Pastor of The Week

Reverend Mae Taylor, Joshua United Methodist Church

Joshua owes its beginnings to the collective traditions of three congregations, which met separately at Bethel, Promise Land and Casey Methodist Episcopal Churches. Each of these churches has over 100 years of rich traditions and Customs. Together these Churches were called the Mt. Holly Charge.

Casey United Methodist was located between highways 176 and 52 adjacent to Mt. Holly Plantation. Presently, this same site sits between the Berkeley County Library and Goose Creek Recreation Center on Old Moncks Corner Road. The structure was destroyed by arson in 1977.

Promise Land United Methodist was located on part of Pimlico Plantation off Of Pimlico Boulevard. The structure was destroyed by arson in 1989.

Bethel United Methodist stood on a site just a few hundred yards from where Joshua UMC presently stands, also known as Strawberry. The Property was sold to Mrs. Kathleen McGee.

After years of serving together at the Mt. Holly Charge, the members of Bethel, Promise Land, and Cayce UMC began discussing the need for a merger. Holding joint services on special occasions and observing the grand fellowship lead by Rev. William L. J. Nelson (1972 -1979) pushing for a merger. The plan for the merger had begun and was drawn up on May 28, 1973. It was agreed that there would be one congregation in Mt. Holly Charge consisting of the former Bethel, Casey, and Promise Land Churches to be known as Joshua United Methodist Church. The new church was to be a station appointment with a full-time pastor and should perform the duties of a parish charge. A church conference was held with the three churches on May 6 and 13, 1973, both individually and collectively. Upon motion, the conference unanimously voted for the plan of merger. The signers of the document were, Willie Waring, Chalmers Smalls Sr., Elease D. Bryan, Joseph Sass Sr., Isaac Gourdine, Elias Sass, Henry McGhee, Viola Halyard, Helen Glover, and Rev. Omega Newman, District Superintendent.

It was agreed that the place of worship for the newly formed congregation would be at Promise Land UMC until completion of the new sanctuary. The structure built at that time was just a few hundred yards from where Joshua UMC currently stands, also known as Strawberry. The newly organized church was considered by the South Carolina Annual Conference to be officially operative at its adjournment on June 8, 1973 with the service of union being 4 pm, Sunday, June 10, 1973, at Promise Land UMC.

The mortgage of Joshua UMC was burned in the spring of 1985 under the leadership of Rev. Herbert V. Fogle (1979-1991). The church has had several other Pastors throughout the years. Then, in 2010 the church went through major renovation under the leadership of Rev. Mae Taylor (2006- Present). Joshua is functioning strong and growing spiritually in the community. We are continuing to build the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.