Is to grow in knowledge and love of Jesus Christ and to make Him known to all the people groups of the world.
Is to honor and glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thomas Vaughan
Thomas Vaughan accepted God's call to ministry in the summer of 1999. While attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Thomas was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel and served on staff at a Church plant in Cary, NC. Thomas and his wife Krista welcomed their first child, TJ, in 2001. After earning an M. Div. from SEBTS in 2002, Thomas served as senior pastor in two traditional Southern Baptist Churches.
The Vaughans welcomed their second child, Hannah, in 2004. Shortly after Hannah was born, Thomas and Krista became convinced that God was leading them to plant a new work Church that had a contemporary worship style without compromising their commitment to intentional evangelism and in-depth biblical discipleship. At the same time, Thomas' best friend, Daniel Martin answered the call to vocational ministry.
In 2005, the Vaughans moved to Columbia, SC, and along with Daniel, began to prayerfully plan The Beacon Church. Daniel and Thomas have had the privilege of serving The Beacon Church and the community of Irmo, SC for over 16 years. Today, Daniel and Thomas faithfully serve The Beacon Church as equal, bi-vocational pastors. In 2011, Thomas also began serving the greater Columbia area as a corporate chaplain.
Daniel Martin
Daniel Martin graduated from Erskine College in 1997 and spent the next 8 years working in banking and then in real estate. In early 2005, Daniel accepted a call into bi-vocational ministry as part of the Elder Board for The Beacon Church. Daniel and co-pastor Thomas Vaughan began the planning process and a few months later launched the Church as an in home bible study. Since then, Daniel has continued to serve as co-pastor at The Beacon Church.
Daniel has an amazing wife, Sarah and the best children in the world, Corin, Sophie, and Luthien.
The Beacon Church was founded around three basic principles: Worship, Fellowship, and The Word. We desired to start a church that provides worship that is relevant and enjoyable for its members, fellowship that is genuine, and sound, biblical teaching from strong pastoral leadership--with the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the center of it all. In 2005, our co-pastors, Daniel Martin and Thomas Vaughan, set out to make this vision a reality.
The church began meeting in an apartment as a Bible study on Thursday nights, and then became a Sunday service house church after Pastor Thomas and his wife bought a house in Irmo, SC. Since then, we have met in various places, as the Lord has provided, but no matter where the Lord has sent us our mission has remained the same--to encourage believers to grow deep in their faith and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world who desperately needs Him.
We meet weekly on Sundays mornings with a service that provides relaxed worship and deep, exegetical biblical teaching. Our children also enjoy a weekly lesson that encourages a love and trust of God’s Word. Throughout the month, we hold various Bible studies and other activities including prayer meetings and occasional fellowship dinners. We are especially fond of our Baptism Services when we pack up the whole church and go to one of our state parks to baptize new believers in the lake!
Our desire is to continue the work that we feel God has set before us: to provide Contemporary Worship, share our lives together in real Genuine Fellowship, and to study and share the Gospel truth of The Word of God. All for the glory of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In Essential Beliefs – We Have Unity.
(Ephesians 4:4-6)
In Non-essential Beliefs – We Have Liberty.
(Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22)
In All our Beliefs – We Show Charity.
(1 Corinthians 13:2)
The Essentials We Believe:
We believe that there is only one true God. He has eternally existed in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal and one God. The Triune God is the Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of all creation as well as the source of all truth. He is worthy of our love, worship, confidence, and obedience.
(Genesis 1:26-28, 31; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 10:25-30; Colossians 1:15-20)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was born of the virgin Mary. He became a man, without ceasing to be God, in order to reveal God and to redeem mankind from sin. We believe that Christ died for the sins of all people as a substitutionary sacrifice. He arose bodily from the dead for our justification. He is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father. Christ is the Head of the Church (All those who place faith in Him).
(Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Philippians 2:5-9; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:15)
We believe that the ministry of God the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of sin and regenerates the believing sinner, baptizing him/her into the Church. He indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers believers for godly living and service. We believe that God gives all believers at least one spiritual gift to be used within the Body of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-15; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 8:9)
We believe the Bible is verbally inspired by God. It is without error in the original writings, and It is the Christian’s final authority in faith and conduct.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
We believe that salvation is God’s free gift. Salvation is not earned in part or in full by any human virtue, work, ceremony, or effort. We receive God’s gift of salvation only through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God has delivered Christians from all condemnation and provided every spiritual resource (Holy Spirit, Bible, fellow believers, etc.) needed to live a holy life. In Christ, believers are eternally secure.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; John 10:28-30; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
God has made a way for you to go to heaven through Jesus Christ.
Learn how you can know you will go to heaven when you die.
Sundays @ 10:30am
326 St. Andrews Road, Unit A
Columbia, SC, 29210
Mailing Address:
390 Poets Walk
Irmo, SC, 29063