall, parlor, and gymnasium.
The third construction phase was finished in 1992 at a cost of 1.2 million
dollars. This completed the original vision by placing an 800 seat
sanctuary between the first two buildings connected by an enclosed walkway
known today as the "Greeting Hall".
Pastors
1939 to 1949 - Rev. G.B. Lee
1949 to 1952 - Rev. Truman Brown
1952 to 1966 - Dr. Ollin
J. Owens
1967 to 1976 - Rev. Jimmie E. Harley
1977 to 1981 - Dr. Stewart Simms, Jr.
1982 to 2000 - Dr. Marshall Sargent
2002 to present - Dr. Benjamin Littlejohn
Baptist Distinctives
Eastlan is proud to be part of the Southern Baptist Convention, and we
support its precepts.Political
issues, however, are not our focus.Good reasons for being Baptist are outlined in the B.A.P.T.I.S.T.
“distinctives” below:
Biblical Authority The Bible is the final authority in all
matters of belief and practice because the Bible is inspired by God and
bears the absolute authority of God Himself.We believe the Bible is the Holy
inspired, error-free Word of God.Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true.No human opinion or decree of any group
can override the Bible.Creeds and
confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate theology of Scripture,
do not carry the Scripture's inherent authority. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1
Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20,21)
Autonomy of the LocalChurch The local church is an independent body
accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church.All human authority for governing the
local church resides within the local church itself.Thus the church is autonomous and
self-governing.No religious
hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church's beliefs or
practices.Autonomy does not mean
isolation.A Baptist church may
fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and in an
associational tie, but a Baptist church cannot be a "member" of
any other body. (Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 19, 23)
Priesthood of the Believer "Priest" is defined as "one
authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as an
intermediary agent between humans and God."Every believer today is a priest of God
and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.No other
mediator is needed between God and people.As priests, we can study God's Word,
pray for others and offer spiritual worship to God.We all have equal access to God-
whether we are called to be a minister or not. (1 Peter 2:5, 9;
Revelation 5:9, 10)
Two Ordinances The local church should practice two
ordinances: (1) baptism of believers by immersion in water, identifying
the individual with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, and (2)
the Lord's Supper, or communion, commemorating His death for our sins.
(Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
Individual Soul Liberty Every individual, whether a believer or
unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what he believes is right in the
religious realm.No one should be
forced to assent to any belief against his will.Baptists have always opposed religious
persecution.However, this liberty
does not exempt one from responsibility to the Word of God or from
accountability to God Himself. (Romans 14:5, 12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus
1:9)
Saved, then Baptized as part of Church Membership Local church membership is granted to
individuals who give a believable testimony of personal faith in Christ
and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer's
baptism.When members of a local
church are believers, oneness in Christ exists and members can endeavor
to keep the unity of the Spirit in a bond of peace. (Acts 2:41-47; 1
Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3)
Two Offices The Bible mandates only two offices in the
church: pastor and deacon.The
three terms, "pastor", "elder" and "bishop"
(or "overseer"), all refer to the same office.The two offices of pastor and deacon
exist within the local church- not as a hierarchy outside or over the
local church. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1)
Separation of
Church and State God established both the church and the
civil government, and He gave each its own distinct sphere of
operation.The government's
purposes are outlined in Romans 13:1-7, and the church's purposes are
outlined in Matthew 28:19 and 20.Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance
between the two.Christians in a
free society can properly influence government towards righteousness,
which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling
the government. (Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29)
