History

Right Direction Christian Center was birthed in the heart of Pastor Herbert Bailey in July of 1996 when he visited Columbia, SC to interview for a management position with Cigna Property and Casualty Insurance Company. While praying at (what is now) the Marriott Hotel in downtown Columbia, the Lord spoke to Pastor Bailey to accept the offer and relocate to Columbia for the purpose of founding RDCC. This was a definite change of plans from what Pastor Bailey had in mind, returning to his native state of New Jersey to establish RDCC there.

Along with their four children, Chandler, Tyler, Daniel, and Kindra (now 22, 20, 19, & 17), Pastors Herbert and Marcia Bailey relocated to Columbia, SC from Tulsa, OK in September of 1995. In January of 1996, they began a bible study in their rented home on Woodwinds Drive in Columbia. Three other adults and one additional child faithfully attended this bible study. These five adults and five children became the first (charter) members of RDCC.

After receiving further direction from the Lord, on April 28, 1996, Pastors Bailey held the first service of RDCC at the Holiday Inn Express (now Super 8 Motel), on St. Andrews Road in Columbia. By September of 1996, the church grew to 40 people at that location. That same month our congregation moved to the Postal Workers Union Hall, at 4921 Broad River Road, where the church grew to approximately 60 people. Though growth was slow, it was steady.

In June of 1998, we leased our first facility at 3801 River Drive in Columbia. It was at this location that the church first started experiencing rapid growth through our Wednesday Night Bible Study. The original sanctuary, (which later became our Fellowship Hall), barely accommodated 100 people. We quickly outgrew this space. In February of 1999, with approximately 90 people in attendance, we went to two Sunday morning services. In August of 1999, with 140 in attendance, we completed renovations of the additional warehouse space at that location, which became our new sanctuary. With the additional space and use of the Fellowship Hall for overflow seating, we were able to accommodate 300 worshippers in two Sunday morning services. It was evident that God's hand was on our ministry.

By June of 2000, we were approaching our maximum capacity of 300, requiring us to commence three Sunday morning services. By the end of 2000, our Sunday attendance had grown to 400. Pastor Bailey began looking and praying for a new place of worship.

In March of 2001, we moved to 1230 St. Andrews Road. This facility currently houses our Youth Sanctuary, Christian Academy and meeting rooms in a 20,000 square foot, tri-level complex. The facility seemed large and adequate at first, but by the end of 2001, our attendance reached over 600 per Sunday and over 300 for our Wednesday Bible Study. Pastor Marcia Bailey commenced a Women's Bible Study on Fridays at noon. We also commenced a Wednesday Noon Bible Study. This $850,000 facility was paid for within 3 years.

In February of 2003, we purchased 22 acres of land at 3506 Broad River Road, Cola, SC. In January of 2004, we commenced our Worship Center building project, moved in to it in July 2004 and subsequently paid off the $2 million facility in December of 2005. Within 1.5 years of our occupancy it was “paid in full.” Since the purchase of the original 22 acres, we have purchased an additional 17acres giving us a total of acres for our Broad River Road campus. In 2004, we also purchased the 20,000 square foot business facility at 1234 St. Andrews Road in which we formerly leased our youth ministry and fellowship hall. That facility now occupies our Administrative Offices, our community outreach ministry – My Sister’s Closet and our Community Support Center, which provides food and clothing to the poor of our community, and rental space. This allowed us to have more space at the 1230 St. Andrews Road location for our Christian Academy and Youth Facilities. In August of 2006, we opened the doors to our Christian Academy which currently serves K-3 through K-5 students.

In November of 2007, we broke ground on our $4 million Family Life Center and officially opened the facility to the public in October 2008. This facility is used to service both our congregation and the community at-large. We currently host fellowships, concerts, community sporting events, theatre productions, and our toddler’s ministry in this facility. We know this facility will continue to be a blessing to all.

Our 13^th year of ministry (April 2008 – April 2009) proved to be another year of ministry growth and expansion. In August 2008, we purchased 8.5 additional acres on Shivers Road ,(adjacent to our Broad River Road campus), for future expansion of our main campus. In November 2008, two years after expanding the ministry to Orangeburg, SC in October 2006, we purchased the former Cornerstone Baptist Church campus in Orangeburg., SC This is a 15 acre campus with 30,000 square feet of worship space including youth, children’s, and fellowship facilities.

As we begin our fourteenth year of ministry, we know that God is going to continue to allow the vision to speak and unfold. With a congregation of over 2500 people receiving the Word in seven weekly services and bible studies in Columbia and Orangeburg, SC, we are continuing to pursue God’s vision for this ministry. The Lord has done and continues to do great things for us whereof we are glad.

Thank your for your support of the vision! The best is yet to come!