Somewhere in time between midnight December 31, 1995 and the beginning of a new year, January 1, 1996; God birthed into Pastor Teresa L. Bufford’s (formerly Teresa L. Reeves) spirit that He was going to use her to plant a church in which she would pastor.  God also told her that a predominantly Caucasian membership church would be instrumental in the founding of the new church.  Not fully understanding how God was going to manifest this miracle, Pastor Bufford believed God and sought Him daily for a direction to fulfill this “Divine Call”.

On May 1, 1996, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Bufford contacted the Reverend Kim Strong of the St. Paul United Methodist Church (predominately Caucasian membership) located on 503 Vardry Street, Greenville, South Carolina.  She inquired about leasing space in their educational building to house a new beginning ministry.  To Pastor Bufford’s surprise, Reverend Strong was very receptive to the idea and presented her proposal to the church board.  On May 21, 1996, the board met and voted favorably to lease their chapel located on 503 Vardry Street and whatever other space deemed necessary to the Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church.

On June 2, 1996, with no committed members, the Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church located at 503 Vardry Street, Greenville, South Carolina; opened its doors to “Whosoever will, let him and her come”.  Four months into history making, on November 24, 1996, with 31 members on church role, the Bethel church family marched into their very own sanctuary located at 13 Piedmont Avenue, Greenville, South Carolina.  Pastor Bufford’s testimony is that she was born, reared and educated in Greenville, South Carolina; but she had no knowledge of Piedmont Avenue until God led her down the road one work day to find what became known as Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church.

Pastor Bufford often states that she does not consider herself the best preacher, but she is confident that the Lord called her to pastor with a teaching and prophetic mantle.  Her first love in ministry is to stand flat-footed and teach the uncompromising word of God.  

The Bethel church family can testify with evidence that God speaks prophetically through this vessel known as Pastor Teresa L. Bufford.  After celebrating 2 years of church ministry, Pastor Bufford stood in church conference in January 1999 and emphatically stated that the Lord had spoken to her and told her that the church was not to celebrate another church anniversary for the next 2 years.  She told us that she heard the Lord say that He would give the church a celebration in the year 2001, and the celebration would be more than just marking time of another year passing. In addition, God was going to give the church something to celebrate.

In October 2000, when articulating the church vision for the year 2001, Pastor Bufford conveyed to the church body that she believed God was going to give them land to construct a new church facility somewhere between Simpsonville and the Laurens County line.  Between October 2000 and early March 2001, it appeared as though the June 2001 celebration would be nothing more than another year of marking time.  Pastor Bufford soon learned that land between the Simpsonville and Laurens County line was the most sought after land and quite costly with lots selling in tens of thousands of dollars and acres selling in the hundred thousands to millions of dollars.  Pastor Bufford did not become discouraged. She continued to encourage the people through sermons of hope that God would come through.  By the beginning of March, she began telling the congregation that God would come through even if it would be in the final hour before the 5th church anniversary.  June 3, 2001was vastly approaching and the hopes of purchasing land as it was prophetically spoken were growing dim.

For months, Pastor Bufford drove the streets and county roads between Mauldin and the Laurens County line seeking land to fulfill the vision that God had birthed in her.  Oftentimes, she would ask one of the sons in the ministry to accompany her on her search.  Although, she would search land in places that the sons prayed that the Lord would not say yes to, they continued to encourage her by accompanying her during the search.  Pastor Bufford was so certain of what she believed God birthed in her that she was not intimidated by confederate flags and blatant racial prejudice.

During the month of April, once again, the Lord led Pastor Bufford to a location on Standing Springs Road in Simpsonville where there was a for sale sign on a wooded parcel of land.  Upon contacting the listed realtor to inquire about the purchase of land to construct a new church, the realtor refused to show her the land.  Pastor Bufford being the woman of faith that she is and never backing down on what she believe the Lord spoke to her, “refused to be denied.”   She called her county council representative inquiring as to why her church would be denied opportunity to purchase land to construct a new church.     She was informed by her county council representative that she could not be denied to purchase land to build a church in Greenville County. 

The Bethel church family is a witness that God will come through in the final hour.  At 6:00pm on Thursday May 31, 2001, just 3 days before the 5th church anniversary, the Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church purchased 4.5 acres of land on Standing Springs Road, Simpsonville, South Carolina.  After the purchase of the land, the Lord spoke prophetically to Pastor Bufford informing the church that which He was going to do with them, would be done through a Gideon’s Army and no man would be able to take credit or receive glory for it other than God Himself. 

Upon the purchase of the land, there were church members that left the fold.  Several church members ceased to tithe for reasons unknown.  The finances in the church grew very bleak.   Again Pastor Bufford, the woman of faith never wavered or complained.  She allowed God to have complete charge, as she encouraged the people to follow her example to exercise obedience and faithfulness, and God would bless them to build a new sanctuary for “His Glory!”  Two and one half years after signing a mortgage note to purchase land, the Bethel church family burned the mortgage deed signifying that the land had been---“paid in full” by the hands of a “Gideon’s Army.” 

During church conference in October 2004, as Pastor Bufford cast the vision for 2005, she informed the   church body that 2006 would be the year for them to trust God to possess land that they owned clear and debt free.  At that time, they placed a goal marker in the church for all to see.  Her vision was to meet a 100% goal by the year 2006.  Pastor Bufford stated that upon successfully meeting the 100% financial goal, she would then spearhead the church’s first of a three-phase building project. The church membership trusted their pastor given that she would not reveal the dollar amount of the financial goal.

 On December 31, 2004, the former Teresa L. Reeves joined in holy matrimony to Pastor Bruce Bufford, Sr.  On Sunday October 15, 2006, the newly consecrated Bishop Bruce Bufford, Sr. and Pastor Teresa L. Bufford became one in the work of team ministry, solely, at the Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church.

April 2005, 13 Piedmont Avenue in Greenville, SC went on the market for sale.  There were two offers within the first 6 weeks.  By July 2005, an acceptable offer led to a contract for sale.  The Bethel Family held its last church service at 13 Piedmont Avenue on August 21, 2005.  From August 27- December 31, 2005, the church held worship services at the Best Western Hotel on Pelham Road @ I-85.

On Sunday January 1, 2006, God in His providence led the church back to the location of her starting place – 503 Vardry Street in Greenville, SC.  By March of 2006, Pastor and Bishop Bufford were seeking a building contractor.  On August 31, 2006, H. L. Blair & Associates in Fountain Inn, SC were contracted to construct the church’s first building project.  On Sunday May 27, 2007 @ 1:30pm, a groundbreaking service was held at 2818 Standing Springs Road in Simpsonville, SC. 
The Reverend Sean Dogan (Long Branch Baptist of Greenville, SC), Bishop Charles & Pastor Felicia Johnson (Master’s Touch Ministries of Lithonia, Ga.), and Pastors John and Betty Duncan (Rivers of Life International of Easley, SC) joined with the Bethel Church family in this historical celebration.

On Sunday May 18, 2008 @ 9:30am, Pastor Teresa and Bishop Bruce Bufford, Sr. led a caravan  from 503 Vardry Street to its new home at 2818 Standing Springs Road in Simpsonville, SC.  The momentum was high as the people of Bethel expressed great joy in worship for what God had accomplished with a Gideon’s army. 

 The Bethel church family that began with a vision birthed in Pastor Teresa L. Bufford and absolutely no initial members have proven that “nothing is impossible” to those who walk in obedience to the Lord.  With God in Charge, His purpose at heart, and a willingness to follow God’s divine order. The Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church has been established a “MINISTRY OF DISCIPLESHIP” whose intended purpose is to “Touch Lives Through the WORD” while striving to “Establish a Ministry of Excellence”  that compels men, women, boys and girls to come to know “Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior” and “to know Him in the power of His resurrection and in the fellowship of His suffering”(Phil 3:10).

Pastor Teresa L. Bufford continues to approach ministry from the words of Apostle Paul – “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengthens Me.”  Philippians 4:13

Bishop Bruce Bufford, Sr., continues to direct ministry from the words penned by Joshua – “ . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:15