Westside Baptist church will celebrate 75 years of service to God’s people in West Columbia and Cayce.

In 1944 while WW II was raging, people recognized a need for a missionary Baptist church to service the families on the west side of Columbia and West Columbia.

At the time there were only around 6 churches in the Cayce-West Columbia area.

Because of the war, automobiles were difficult to own and maintain and gasoline was rationed. That created a transportation problem for many people living within a 2-mile radius of WSBC on Platt Springs Rd.

Louis R. Johnson, Milton Joyner, their families and others started making plans to organize a Sunday School for the community in the hope that it might eventually grow into a missionary Baptist Church.

In January 1945 a building fund was established and grew quickly.

A donation of an acre of land by Dr. W. M. Whiteside prompted a full community effort and the Westside Missionary Baptist Sunday School was organized the 1st Sunday in 1945.

Within 4 months, the average attendance had grown to 75 a week.

It is unlikely that the original members of that Sunday School could have envisioned what God would do with Westside Baptist Church.

It is now a vibrant part of the community with Sunday and Wednesday worship services and multiple ministries for children, youth, college and music. Plus, partnerships with others to serve the people in neighborhoods around the church.

Pastor Ray Wrobel and music and youth leader Seth Smith will hold the 75th anniversary services Jan. 12.

Wroble said the celebration is all about what God started and continues to do there. “We are anchored in Christ and looking to the future expectantly honoring God.”

The Jan. 12 service will have a special message, music, pictures, slides and plenty of stories from the past from founding member Betty Wright and Dulith Miles who was around at the beginning of the Sunday School.

Ken Owens of the SC Baptist Convention will be the guest speaker. 6 former pastors and music leaders will also be on hand to meet, greet and reminisce.

The service and activities start at 10 am.