Our History
Ladson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church was founded March 19, 1982 one Friday night when God and the Holy Spirit ordained the land and Reverend Stanley Roy Ladson, Sr., before the foundation of the earth to establish a church. Reverend Ladson was faithful worshipping elsewhere in the ministry when the Lord spoke to his heart saying, “Whom the Son set free is free indeed.” God is of peace and not confusion, love and not hate, and has no respect of person to worship Him in true spirit of happiness. His arms are opened wide, that whosoever will may come and seek Him that they may have an everlasting life. Reverend Ladson prayed very hard and others prayed with him. He tried to get around organizing a church, but he was very restless knowing the promise and the vow he had already made to God, that wherever he leads him he would follow.
Saturday, March 20, Reverend Ladson was lead of God to Mr. Jimmie H. Young of Hopkins, South Carolina to consult him about an old building of his on Highway 769 Congaree Road. The building was in bad shape, but the Lord touched Mr. Young’s heart and he said if there’s any use in the building you might help yourself, free of charge. Mr. Young informed Reverend Ladson he had no plans for the building. Although the building once was the store of June Marshall and previous church services were held there at one time.
On Monday, March 22, Wednesday, March 24, and Thursday, March 25, Reverend Ladson called meetings with his family, other spirited co-workers in the Gospel and sinners. He shared with them the work God had assigned to his hands to do. Asking them not to leave their church but to do what the Lord leads them to do. After the meetings, Reverend Ladson did not have the first dime to do repairs on the building in order to serve them in worshipping the Lord. On Friday, April 2, 1982, Reverend Ladson was led by the spirit to the C&S Bank on Sumter Highway. In thirty minutes, he received a loan in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to do the repairs on the building. The loan through the help of God made it possible for us to have our first service on April 18, 1982. Reverend Stanley R. Ladson, Sr. delivered the sermon; the text was “Together We Stand and Divided We Fall.” On that afternoon Dedication Services were held at the hour of 2:30 PM, Reverend Lewis Gunter, Pastor of Gunter’s Chapel Baptist Church delivered the message. From this point, we went on our way praising the Almighty God in the fullness. Things did not always seem up, but Reverend Ladson had the determination to hold out. Sometimes rising and falling but he kept on saying, “If I Hold Out, God Is Able to Work It out.”
On Sunday, April 3, 1983, Reverend Dr. W.H. Neal came in and gave Organizational Arrangement Services. The text was “On This Rock I Will Build My Church and The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against It.” Attendees were Reverend Stanley R. Ladson, Sr., clerk, Reverend Louise S. Goodwin and Reverend James Ladson, Sr., assisting.
In 1983, the church purchased 2.25 acres for the amount of $5,625 from Mr. M.B. Swindler and Mr. Ray Turner. On the Second Sunday in June 1989, The Ladson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church was blessed to move into our new church edifice located at 7156 Cabin Creek Road, Hopkins, South Carolina.
On April 3, 1994, the first Sunday, we burnt the first mortgage of $60,000.00 on the church building. On December 22, 1996, the third Sunday we burnt the second mortgage of $20,000.00 that purchased 4.9 acres of land to combine to the church’s 2.25 existing acres, totaling 7.15 acres of land.
Under the leadership of Pastor Stanley Roy Ladson, Sr., it was identified that much controversy had arose all over the world concerning the name of churches, so it was at the request of Pastor Ladson that on Wednesday night, April 15, 1998 that all the members of this congregation attended Prayer and Bible Class and Pastor Ladson taught from St. Matthews 28:20 and Exodus 20:3, A church name is the only way of identifying it, or its location and that the power is not in the name of the church, but in the name of Jesus. Always remember it is not what the name of the church is that should concern us but what is going on in the inside of the church and that the danger is when a congregation worships a name or person rather than God.
In September of 1998, the Ladson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church breaks ground for a new addition and renovations. On the Sunday, August 8, 1999, the Lord blessed and we rededicated the church building and dedicated the New Family Life Center and the parking lot.
These facilities were put here for the purpose of religious development, harmony, and Christian courtesy, without interrupted activities that would be done by rude or ungodly conduct. For these things, we have done through his power, by His power and for His glory.
On Sunday, April 9, 1999, the cornerstone was laid on this edifice.
During the first 17 (seventeen) years of this churches development stages, 1982 – 1999 under the leadership of Pastor Stanley Roy Ladson Sr., a progressive leader, the church purchased 2.25 acres of land and built the first building. Another purchase of 4.9 acres was made and paid for before renovations on the first church building was made and the building of the Family Life Center, along with a paved parking lot was constructed, and presently we are striving for the cause of Christ and holiness, the advancement among the church family in knowledge and holiness.
