With a desire to begin a fundamental work in the Clemson area, Pastor and Mrs. Hugh McCoy planned the opening service at University Baptist Church.  The initial service was held on Sunday morning, March 13, 1977, in the community room of the Home Savings and Loan in Clemson, SC.  Thirteen (13) persons attended the first service with twenty-one (21) present at the evening service.

The small group of faithful believers met in that one room for Sunday school as well as morning and evening services.  A Bible memory program began during the first few months with recitation during the Sunday school hour.  The mid-week prayer service was held on Thursday evening because another group had reserved the meeting room on Wednesdays.

During the early months we used an electric keyboard as our piano and five different hymnbooks, which meant we had to call out the name of the song and find it individually.  “Little is Much When God is in it” had special meaning to that first congregation.

In the spring of 1978, the pastor and the two men of the church began to pray specifically for three new families to come to our church.  Over the next three weeks, three families became a part of UBC.  A family of six, came the following Sunday and remained to contribute for many years.

Our first baptismal service was held on August 6, 1978, at Lake Keowee, near Seneca.  Though raining “cats and dogs” that Sunday afternoon, the group proceeded to the appointed place.  When we arrived at the lake the rain continued to pour, and some of the young men provided umbrella cover for the ladies to walk to a shelter.  As we sang a few hymns, the rain continued.  Then, as the pastor and those to be baptized walked to the lake, the rain ceased, the clouds separated and the sun rays shone over that small area of the lake.  Not a drop fell during the baptisms!  However, the umbrellas were required as we returned to the cars.  The rain had returned.  Five were baptized at that first service:

Our initial building fund was established with a contribution of two dollars ($2.00).  This fund grew to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), which became the down payment on our present property.  Some sacrificial contributions included an onyx ring, a diamond engagement ring, a college ring, and a gold coin.

In the early years, Allen Davis and Al Robinson shared teaching a combined class of adults and youth.  Mrs. O’Dell taught the children, meeting outside by the drive-in window of the bank as weather permitted, and in the hallway during inclement weather.

The last Sunday that services were held in the bank building, all chairs and floor space were filled.

In July 1978, we moved to the upstairs room at the “White Elephant” building on Highway #93.  This facility provided us with three (3) Sunday school rooms plus an “auditorium”.  The first deacon ordination was held in this building. 

Through another Sunday school promotion, the “White Elephant” contest, other families were added to the church.  There we had our first nursery, first business meeting, and finalized the purchase of chairs and a piano.  While there we took on our first two missionary families.  On the Sunday morning that the “White Elephant” contest ended, the Clemson Fire Marshall met the pastor and told him that we could no longer hold services in that building due to overcrowding.  He said that 155 persons were too many for one exit and we would have to move.

On the Friday before we were told we could not meet any longer at the "White Elephant" the pastor called the deacons and asked if we could meet him and a realtor to look at a place that we might buy.  The amount of money that the owner wanted was much more than we could afford.  We thanked him and went away disappointed but in hopes that God was doing a work in all of us.  On Monday pastor called the deacons and said that the realtor had called back and said if we could not buy the building the owner had agreed to rent it to us for $5.00 per use.  We were able to pay $15.00 per week and did not miss a service.  God answers prayers even before we know to ask.

Duckett’s Funeral Home was immediately rented for services, beginning with the next mid-week (Thursday) service. At the funeral home we had a “full house” immediately.  If the building was needed for a “viewing”, the church services were moved to someone’s home, even on a few minutes notice.  Several young men were left at the “church” to direct our congregation to the new location.  At Duckett’s a kitchen was available and we began our famous dinners-on-the-ground.  The first children’s Christmas program was held there at the same time that a “viewing” was taking place in another part of the building.  A visitation pastor, David Phillips, was hired in that year.  In October, 1980, an attorney gave us details concerning the purchase of our property on Pendleton Road which is our present location.

In January 1981, our church moved again.  This time we moved to Oconee Hall at Tri-County Tech.  What luxury!  It had a beautiful new auditorium with cushioned chairs and writing desks, and as many Sunday school classrooms as needed.  Junior church began at this location. 

In April 1981, we held the first service on our present Pendleton Road property.  That Easter sunrise service was held under the pines and had an attendance of fifty-five (55).  Excavation of the church property began in September 1981.  A trust fund was established in November of that year to aid in the financing of the building project.  After the contractor erected the building the church family went to work on the inside and erected the walls and platform in six (6) days.  Our first wedding was held in our partially finished building on December 20, 1981 on the coldest day of the year.  This would not be noteworthy except for the fact that we had NO HEAT!!! And it was 5 degrees outside!  Members of the church worked until an hour before the wedding preparing for this special event.  The first Sunday service was held under similar conditions on December 21, 1981.

There were no interior doors during the winter.  Quilts and blankets were hung over the doorways to retain heat provided by a construction company kerosene heater.  The heaters were turned off after the singing so that we could hear the preaching.  Blankets were brought to services to drape over our legs and scraps of carpet were placed under cold feet.  The services were warm, however, and our hearts were glad with the blessings of God on our group.  We had our own building!  Many members contributed long, hard hours of labor to see that our building was finished and funds conserved.  This building now houses the church offices, kitchen, and Sunday school rooms.

In May 1982, the mid-week prayer service was moved from Thursday to Wednesday night. 

In January of 1984 Pastor Hugh McCoy resigned as pastor of University Baptist Church.  His emphasis during these formative years was on soul winning, visitation, and fellowship.  During the months without a pastor, several laymen in the church spoke and contributed to the “almost seamless” transition that would take place in three months.  During this time, William Senn, a graduate student at BJU, was asked to fill the pulpit for several Sundays.  After much prayer and consideration, the congregation of UBC extended to William Senn, III the invitation to become the pastor of University Baptist Church.  This offer was accepted and his ministry among us began on Easter Sunday of 1984.  His resignation to accept another pastorate came on Easter Sunday, 2002.  Our present Pastor came to us from Northland Baptist Bible College in Dunbar WI.  Pastor Dave Hine became the third pastor of UBC in June of 2004.

Continued church growth allowed us to develop additional outreach ministries. The ongoing effort to clean and clear our church property was noted in many Friday  Work-Nights.  All ages have been involved in this task for many years. This has provided service and fellowship opportunities for many members.

Initially our college outreach ministry was channeled through the Forever Generation which became Real Life Ministry.  Later UBC initiated an outreach on the Clemson campus with the name Spurgeon Foundation.  This outreach exists today as Cross Impact and seeks to encourage and teach students on the campuses around Clemson.  Today we support Cross Impact on several college campuses.

Our emphasis on missions has been a source of encouragement and opportunity.  As the Lord provides we increase our church budget to accommodate additional missionaries.  To supplement our mission budget, we began a Faith Promise Mission Program.  Through this yearly commitment by God’s people to give above their regular giving, we support twelve additional missionaries bringing our total in 2006 to twenty-eight (28) missionaries and three (3) organizations.  Several of our people go on mission trips throughout the year.  An additional outreach for us to our missionaries is the Mission Conference that is held in the spring each year.  Our missionaries on furlough and new missionaries on deputation come to Clemson and stay in the homes of families. This allows us to get to know more about them and they get to know us better.  We endeavor to meet some of their needs and to be a blessing to them.  They broaden our vision and encourage our young people to follow in their footsteps.  A more recent addition to our mission program is the women’s organization, Priscilla’s Heart.  The ladies involved in this ministry meet one night of each month to learn more about missionaries serving around the world.  They also have a project each month based on a request by our missionaries on the field.  Another project is a Missionary Closet that we stock with supplies that missionaries often request.  When a missionary family visits our church, they are invited to visit our Closet and choose the things that would benefit their ministry.  This organization also implements our “Christmas in July” program.

Funds were provided to purchase the Welborn House adjacent to our property.  It provided much needed classroom space until we could build a new building.  Many hours of labor were provided by members to make this building one that we could use.  It is now called the “Hudson House.”  In 1994 we “broke ground” for a new auditorium.  Actual construction did not begin until 1995. We entered this beautiful building in March of 1996.  This provided us with seating for 325 with a choir loft for an additional 50 persons.  Now we are able to present musical programs and preaching in a comfortable environment.  God is good! So good, in fact, that He allowed us to mark that building “PAID IN FULL” in September, 2002.  Presently a building committee exists to examine future needs and priorities.

Another outreach that has been a part of our history for a long time is the outreach to the international community that exists in Clemson.  Initially we had an “International Night”.  We invited all internationals in the community to come out for a meal and asked them to bring a native dish.  After the meal we met to see how many different countries were represented and then introduced them to the gospel thorough a preaching service.  In the early years most of the international students who attended our services were from African countries.  Later a ministry to the Chinese was established.  We now have an International Day which is filled with many varied activities.  The day starts with games and fun time and a soccer tournament.  There is time of preaching and prayer.   By filling out a card, the international students can request a Bible study with someone from the church family. Then a meal is served.  The flea market is the most exciting time.  The church family donates many household items, clothing, furniture, and other useful items.  The internationals attending can then purchase these items with “funny money” they won in the games played earlier in the day.  Many of the men in the church transport these items to the homes of the international students.  Since many come to America with little or no belongings, this meets a real need for them and gives us the opportunity to serve others by meeting physical needs as well as spiritual ones.