Griggs Church (Digital) Cookbook

For our 10 year celebration of church revitalization, we put together a church cookbook filled with recipes, articles, and a whole lot of church history.

We’re thankful to everyone who contributed and served on this project. It ended up being even cooler than we expected and we’ve heard many people have been asking for extra copies of the cookbook.

Though we are limited in how many copies we can produce due to cost, anyone and everyone can now flip through the Griggs Church Cookbook any time, any where because it’s online in bookform.

You can find the Digital Griggs Church Cook book here:

Or, if you’d prefer to download a PDF of the Cookbook you can do that as well:

Vintage Mill Village Postcards

Check out these authentic, vintage postcards from the west side of Greenville, SC.

Each mill produced postcards to send back to friends and loved ones you moved away from when you came down south for mill life. They were particularly popular between the 1920s-1950s and often highlighted the vastness of the mills, showing the inside of the weave rooms or the outside, sprawling villages. You can still find them in digital archives, collectibles websites, and ebay. Do you think we should bring these back?

Finding Fhinny’s

All photos by IsaacCropsey.com

Charmingly old school, authentic through and through

On Easley Bridge Road there is a hidden gem called Fhinney’s Buffet. Owned by Raymond Atkins, this community-minded restaurant is satisfying hunger seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Fhinney’s is a place that feels like home, and all the cooking there tastes like it’s from home. When you walk in from the back door, you’re instantly greeted by the smell of comfort food.

You don’t have to pay yet, you don’t have to start by finding your seat — your sole job is what you came for: to grab a plate and go through the line. Before going through the line, everyone has to sanitize their hands and put on gloves. The place is always focused on health and cleanliness. Then you can find a seat and pay as you leave.

The buffet starts with a salad bar, moves on to soul food staples, and finishes off with a couple of options for dessert. When the Saltbox team went by the other day, for the second time (we made excuses to keep going back for “research purposes” for this article), there was some sort of Oreo pudding dessert. We each had two of those. 

Besides the everyday offerings of fried chicken, greens, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and sweet tea, they also run a lot of daily specials, which they keep their customers meticulously up to date on via social media.

“It’s shrimp and fish Friday at Fhinney’s,” one post says. “We have chops on the buffet today,” says a reel from last week.

The giant chalkboard menu at Fhinny’s.

Additionally, Fhinney’s is known for being authentically Southern. You can get fried okra, chicken liver, and, on Mondays, pig feet.

Fhinney’s is the type of place where you get to know both the other people who frequent the joint and the wait staff. We talked a good bit with the staff, and all of them were super friendly and loved working there. We also talked a good bit with Raymond’s daughter, who was doing a great job running things and, we found out, had made that Oreo dessert we loved so much. Our compliments to the chef.

Another big reason to love Fhinney’s is their love for their neighborhood. Situated on the edge of Welcome (A neighborhood on the West Side of Greenville), they’re located on a homeless corridor. When they close up shop at 6 p.m., they offer the leftovers in to-go boxes to the unhoused community. In fact, if you drive by at about 6:30 p.m., you’ll see a line of people in need out the front door, glad Fhinney’s is there—and that Fhinney’s cares.

Like we said, Fhinney’s is a hidden gem, and it will always have that feel. But we at Saltbox hope to make it a little less hidden.

Fhinney’s is located at 1712 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville, SC 29611, and is open seven days a week. They serve breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Every other day they’re open for lunch and dinner. You can order online or book them for catering at Fhinney.com.

A Fhinny’s staff member in the middle of a shift.

The Whole Story: A Griggs Groups Study

Something New-ish

It’s 2026 and we’re excited to kick off a fresh season of Griggs groups.

In one sense, we’re doing what we’ve always done. We’re meeting on Wednesday nights, in our building, worshiping together, then breaking up into groups all over the property to discuss the scriptures.

In another sense, we’re doing something new. Usually, we pick a book of the Bible and read through that book chapter by chapter until we finish it. This Spring, however, we’re reading select chapters all throughout the Bible so that we can get a birds eye view of the scriptures overarching story — the story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

Here’s our reading plan for Spring 2026

There are 3 main reasons we’re doing this

1. The Bible Tells One Story

The Bible is written in such a way to tell one, big, grand, overarching story and that is the story of God rescuing and restoring his sinful people through his Son Jesus.

Jesus himself is the one who taught us this. After his resurrection, Jesus meets up with some of his disciples who are walking away from Jerusalem, heading back home, and confused about the crucifixion of their Leader. They don’t really get that the climax of the story had come at Golgotha and the opening of the Garden Tomb. So Jesus fills them in…

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. - Luke 24:25 ESV

Yes, there are hundreds of mini-stories but they’re like pieces of a puzzle that ultimately serve us when they’re put together in such a way that reveals the big picture.

If we don’t have a firm grasp on the big picture and the grand story, most of the little pieces of the puzzle will make no sense to us and our daily devotions will be filled with confusion rather than filled with good news.

2. To Strengthen Our Biblical Literacy

Biblical literacy is our ability to navigate the scriptures as a whole. It’s understanding where we’re at in the story when reading a given passage. It’s being able to see and interpret a passage in light of it’s context within God’s grand narrative.

If we go to read Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” — and we don’t know where we’re at in the story, we can mis-interpret this verse to mean that we can get rich, become president, or see our highschool football team win the championship.

However, if we realize this verse comes…

• after God’s promise to send a suffering savior in Isaiah 53

• after the death and resurrection of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

• after the starting of the church in Acts 2

• and in the middle of the apostles struggle to reach the uttermost parts of the earth with Jesus’ gospel…

Then we interpret it much differently. Now, we see that it means we can hold onto our mission even if we’re suffering persecution - which is, at least in part, what the verse actually means.

We want to be a church that rightly interprets every verse, thus we must be constantly re-establishing our knowledge of the Bible as a whole.

3. To strengthen our faith

Understanding the big story of the Bible grounds our faith. Christianity is not built on vague spirituality or moral improvement, but on real events in history. What’s promised in Genesis actually happens in Exodus. What’s prophesied in Isaiah actually happens in Matthew. All this despite all our sin and Satan trying to actively sabatoge God’s plan.

Seeing how all the Biblical moments throughout all of human history connect, strengthens our confidence in the gospel.

Knowing things like this — That the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament — guards us from a distorted faith.

If we don’t know this, we isolate verses from the Old Testament, and we unintentionally harm our hearts along with the hearts of others.

For example, we may be tempted to think God will crush us, because like Achan, in Joshua 7, we have stolen something. Or maybe we see that Achan was sentenced to death by God in Joshua 7, and we start to wonder if we even want to believe in or follow a God that is so harsh with law-breakers.

Walking through the whole narrative reminds us what God truly is like. God graciously and powerfully provided victory for Achan and all of Israel, knocking down the walls of Jericho (in Joshua 6) Himself. Yet Achan chose to disregaurd God’s provision and enrich himself, even at the risk of hurting others, after seeing such an astounding miracle with his own eyes.

In Joshua 7 we do see that God has wrath for sin but also love for sinners. The New Testament reveals how he (God the Son) was crushed for us, forgiving us for everything we’ve stolen. That we can trust him because he came to seek and to save the lost and have mercy on those who have broken God’s laws. You have to know the whole story to know the whole of God’s nature and character.

So that’s what we plan to do. To go through the whole story…

Over these 15 weeks, we’ll move from the beauty of creation, through humanity’s fall, into God’s covenant promises, and ultimately to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We’ll see the birth of the church, the spread of the gospel, the ongoing struggles of God’s people, and the sure promise of coming glory.

This story doesn’t just explain the past—it gives meaning to the present and hope for the future. It tells us who God is, who we are, and what He is doing in the world right now.

• If you’ve ever felt like you only know pieces of the Bible, this study is for you.

• If you’ve ever wondered how the Old Testament connects to the New Testament, this study is for you.

• If you’re longing for a deeper, more rooted faith that can withstand suffering and doubt, this study is for you.

We invite you to join us as we walk through the story of redemption together—not as spectators, but as people who have been written into the story by grace. Because, In Jesus, it has become our story too.

We’ll leave you with these quotes from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones; a resource we can whole-heartedly recommend to ALL ages…

Cannon Balls and Community

Alden enjoying his time at Water Park Night 2025. All photos by IsaacCropsey.com

 How Water Park Night became a Summer Staple

How do one-time events end up becoming annual Griggs traditions? We ask ourselves that often–as it feels like we’re always stumbling upon new traditions.

Typically, it's because we had an idea that seemed out of reach—but we were willing to try it. Then we did try it, and it went pretty well, so we tried it again. Next thing we know, it’s on our annual calendar. 

That's the story behind Water Park Night which we just held for the 3rd Summer in a row. Julia Henderson, our children's minister, was looking for a summer kick-off event and asked our neighborhood kids what they would want to do. They asked if swimming was an option. So Julia started researching and came up with the idea of renting out the Greenville County water park on the West Side and inviting the whole neighborhood.

We weren't sure exactly how it would go, but we figured we'd give it a shot. It ended up being one of the most fun and missional events we had hosted in a while.

Neighborhood Network kids pose for a photo.

The water park we're talking about is 7th Inning Splash Park. There's a great splash pad, plenty of giant umbrellas, and a slide that basically gives you the sensation of being flushed down a massive drain. It's amazing (and very reasonably priced to rent out for a two-hour time slot).

We have to rent it out to make the outreach happen because we bring a bunch of kids and teenagers on our church vans, and we need to know we leave with the same number of kids we started with. It's hard enough to keep an eye on some of our kiddos on land, let alone in water.

Yet, it ends up being a pretty stress-free event for our leaders—because when you rent out the water park, it comes with about a dozen lifeguards. So our leaders are free to just have fun right alongside the kids. We are grateful for how easy the staff at 7th Inning Splash makes it to bring in a large group.

In fact, the hardest thing about Water Park Night is reminding kids to bring their own money for the concession stand, since entrance is free. The first year, we made the mistake of getting one kid an ice cream cone from concessions. Before we knew it, we had to buy like fifty of them—because once you say yes to one kid, you can't really say no to the next. This year, Julia started bringing extra snacks with her. Great stewardship, Julia.

Neighborhood Network kids in the splash pad.

One thing that surprised us was how many people took us up on our offer to come out for an evening swim. We don't have to advertise Water Park Night very heavily to attract a good-sized crowd from the neighborhood. That’s because it’s more than a free ticket to the water park, it’s a call to community, and a chance to connect with your neighbors and, in our experience, people are craving that kind of opportunity. 

A lot of families join us, a lot of our kids' parents come, and it gives us a great chance to get to know many of our neighbors in Jesus’ name. That was one of the major signs that this would become a yearly thing.

Julia says, "What I loved about Water Park Night was so many families came out together, and it gave us a chance to connect with the parents as well as the kids. And, of course, the kids had a blast—so they asked about it as we approached the next summer."

Like we said, we've now gone three years in a row, and we're one of the first groups the water park calls in the fall to make sure we're booked for the next year. So, we will be back.

What ministry idea do you have that seems kind of tricky? Try it! If it tanks, try something else. 

If it goes well—congratulations. You’ve just uncovered a new tradition.

Cam, a long time Neighborhood Network kid, going down the giant slide.

The Need for the Table

Griggs Members Eating Together on a Summer Wednesday Night. All photos by IsaacCropsey.com

How we started eating together each week through the summer months

Around our third or fourth year of church revitalization, we started what we now call Griggs Groups—small gatherings of men and women who meet to talk about the Christian life and pray for one another.

Very quickly, these groups replaced our Wednesday night service, where they remain today. We all meet in the sanctuary for a couple of songs and then spread out across the building for group time.

At first, things were a little awkward—like any new group setting can be—but the growth that came from these gatherings was undeniable. They helped us spiritually in ways we didn’t expect and became far more meaningful than we imagined.

After a couple of years, we decided to pause Griggs Groups during the summer. Attendance tends to fluctuate that time of year as people tend to travel more while their kids are out of school, making it difficult for group leaders to plan. So we thought we’d return to a traditional Wednesday night service until fall.

Not everyone liked the idea. Some had grown deeply through their group and didn’t want to take a break. For them, the thought of only doing groups nine months out of the year felt like something vital was missing.

That summer showed us just how much we needed community. We’d always known it was important, but we didn’t realize how much until it was gone.

In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,

“The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged; for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth.”

After several people mentioned missing their groups, our Griggs Groups Director, Kaitlyn Matthews, came up with a compromise. We’d keep our summer worship services, but afterward, a small group of young adults would meet in Rogers House to go through the Gospel of Mark together. If you wanted to eat, you could grab takeout and bring it with you.

That little group grew fast. More people started attending, and before long, everyone was asking about “the group that eats together after the service.” Eventually, I told Kaitlyn, “We’re going to have to open this up to the whole church.”

And we did.

The teaching portion of those evenings reintegrated back into our summer Wednesday night services, where we began intentional summer preaching series taught by different men from our congregation. The meal portion turned from a “BYO Fast Food” situation into a churchwide potluck, hosted each week by a different small group.

It was a hit. It met our need for community, and another deep need—the need for a seat at the table—whcih is a visible reminder of what’s happening spiritually when we’re in community.  

Bonhoeffer also wrote,

“At table we are to receive the visible, daily proof of God’s goodness with thanksgiving. Thus the table fellowship becomes a sign of the new community that has been created in Jesus Christ.”

Griggs Members Serving One Another.

That summer, Rogers House was full every Wednesday night. The next year, we decided to plan for it intentionally. Each Griggs Group took one week to prepare and serve dinner for the whole church. We even added outdoor seating because more than 60 people were staying after to eat together.

It soon stopped feeling like a “break” from groups and more like a different expression of the same thing—fellowship, encouragement, and care for one another.

I knew the Lord had met our need when one member called the dinners his “big small group.”

There’s something powerful about the whole church eating together after worshiping together. It’s a gift from heaven administered by the Holy Spirit.

And it’s not just a gift for those who eat, but also for those who serve. Preparing food for your church family after serving them in worship and preaching is a simple and beautiful way of following Jesus, who taught us to care for one another both physically and spiritually.

The feeding of the soul and the feeding of the body belong together. It brings a fullness you can’t quite explain—but you know it when you experience it. And God has allowed us to experience it again and again—each week, each summer, each year.

Manna Ministry

Calvary First’s Faithful Food Pantry

Members of Calvary First ready to serve groceries to anyone and everyone. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Every Tuesday morning, just before 7 a.m., Randy Drew and Tommy Ross pull up to their longtime home church, Calvary First Baptist, and unlock the doors to one of its buildings. “Sometimes there are people already waiting outside when we get here,” Tommy says. And that’s notable, since the doors don’t officially open to the public until 8:30 a.m.

Inside, a line of tables, shelves, and a commercial walk-in refrigerator are stocked with groceries from church volunteers, donations from other congregations, and supplies from their main partner—a local nonprofit called Loaves and Fishes, which specializes in food rescue. According to Loaves and Fishes, “Food rescue is the practice of collecting edible but surplus or unsold food that would otherwise go to waste. We collect and redistribute it where it is needed most.”

By the time Manna Ministry opens, the line often wraps around the building. “We serve upwards of 90 people a week,” says Randy, as he helps a Spanish-speaking mother—surrounded by her little ones—carry bags of groceries to her car.

Calvary First sits just off Old Buncombe Road in the Sans Souci neighborhood, right in the heart of the West Side’s low-income housing corridor, with Poe Mill and Woodside nearby.

One by one, people are welcomed into the building. They grab bags and make their way down the line—past tables, fridges, and shelves—picking out groceries, beverages, and essentials, all free of charge. There’s everything from fresh fruit and bread to toothpaste.

Bread stacked up as part of the offerings of Manna Ministry.

About half a dozen volunteers help guests through the line, restock items, and pray with anyone who asks. Among them is Calvary’s senior pastor, Caleb Walker, who greets each person warmly and invites them to attend church on Sunday. Some have taken him up on the invitation—and even become members.

Calvary First calls this ministry Manna Ministry, a name that reflects their mission. As their website explains, “We endeavor to be a physical and spiritual encouragement to our homeless community and those who need a helping hand.”

The homeless population is indeed a major part of those they serve—men and women from the Poinsett Highway area, Shaw Street, and the wooded stretches of Sans Souci and City View, where a few “tent cities” exist. According to the Greenville Homeless Alliance, there are about 4,100 homeless individuals in Greenville County.

But not everyone who benefits from Manna Ministry is homeless. Many face what Loaves and Fishes calls “food insecurity”—a lack of consistent access to healthy meals due to economic hardship. People from all walks of life find themselves needing a little help at times.

Loaves and Fishes reports that thousands across Greenville County face food insecurity—about 22% of them children or elderly, and roughly 5% veterans. Overall, South Carolina ranks 46th in the nation for food insecurity, with 14.5% of households unable to provide adequate food for one or more members due to limited resources.

A man with bags of groceries strapped to his bike.

What’s the answer to this problem? Simple faithfulness.

Food insecurity isn’t something that can be solved in a single event or one-time outreach. You can’t just feed everyone once and consider the problem fixed.

The church must follow Jesus into the lives of the hungry and stay there—showing up consistently, week after week, in seasons when it’s easy and when it’s hard. Over and over again.

And that’s why we’re such huge fans of the saints at Calvary First, who open their doors every Tuesday morning, all year long, rain or shine. Faithfulness may not always be easy or flashy—but it’s almost always the solution to whatever challenges we face on the West Side of Greenville.  

Randy, Tommy, Pastor Caleb, and the others are making the West Side a little more secure. If you’d like to help them over at Manna Ministry, you can drop off food donations at 8 a.m. on Tuesday mornings. They’re located at 11 Tampa St., Greenville, SC 29609. You can also contact them through their website at www.calvaryfirstbaptist.com.This winter, they’re especially in need of hats, gloves, and socks, along with food items.

Before Griggs Church, There Was Griggs Grocery

All photos by isaaccropsey.com

A brief history of how our church got its name 

Griggs, the church, once shared its name with a grocery store in the same neighborhood — Griggs Grocery.

“Griggs” is a family name. The Griggs family came from North Carolina and settled in Poe Mill. Mabel and “Curly” Griggs both worked at the mill during its heyday, surrounded by the sound of buzzing looms and stacks of freshly woven textiles.

Curly’s real passion, however, was food. He grew vegetables in his spare time, and after long hours working for the mill, he’d wheel his cart around Poe Mill and nearby neighborhoods selling his produce. He did this consistently for a couple of years until he was able to trade in his cart for a store of his own. 

Curly salvaged leftover and abandoned wood from the mill, especially the mill houses which were being renovated at the time. Bit by bit, he gathered enough discarded materials to construct a small building on Conyers Street. He called it Griggs Grocery.

The building which once housed Griggs Grocery

As he started up the store, he also expanded his inventory. The little store offered almost everything the neighborhood needed, and it became best known for its fresh-cut meats. Some mornings, a line of mill workers and local residents would form out the door as people waited to buy groceries and supplies before heading off to work.

Curly ran the store alongside his wife, Mabel Griggs, who could be a pistol. Also, she had a pistol! The stories about her are some of the most memorable in Poe Mill’s history.

One day, a man came into the store drunk and was cursing loudly in front of a few women. Mabel asked him to stop as, in those days, it was especially impolite to cuss in a lady’s presence. When he refused, she took out her pistol and fired a warning shot in his direction. He ran out of the store instantly — and completely sober.

On another occasion, someone tried to rob the store while Mabel was closing for the night. She stated matter of factly that she would not be giving into his demands. She didn’t have her gun with her that time but pretended she did, and the man ran off without a dime. 

Mabel’s toughness was known in Poe Mill. When a few teenage boys once stole cigarettes from the store, she marched to their house and told them if the cigarettes weren’t returned by the end of the day, she’d come back after work and “teach them a lesson.” The boys knew better than to test her — the cigarettes were promptly returned.

Griggs Grocery was a family business. Curly and Mabel’s son, David Griggs, and his wife, Undine, began helping at the store and eventually took it over. They also ran a second location on Perry Road in Sans Souci.

David and Undine Griggs

David and Undine were known for their faith and faithfulness. Even though the store was open seven days a week, David was always at Victory Baptist Church on Sunday’s, where he served as both a deacon and music director.

David was a patient man — calm and unhurried. He’s described as extremely laid back and content to take his time as he fixed problems around the stores or one of his other properties ensuring he got things just right. 

He was also known for being generous. He often helped his neighbors who were in need, giving groceries away or selling them at a discount when he could. Many who couldn’t pay right away were trusted to buy on credit, and out of respect, they would repay the Griggs family as soon as they got their paycheck — often before paying rent or other bills.

He also began a church tradition that continues to this day: giving away large bags of fruit to every church member at Christmas.

Over the years, Victory Baptist Church saw both full and empty seasons — times when the building was packed with neighborhood residents, and other times when the pews were less than half full. During those leaner years, David was one of the people who quietly kept the church going. He gave of his time and resources to make sure the lights stayed on and ministry continued, though few ever knew how much he did behind the scenes.

After David’s passing in the early 1990s, his loss was deeply felt in both the neighborhood and the church. While his family was away in Tennessee taking time to process his death and be together, the church held a business meeting and voted to rename the ministry of Victory Baptist in his honor. That’s how Victory Baptist Church became Griggs Memorial Baptist Church — a name that still reflects David’s legacy of faith, generosity, and love for his neighbors. 

Needless to say, the family was surprised by the new name of the church when they came back, but they were grateful the church chose to honor David. 

Roger Sexton behind the counter at Griggs Grocery

After David’s death, his daughter Arlinda and her husband Roger Sexton continued the work. Roger and Arlinda had married young — around 18 — and for the first decade of their marriage, life was difficult as Roger battled alcoholism. One day, in a hotel room on Poinsett Highway, Roger surrendered his life to Jesus, and everything changed.

From then on, Roger served the Lord with passion. He ran the grocery store and later became a ministry-minded landlord, providing homes for struggling families. He also became a key leader at the church, especially in ministry to children and youth.

Roger purchased the church’s first van and began picking up people from Poe Mill for services — both kids and adults. For more than 35 years, he drove through the neighborhood three times a week, making sure everyone who wanted to come to church could get there. Nearly every child in the community — and their parents — has a story about riding Roger’s church van.

Roger can recall most of those stories. For a season, there was an older lady who would ride the church van alongside the kids. She didn’t appreciate the neighborhood kids as much as Roger did. He remembers her asking, “Roger, why don’t you leave these mean youngins at home?” His answer, of course, is that they were the very people who Jesus welcomes into the church. 

On one snowy Sunday, that same lady called Roger in the evening, panicked. She said she had left her false teeth either at church or in the church van, and that she needed him to find them and bring them back to her home in Poe Mill. 

Roger asked if it was at all possible to wait, since the snow was piling up and it was dangerous to drive. She said, “I have to have my teeth. I can’t live without my teeth.”

Roger asked if she was sure that she had taken out her teeth out at church. He had her check around the counter in her bathroom. She said she was sure they were either in a pew at church or on the church van. 

So Roger went out in the snow in search for the missing teeth, but couldn’t find them. He went over to the woman’s house and, sure enough, they were sitting out, completely visible, on her bathroom counter top.  

This story is one of countless instances that demonstrate the fact that the Sexton family was willing to do just about anything for the people of Poe Mill. 

Roger Sexton sharing stories of Poe Mill history

In the last decade, Roger has led major renovations at the church, including many in the main sanctuary and the full renovation of the two new buildings we acquired in 2020. 

He was involved in every detail — even inspecting each 2x4 at Lowe’s before bringing them back to ensure the best quality wood was used. One of those buildings, which now hosts our Sunday neighborhood kids ministry, has been affectionately named “Roger’s House.”

Though Griggs Grocery eventually closed, the spirit of that little store, which made such a big impact, lives on in Griggs Church. 

We still give goods away. Every Christmas after Fruit Sunday, which is still going strong, Roger Sexton takes all the kids of our church over to the Walmart on White Horse Road. He gives them each a gift card so they can do their Christmas shopping. It’s all worth it to see a smile on their face and know they’re part of the church, where they’re hearing the good news of Jesus week in and week out. 

And, we’re still helping people who find themselves in a bind, just as the grocery store once did. Just this year alone, we have paid utilities bills,  provided  childcare, and bought groceries for a handful of families in Poe Mill. 

And we’re still called Griggs! And still seeking to serve the neighborhood we’ve loved so much for generations.

Roger and Arlinda Sexton hold a photo of David and Undine Griggs

A Look Back at Walmart Night 2025

Walmart Night is a long-standing Griggs tradition started by one of our deacons, Roger Sexton. Our Griggs Church volunteers take our Neighborhood Network kids out to Walmart. The kids get giftcards to use and we guide them through their Christmas shopping. They do get some things for themselves, but they are also encouraged to think of others, so they get gifts for their siblings, cousins, and friends as well. It’s an awesome mentorship and relationship building opportunity.

Donut Time & Divine Diversity

How Griggs started sharing donuts each Sunday and what we learned from it 

In the early days of our revitalization, Griggs had several teaching times each week. There was Sunday school at 10 a.m., the morning worship service at 11, a Sunday evening service at 6, and our Wednesday night service as well.

That rhythm is familiar to many Baptist churches, especially here in the South. It’s a good structure for teaching multiple topics each week — and it works beautifully when a church is large and thriving.

But when your church is in a rough patch, like ours was after Pastor Yoemans passed away, it can make sense to simplify. Instead of spreading energy thin across several teaching opportunities, we wanted to pour more of our energy into building relationships — with each other, with new members, and with the many visitors we were praying would come.

So we made a small but meaningful change. We turned the 10 a.m. Sunday school hour into a time of fellowship downstairs in the fellowship hall. Since it was early on a Sunday morning, the idea of pairing it with donuts and coffee seemed like a natural fit. We called it “Donut Time.” Apparently, we didn’t feel a real need to be flashy in naming ministries back then.

We bought a humble coffee pot — a $20 “Mr. Coffee” from Target — and each week someone would pick up donuts on their way to church.

Each Sunday morning, our people gathered in what was then the fellowship hall. People would trickle in between 10 and 10:30, grab a cup of coffee, and start talking. More and more people came each week. 

Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

It may sound simple, even trivial — but this weekly donut time began to shape a core conviction for our church: there’s no strange mix of people to Jesus.

That truth became clear week after week as we looked around the room. At “Donut Time,” there might be three or four neighbors from Poe Mill, a few homeless friends, some longtime Griggs members, and a handful of college students — all sitting together, laughing, and sharing stories.

To the world, that’s a strange crowd. A mix of people who, on paper, shouldn’t be in the same room. But to Jesus, that’s completely normal.

Jesus always brings people from different backgrounds together — poor shepherds and wealthy Magi, Samaritans and Jews, tax collectors and zealots. He loves to unite those who would otherwise have nothing in common.

This is part of His gospel. Jesus died for our sins and offers to anyone who will believe His own righteous standing before the Father. Thus, as people kneel before His cross, they all do so on level ground, so that no one is superior or inferior to another.

Ephesians tells us, “He Himself is our peace” and that He “has broken down the dividing wall” that used to keep us all apart.

This conviction — that there’s no strange mix of people to Jesus — quickly became one of our hopes and prayers for Griggs.

We realized all the more that, as we revitalized, we didn’t want to become a congregation that was explainable. We didn’t want to curate our programming to a specific demographic and thus draw out a homogeneous group of people. Even if we grew by the hundreds, that would not have been a “win.” Any company, or cause, or club can do that.

Our vision is to be a mix of people only explainable by the presence of the Spirit — a group of brothers and sisters that would seem strange to the outsider, but not to the One who brought us in.

And Jesus has continued and will continue to accomplish this for us in His goodness — even if all we have to offer Him is our five donuts and two coffees.

Eventually, as our church grew and more kids filled the downstairs, Donut Time had to move upstairs to the front porch, where it is today. And at some point, Donut Time was relabeled as our Welcome Team. But the spirit of simplicity, connection, and valuing relationships has stayed the same.

To this day, dozens of people arrive early, linger on the porch, talk, pray, and get to know one another over donuts and coffee. We’ve seen new friendships form, burdens shared, and multiple ministry opportunities with the homeless community of Poinsett Highway materialize.  

Every week, thanks to a slight change we made ten years ago, we get a joyful reminder that, to Jesus, there’s no strange mix of people.

Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Tresa Lyle Loves Where She Lives

“Love where you live” is a phrase that pops up anytime a city, town, or neighborhood is being revitalized. You’ll see it on t-shirts, stickers, and murals whenever a community is rediscovering itself and trying to muster up some team spirit.

But in Poe Mill, we don’t just say it—we see it. And one of the clearest examples is Tresa Lyle.

Tresa lives in Poe Mill, though not quite like anyone else. Her home is the last remaining piece of the original mill property—the old Poe Mill office building itself.

isaaccropsey.com

She’s long been familiar with the area, having grown up on Paris Mountain, and even has family roots that trace back to Poe Mill. In 2005, when she discovered the old office building was for sale, she saw what others didn’t: potential. She bought the property, moved in with her kids, and has been there ever since.

The building is huge and historical—10,000 square feet spread over three stories, with dozens of rooms. While textiles were never made there, this was once the mill’s administrative wing. It even included a convenience store for workers and a space where church services were held for village congregations that didn’t yet have their own building. Walking through it feels like stepping into Greenville’s early boom, back when it was first called “the textile capital of the world.”

Across the street lies what used to be the main mill complex. After it burned down in 2003, its concrete foundation was transformed into a skate park. Over the years, Tresa has loved watching new generations of skaters come and go—young kids learning to drop in, then growing up, and heading to college, or starting careers.

Step inside the Poe Mill office today, and you’re greeted by history everywhere you look—artwork of the old mill by local legend Jared Emerson, a grand staircase, exposed brick, wood, and iron throughout. The first visit takes your breath away.

Downstairs stretches one of the longest hallways you’ll ever see, lined with doors leading to rooms that serve as studios, offices, or apartments. Each one feels like a loft, with soaring ceilings and unique character.

Tresa’s father was a builder, so she learned carpentry skills early in life. She can handle nearly any construction task herself, which has allowed her to transform the building into something truly one-of-a-kind.

You see that creativity most clearly in the spaces she and her family occupy—especially in the old office of F.W. Poe himself. This corner of the building was where Poe once ran the mill in the late 1800s. The original fireplace and feel of the room is still intact. Tresa added a kitchen, turned the bump-out nook (added later by Poe’s brother, Nelson) into a cozy reading corner, and redesigned the living area for conversation and contemplation.

Tresa sitting in her living room, which is the former office of F.W. Poe. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Tresa bought the building because it gave her a sense of hope—hope for the building itself, for the community around it, and for its future. For the past twenty years, she’s held on to that vision through both prosperous times—like when she had dozens of tenants and a waitlist of artists seeking studio space—and hard seasons, like the 2008 housing crash.

She hasn’t given up because she loves where she lives.

Her dream is to bring hope and connection to Poe Mill—whether it’s retirees on fixed incomes, parents working long hours to make ends meet, or teens trying to finish high school. She wants the neighborhood to flourish for everyone.

And she’s using her space to make that happen. Tresa envisions the old mill office as a community hub—a place for neighborhood gatherings, artist showcases, small business pop-ups, and even Christmas events where families can sip cocoa and take photos together.

She’s ready to collaborate, to host, and to welcome ideas. And she’s ready for this right now. Tresa doesn’t want to wait until Poe Mill is fully gentrified or reinvented with newcomers and new attractions—she’s building community now, because she already loves where she lives.

If you’d like to connect with Tresa about renting space or hosting your next event, reach out to Griggs Church, and we’ll make sure to put you in touch.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

From Sunday School to Higher Ed

Donovan Hawthorne grew up in the Poe Mill neighborhood, where he witnessed firsthand the hardships and complexities of the area throughout his childhood.

Despite having access to the influences that usually steer kids in the wrong direction, Donovan chose a different direction and pursued a relationship with the Lord.

Donovan started coming to Griggs when he was hardly old enough to walk or talk. Roger Sexton, a leader at Griggs for over 40 years, would pick him up on the church van every Sunday. Despite his occasional behavior issues (which were sometimes his brother’s fault) Roger continued to show up every Sunday and ensure Donovan got to church. “That made a big impact on me,” Donovan said as we publicly recognized his graduation from high school earlier this year.

Donovan standing in front of a Griggs Church van, which he rode to church as a kid. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Donovan kept coming off and on through upper elementary school and middle school. In his later high school years, Donovan started attending Griggs regularly of his own volition, pursuing a one-on-one relationship with the Lord.

We have all been impressed and uplifted by his dedication to serving others and attending Sunday morning service. Not only has God opened his heart, but God has opened doors for his future that our whole community is excited about.

While Donovan may initially come across as a strong, sports-only-minded kid due to his phenomenal wrestling skills and muscular physique, he’s found art to be an important way of expressing himself.

He started attending the Greenville School of Art his junior year and received a scholarship to attend Newbury College to pursue a degree in graphic design!

They say it takes a village to raise a child. We’re glad that, in this (mill) village, we get to be the church that comes alongside awesome parents, like the Hawthorne’s, and contributes to “raising up a child in the way he should go.” (Proverbs 22:6)

For many of us attending Griggs at this point in its history, Donovan is one of the first kids we’ve seen enter into adulthood. He serves as a reminder that each child who comes through Griggs’ doors will soon be an adult in our community and we have a chance to influence these future leaders right now.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Changing the World (By Changing the Way We Think About Dollar General)

What do you think about when you’re in Dollar General? Many folks think of only two things: getting what they need and getting out. But there’s something else to consider whenever you enter a convenience store, fast food restaurant, or gas station: the workforce.

What do you think about when you interact with the employees of Dollar General? Again, many folks think of only two things: ring up my stuff and get me out. They mindlessly tap on their phone as they simultaneously swipe their card for whatever they have to pick up on their way to wherever they’re going. The employee goes unnoticed.

Some folks don’t even think of people like Terese when they interact with an employee working for less than $15 an hour. If they do see them, it’s often in a negative light — assuming that they’re working a low-wage or minimum-wage job because they’ve rolled downhill in life and this is where they landed.

Ms. Terese, lying in bed after surgery. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

They don’t see that many of these folks, like Terese, have been fighting an uphill battle and have overcome much to make it to employment.

Terese lives in Poe Mill. She is recently widowed and works at Dollar General. If you saw her working there, what would you think?

Would you think about how she woke up in a small house full of reminders of her late husband? Would you think about how she either walked to work that day or spent a significant portion of her daily wages to Uber there if the weather was bad?

Would you think about how she is thankful to be at her thankless job because, before that, she and her husband were homeless for a while?

Would you think about how you might make her day better rather than being a tough part of a tough day at a tough job?

She is among the best people you’ll ever meet. And you may not only get to see her, but you may get to meet her, and the hundreds of thousands of workers like her, if you change the way you think when you walk into places like Dollar General.

It starts with us all becoming more present in the moment, even routine, mundane, stop-along-the-way moments. Changing the way we think requires practicing awareness in the midst of the everyday.

Awareness means believing that Jesus sovereignly draws us into every place we go and He purposefully crosses our path with everyone we interact with while we’re there. It’s understanding that, to Jesus, the point of leading you to even the most everyday places may not be to buy your life with everyday people.

This is how Jesus lived. Jesus did some of his most incredible works while just sitting by wells, Ubering across the sea, walking down the street to the synagogue, and going out for a bite.

If you practice awareness and follow our incredible Jesus, you’ll realize you don’t have to be in incredible places to meet incredible people or for incredible things to happen as you interact with them.

If you don’t practice awareness, you may assume that a person like Terese is a dime a dozen. Maybe you’ll even assume she has it easy. She just has to show up, stand behind a cash register, and then go home and watch TV. She doesn’t know what it’s like to have a job or a life as hard as yours. You’re unique. Your day matters. Your time matters. Ring me up. Get me out.

Then the only incredible thing that will happen is your incredible rudeness when you verbalize your frustration with her for a decision that corporate executives have made. Or, her least favorite thing, you’ll show her incredible inconsideration when you fill up your cart and halfway through shopping decide you don’t want something, so instead of putting it back where you picked it up, you’ll just shove it onto the nearest shelf.

If you do that, you can be sure Terese doesn’t have it easy. Her job is now even more difficult because she has to run around putting all of your things back in the right spots, as someone waits frustratedly for her to return to the register.

She is thankful for her job at Dollar General. But she doesn’t have it easy.

IsaacCropsey.com

When we met with her recently, we saw that she was not just going home and watching TV. She was preparing to undergo surgery that will put her out of work for 6–8 weeks. She was trying to figure out how to pay the rent until she can re-apply and be rehired by a place like Dollar General. And she was a little worried about going stir-crazy while on bed rest.

We followed up with Terese after her surgery. It went well. We were able to connect her to a local organization that helped her with rent for at least one month so she could just rest. Her grandson comes and visits her. She has a friend coming over to check on her from time to time.

She’s going back to work soon. So perhaps next time you’re at Dollar General, you can see her, meet her, and make her, and her co-workers around the world, day better by simply changing the way you think when you walk into the store.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Lasting Love for a Changing Neighborhood

Poe Mill has seen its fair share of challenges and changes over the years. Among its residents is Trudy Harper, a 73-year-old woman whose life story embodies resilience, faith, and community spirit.

Trudy has called this neighborhood home for over two decades. “God gave me this house. It was a miracle,” she says, recalling how she moved into her two-bedroom mill house with tall ceilings and the perfect screened-in porch for southern weather.

Ms. Trudy on her porch. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Talking with Trudy is refreshing. She is well aware of Poe Mill’s struggles, yet she is also witnessing its gradual gentrification. What does she think about the evolving landscape? She’d rather see houses repaired and restored than replaced altogether.

One of her greatest frustrations is the lack of help available for fixing up homes. As a widow, she can’t physically repair much of what’s broken, and she can’t afford to hire anyone to do it. Still, despite these challenges, Trudy’s joy never dims. Her love for her neighborhood — and her belief that positive change is possible through collective effort — keeps her going.

Trudy also recognizes that one of Poe Mill’s most painful problems is substance abuse. The impact of drug activity casts a shadow over many residents’ lives. But she refuses to succumb to despair. Instead, she draws strength from her faith and her own journey of overcoming addiction.

“God delivered me from alcohol. I don’t worry about alcohol anymore,” she says. “And I don’t worry at all no more because God’s got me.” Her advice for those struggling is to uncover the root of their unhappiness: “Things like jealousy will eat you alive.” She urges people to get into the Word — “Ask God to open up your understanding to what He is saying” — and to live with gratitude.

A proud member of Griggs, Trudy worships expressively. “If the trees can raise their hands, what’s wrong with God’s people?” she’ll say with a grin.

Despite the challenges of aging, she remains active, grateful, and full of life. “I’m 73, but I thank God I still get around,” she says, her resilience shining through.

When it comes to young people, Trudy hopes they’ll listen to the wisdom of the elderly, even when they don’t see eye to eye. “You can love everyone, even if you don’t understand them,” she often says. She worries that older residents are too easily dismissed simply because of their age.

“Young people criticize old people,” she notes, “but young people in this neighborhood are dying faster than old people.” Trudy is right.

Between gang violence and overdoses, Griggs has done roughly the same number of funerals for young adults as senior adults. She dreams of the two generations coming together to talk about life, stress, and addiction — conversations that could change the statistics. After all, many older residents, like Trudy, openly share their own past struggles.

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Trudy is always willing to talk with anyone. In her, Poe Mill has found a person of love — a woman whose unwavering faith, resilience, and compassion inspire everyone who knows her.

As Poe Mill continues to evolve, Trudy’s voice remains an important one.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Remembering Griggs Grocery

With Daniel Franks

Daniel Franks stands in front of his childhood home, a few feet behind the former Griggs Grocery store.

Meet Daniel Franks. He and his family have lived in Poe Mill his whole life (over 40 years!). He loves Griggs Church. He was baptized here, married here, and was close with David Griggs and the whole family. I (Pastor Mitch) asked him a handful of questions about our church, the community, and the old Griggs Grocery store, and he was kind enough to answer and give us an incredible perspective on our history and neighborhood life.

How long have you and your family lived in Poe Mill? What’s been your family history when it comes to the mill?

I can stand on my porch and see every house my family lived in before buying our current house, which we bought from Mrs. Griggs.

My dad, Danny Franks, grew up in Poe Mill. My mother’s aunt lived in Poe Mill, and that’s how my dad met my mother. My daddy always said he would leave the mill hill when his toes were turned up. He passed away in June 2020. I feel the same way he did.

My grandfather went to the old Poe Mill Elementary School. 

Poe Mill is made up of many families like mine that have generational history in the neighborhood and still live here to this day.

How would you describe Poe Mill? What has changed about it over time? What has never changed?

I will say that when you need someone or something done, we all tend to lend a helping hand.

Today, a lot of the old mill houses are being upgraded. They’re more modern now.

I would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t tell a story about Mrs. Tinsley, who lived on the corner of 7th Ave. I struck up a friendship with her in middle school. Mrs. Tinsley would invite me for lunch during the summer when school was out. She would always say that she thought the neighborhood kids in the ’90s were nicer than the neighborhood kids of the ’70s.

Once I asked her why she said that, and she told me a story of two teens putting something very unpleasant in a bag and burning it on her porch.

Later I told my dad about the story, and to my surprise he said, “Son, that was me and Steve Garrett!”

In your own words, who was David Griggs?

David Griggs was one of the great men at Victory Baptist Church (before it was called Griggs). Mr. Griggs was a man who took on many traits. He would work on the rental properties he and his wife owned throughout Poe Mill. He’d always lend a helping hand at his grocery store, too.

What are some of your memories of him?

When it came to church, Mr. Griggs took on the role of choir director. I would be so excited when he would have us turn to my favorite song—page 333, I’ll Fly Away. Mr. Griggs would always check on me during the week. I remember going to the Griggs Grocery Store, and he would give me a Chocolate Soldier drink, a bag of Moore’s Ripple Barbecue chips, and a pack of peanut butter cheese crackers.

And they say behind every great man is a great woman. Mrs. Griggs was a sweetheart. I can remember sitting with her at church while Lil Fred, Robby, and Chad sat in the back row. They tried to get me to sit with them, but I didn’t because I was sitting with Mrs. Griggs, who was giving me chewing gum and candy for being good.

You lived right next to Griggs Grocery Store. What are some of your memories of the store itself?

Back in the 1980s, my daddy brought home $52 a week when he was employed by Piedmont Industries, which sat on the corner of the neighborhood. The rent back then was $30 a week.

Mama and Daddy would take the rest and go to Griggs Grocery to get hand-cut meats and fresh produce. The entire community knew they would be treated with kindness and charged a decent price while shopping at Griggs Grocery.

How have you seen Griggs Church live up to its name and continue the legacy of David Griggs?

Griggs Church has continued to put people first while leading them to grow spiritually. Roger and Arlinda Sexton have provided help to so many families in the neighborhood throughout the years, especially during the holidays.

The implementation of the summer program at Griggs helps our children reach for the stars. David Griggs would be so proud of the path the church is taking in his namesake.

Why Year-End Giving is Important

Griggs Church Summer Staff 2025. They shared their lives and the gospel with kids and youth all summer. Their ministry was made possible, in part, by our generous givers.

all photos by isaaccropsey.com

The West Side of Greenville is a place rich in history, filled with hard workers and local heroes who have contributed to the news-worthy Greenville we enjoy today. It’s also an area facing significant challenges—poverty, addiction, and limited resources for those trying to improve their lives.

Those of us who live on the West Side, and our friends from the East Side, often wonder, “How can we help? What can we do?”

One practical answer to these questions is to support the ministries and non-profits already serving the West Side, especially through year-end giving. 

"Year-end giving" refers to large, one-time gifts made to non-profits, often by corporations, between October and December. These donations are typically motivated, in part, by the desire to maximize tax deductions for that fiscal year. 

However, the term also applies to individuals looking to make a final, meaningful impact with the money they've earned throughout the year. It’s a strategic gift given at a time when most non-profits are thinking strategically, wondering what’s possible for the year to come. A year-end gift builds momentum for the non-profit and boosts them to the next level - enabling them to take big steps forward. 

I didn’t fully understand how catalytic year-end giving was until 2020 when our church experienced it firsthand. By God’s grace and your generosity, we were given a big boost forward. Here’s what happened:

The door to our Storefront church office made possible by end-of-year giving.

The property directly next to our building went on the market for $200,000. There were two structures on that property, a house and a storefront. We could see how both structures could be repurposed for ministry, but the price was far beyond our reach. So we didn’t even talk about buying it. 

After six weeks, no one had even seriously inquired about the property. It was still for sale. We started to wonder, “What if we got on social media and shared this opportunity? What if we simply asked if anyone would be interested in helping us buy the property? It can’t hurt to ask, right?” 

So, in late November of that year, we posted a humble Facebook video explaining the situation and sent out some emails to our supporters. One by one, people started to help us with year-end donations. So many people responded with a gift to our building fund that, by the end of December, we had raised $193,000. 

In the meantime, the property owner dropped the price to $170,000, because it still hadn’t sold. So in January of 2021, we were able to purchase the property next to our building and had funds left to begin renovations on the two structures. Our church was forever changed.

In 2022, one of our deacons, Roger Sexton, and his team fully renovated the house on the property, which we now use for ministry every single week. The following year, 2023, we began dreaming of converting the storefront on the property into offices and small group space. 

Last year in November and December of 2023 we launched another simple year-end campaign that brought in $82,000, along with a donation of labor from a local construction company. By God’s grace, this space is now being used for ministry each and every day.

For our small church, these projects would have been impossible without year-end giving. The generosity of others allowed us to move forward, and our mission is moving forward as well as we now have more space to do more ministry. That’s the power of year-end giving. 

There are a few factors that make year-end giving so potent. First, is the above-and-beyond generosity that comes with the season. At the end of the year, we naturally feel more grateful and inclined to give. Many non-profits notice they take in a significant portion of their revenue in this short season because it’s when people tend to give the most. 

Second, year-end giving is an opportunity to meet specific goals. Whereas regular, recurring gifts help non-profits operate steadily, year-end giving helps them tackle one big need and get a specific, extraordinary project done that they couldn’t manage on just their monthly budget. 

Finally, year-end giving helps non-profits see the future.  These donations allow non-profits to plan their budgets for the coming year, empowering them to dream up bigger and better ways to serve more people. 

If you’re unsure where to give but want to make an impact on the West Side of Greenville, consider supporting these non-profits: 

• Reconcile Community Church: Preaching the gospel in the Welcome community.

• Shelter Skate Church: Sharing the love of Jesus with skaters at the Poe Mill Skate Park.

• Neighborhood Focus: A bilingual community center empowering young people in Berea.

• Bel-Aire: Building relationships in Dunean and Judson through after-school programs and summer camps.

• PMAC (Poe Mill Achievement Center): Providing after-school care for kids in Poe Mill.

• Soteria CDC: Helping formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society through job training and housing.

• Mill Village Ministries: Offering bike repairs, healthy food, business support, and more. 

Yes, there are dozens more that deserve to be mentioned, this is just a starter list off the top of my head! Whoever I missed, I’m sorry! 

The point is that your year-end giving is a practical answer to the questions, "How can we help? What can we do?” It makes a real difference in the lives on the West Side. 

A “Saltbox” house in a mill village on the West Side of Greenville

At Griggs, we’re also praying for year-end support, particularly to expand our staff and thus expand our outreach to our neighborhood. Right now we have a staff of two, but we need to be a staff of four. We have a multi-year plan which includes, Lord willing, seeking executive and outreach ministers.  If you feel led to give to us in this season, we’ll gladly take the help. You can find out everything you need to know at supportgriggs.com/ebook.

I know that God will take care of our ministry and all of his ministries on the West Side.

The needs in West Greenville are great, but our God is greater.

Thus the potential for change is greater - greater than we can ever imagine. Let’s come together and step into what he is doing in this part of town. Plan now, steward well, give generously, and make a lasting impact.

History & Eternity: Revitalization at Woodside Baptist

Photos by IsaacCropsey.Com

In one of the hallways of Woodside Baptist Church, you’ll see a long line of golden picture frames holding portraits of former pastors who ministered in one of Greenville's most historic neighborhoods. It’s a powerful testament to the faithfulness of the church’s people and the grace of God over the church’s 120-year history.

The amazing building, which was rebuilt in 1961, feels like a portal into the neighborhood's rich history. On the walls and shelves, there are nods to the neighborhood's past and the past of the mill itself (which is now hundreds of luxury apartments).

Perhaps the era we’re most excited about, however, is the church’s most recent one: a concerted, gospel-driven effort to revitalize their church and reach their neighborhood.

Woodside Baptist Church

The church was blessed with great pastors, one of whom retired in 2020, which we all know was a very difficult season for churches. Having found themselves in a bit of a lull, but with hearts full of hope, the wonderful members of Woodside sought help with intentional revitalization over the next two years.

They connected with the Recommission Network, a ministry of Rocky Creek Baptist Church that seeks to revitalize and replant healthy congregations in the upstate. Their work has led to the revitalization of a handful of churches, with Woodside being the only one so far on the West Side.

Through their relationship with Rocky Creek, they met their current pastor, Bryce Staggs, who was working for the Recommission Network and is a perfect fit for the Woodside community, having spent a good portion of his ministry working for Miracle Hill.

In 2022, Bryce accepted the call to pastor Woodside and continue the hard work of maintaining their revitalization plan. Since then, he has guided the church through revamping several key areas of their building, as well as the ministry that takes place within them. He’s also been laser-focused on the church’s primary mission field: the Woodside neighborhood.

In 2014, Woodside was listed as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in South Carolina, according to the Greenville Journal. Additionally, it has been known for its high percentage of single-parent homes, which is well above the average of other neighborhoods its size.

Though the Woodside Mill, which was once the largest cotton mill in the entire world, housing more spindles than any other mill under one roof, is now modern apartments with high ceilings that rent for up to $2,500 a month, the rest of the neighborhood still has an average income well below the poverty line. In fact, neighborhoodscout.com indicates it’s on the more urgent end of the under-resourced spectrum.

Though the neighborhood faces many challenges, the people are incredible, hardworking, and willing to come together as a community. Woodside Baptist is doing a good job of cultivating that sense of community for Christ in ways both big and small.

One big way they reach out to their neighborhood is through their block parties. They’ve particularly found much success in what they call their “Back to School Bash.” “We were able to give school supplies to over 100 families!” Bryce said. “We went door to door in the Woodside community to invite families. This way, we knew that supplies were going directly to people in our community. We also had games, food, and shared the gospel with as many people as we could.”

Another big impact they’re making comes through their West Side Crisis Center, which is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:30-11:30. Struggling families in crisis can apply each month to come to the center and gather free food, clothes, and essential items. Not only do they get access to physical help, but the kind volunteers at the crisis center also offer spiritual support through conversations and prayer.

Inside the Westside Crisis Center

One of our favorite ways they serve the neighborhood, however, is a simple table outside the bus stop for the local schools. It’s a ministry opportunity for the neighborhood that they call “Blessings at the Bus Stop.”

They simply give out snacks and prizes to the neighborhood kids as they get off the school bus. This has been so successful that kids from other bus stops have started walking over as well, allowing Woodside Baptist volunteers to get to know many of the families living right around their church.

Revitalizing a historic church is not without its trials. Besides the hard work of reinvigorating their ministry, the church has held 15 funerals in the last three years. There’s a lot of excitement about all the new things going on and the refocused direction of the church, but these members who are now with Jesus are sorely missed. The church honors them, remembering that the labor of members who’ve passed was not in vain. All of it was both fruitful in its time and still fruitful now as it paved the way for a new era of gospel proclamation.

“We want to keep being a church where you can come and hear the Gospel, get into groups where you can learn more about the Gospel, and then be sent out to live the Gospel,” Pastor Bryce says.

When asked why church revitalization, especially on the West Side of Greenville, is so important, Bryce said, “The enemy would love to see nothing more than a church close its doors. God loves the people of Woodside, and so should we! If we, as a church, focus on the will of God, He will do mighty things for His glory. We will get to share the gospel and make sure that underserved families know that somebody cares about them and loves them. Our goal is ultimately to bring people into the kingdom of God.”

Bryce doesn’t have a portrait with a gold frame around it in the hall. Perhaps they’ll hang one up after he retires, or perhaps by then the tradition will have changed. But everything Woodside is doing now is being recorded in the halls of heaven because, in addition to honoring history, they are making an impact in eternity. We’re praying for them here at Griggs, and we hope you are too.

Pastor Bryce Staggs

Advent Series 2025

This year, we’re calling our Advent series “On the Incarnation,” borrowing the title of a famous work by the early Christian pastor and theologian Athanasius of Alexandria.

In this series, we’ll root ourselves first and foremost in Scripture—walking through key biblical passages that explain Jesus’ coming to us as the God-Man. We’ll explore prophecies from Isaiah, the Christmas narratives in Luke 1–2, the Word made flesh in John 1, and several other texts that help us marvel at the mystery of the Incarnation.

Alongside these passages, each week we will also pair our sermon with a quotation from an ancient Christian teacher who defended the truth about Christ in their own generation. We’ll hear the voices of Cyril, Irenaeus, Gregory, and Athanasius.

These men lived only a short time after Jesus rose from the dead. While they might look scrupulous or stuffy to us—perhaps causing some to picture the kind of religious figures we see today walking around the Vatican—they were nothing of the sort. They lived long before most of the church traditions and controversies we have today.

They are often called “Church Fathers” because, historically, they lived close to the time of Jesus’ ministry and the testimony of the apostles. In fact, Irenaeus was discipled by a man who had been discipled by the apostle John.

These early pastors had to confront a variety of false teachers who tried to deny that the Word truly became flesh. One particularly influential figure was Arius, who rejected the divinity of Jesus and taught that He was merely a supreme man—not the God-Man. In response, these faithful leaders wrote letters, preached sermons, formed creeds, and fought for the truth of doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the bodily resurrection.

Of course, if you read them extensively, you will find places where you disagree with them. They were not perfect—and they never claimed to be. We are not saying these men are infallible; only Scripture is infallible. And we’re not saying they were holier or more saintly than any believer today. In Christ, all who believe are called saints. These men are not to be idolized.

But we can appreciate the role they played in preserving and clarifying the gospel for generations to come. And it’s remarkable to see that the truths they cherished are the same truths we proclaim today.

For example, consider this line from Athanasius…

What is he saying? That Jesus is God. Jesus is Creator. Jesus is a member of the Trinity. And through His work—the cross and resurrection—He is renewing all things. That’s the very gospel we believe!

Seeing how Christians throughout history have held tightly to these truths only strengthens our love for the gospel today.

We want everyone to know two things this Advent:

The gospel is ancient.
The gospel is global.

This matters deeply, because we live in a cultural moment where many young people are deconstructing their faith, often out of frustration with the American church. While we should always examine our frustrations and guard our hearts from pride—recognizing that the church would still have problems even if we were leading it—we must also remember that our disappointments with the modern church cannot undo the timeless truths about Jesus.

Christian doctrine didn’t originate in our cultural moment. It has been preached for millennia—taught, affirmed, and preserved across Asia, Africa, and Europe before it reached America.

Church history reminds us that just as Jesus pierced time and space to enter our world, He also pierces through our frustrations and disappointments, revealing Himself as He truly is.

So this Advent, as we consider ancient words about His first coming, we also lift our eyes and welcome the hope of His second coming—whenever He is ready to return.

We are grateful to celebrate Advent together: opening the Scriptures, learning from our Christian family across history, and worshiping the newborn King!

Understanding Communion

Here are some bullet points about communion, gathered with help from our ministry resident, Nate Labadorf.

• Communion is the covenantal meal of the Lord, ordained by Christ and delivered to His Church through the ages.

• The bread is the sign and mystery of Christ’s body, given for us and received by faith. We eat the bread in remembrance of Him.

• The cup is the sign of the New Covenant by Christ’s own blood poured out for many for the remission of sins and received by faith. We drink the cup in remembrance of Him.

• Communion is also a moment to look forward to Jesus’ coming Kingdom, where he will eat and drink with us forever.

• Christ is not divided and His Church is one. Therefore, all who belong to Jesus—whether members of our church or not—are invited to join us when we take communion.

• Communion is only for believers.

• Believers must examine themselves before taking communion, confessing and repenting of anything the Spirit brings to mind like sowing division, worshipping idols, or continuing in any pattern of sin.

• Of course, as we examine ourselves, we see how needy we are, and that’s exactly when we should take communion, giving thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus that meets all of our needs.

• Communion is more than a bare symbol of that sacrifice. It’s a means of grace by which we commune with Jesus through the work the Holy Spirit does when we partake of this sacrament.

A Look Back at FFFN 2025

All photos by isaaccropsey.com