El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church History

In early 1992, Rev. Leroy S. Bowers - former pastor of Royal Missionary Baptist church in North Charleston along with 10 members: Miriam Bowers, Jessie Mae Jenkins, Walter Jenkins, Constance 'Connie' Brown, Nkechi Brown, David Brown Jr., Cheryl Mills, Charlise Mills, Shari Mills, & Annie Mae Jenkins began to congregate over a time span of a few months in the conference room at the Marriott Hotel and Felix Pinckney Community center for church. One afternoon, Mrs. Jessie Mae & her daughter Connie overheard someone talking about a building for rent. The two then passed on the information to Pastor Bowers. Pastor Bowers reached out to the realtor who had an even better building in mind! This building was located at 4708 Durant Ave. in the Park Circle Community of North Charleston. On June 10, 1992 under the leadership of Pastor, Rev. Leroy S. Bowers El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church was established.

Rev. Leroy Bowers gave us our foundation. During his legacy, our First Deacon-The late Walter Jenkins was ordained and several ministries were established and in 1995 El-Shaddai became incorporated. The ministries established under Pastor Bowers' leadership were the Deacon's Ministry, Usher Ministry, Missionary Board, Trustee Ministry, Sunday School, New Member's Class, Nurse's Unit, and Youth Ministry. Seven ministers were licensed under Pastor Bowers (including our very own Pastor Mills); One Reverend Genardry Dessasure was ordained. On February 2003, God called one of his own. The pioneer who with the grace of God led this ministry; our beloved Pastor Bowers was called home.

For a period of over two years, El-Shaddai was without a Pastor and in April 2005 Reverend Cheryl Mills was installed as the newly elected Pastor of El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church. Since Pastor Mills' tenure, El-Shaddai has grown in leaps and bounds! Since its establishment in June 1992, El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church has grown from 10 members to 238 active members.

In addition to carrying out the Late Pastor Bowers' legacy; Pastor Mills, a visionary has added 5 choirs, both a Youth and Adult Praise Dance Ministry, Children's Church, Sick & Shut in and Bereavement Ministries, Brotherhood Ministry, Y.W.A., Discipleship Ministry (formerly New Members Class), Media Ministry and our latest- The Academy at El-Shaddai- which provides early childhood education in a loving, Christian environment from ages 2 to 5 years.

Pastor Mills' vision is to witness salvation and spread the word of the gospel to the world. It is through this, both the 'Save a Soul, Change the World' and the 'G.R.O.W.' ministries birthed. Our ministry stands on Isaiah 43:19. "Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Since 2005 we have been active with the New Ashley Baptist Church Association, Baptist Ministers Conference & Vicinity, Park Circle Prayer Campaign, & Families Stability Group under the Trident United Way. In the age of rapid Technological advancement;

Pastor Mills' leadership has allowed the ministry to reach the masses through the church's website, monthly newsletters, and availability via Social Networking.In 2011, with efforts to be recognized as a ministry to spread the word across the globe it was unanimously voted upon to revise our name from El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church to El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church Ministries International

Pastor Mills continues to guide El-Shaddai on the path of success. El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church was started on humble beginnings. However, our foundation is solid. But without the grace of God & his mercy, none of this would be possible.