TO RECOGNIZE RIGHT DIRECTION CHRISTIAN CENTER OF COLUMBIA ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND DRS. HERBERT AND MARCIA BAILEY AND THE CHURCH FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND BEYOND.
Whereas, having been founded in 1996, Right Direction Christian Center (RDCC) will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary in 2011; and
Whereas, Right Direction Christian Center was birthed in the heart of Pastor Herbert Bailey when he visited Columbia to interview for a management position. During that visit, the Lord spoke to Pastor Bailey, impressing on him that he should accept the job offer and relocate to Columbia for the purpose of founding RDCC. For Pastor Bailey, who had previously had in mind returning to his native state of New Jersey to establish RDCC, this was a definite change of plans. But he obeyed the divine summons; and
Whereas, along with their four children, Chandler, Tyler, Daniel, and Kindra, Herbert and Marcia Bailey relocated to Columbia in 1995. In January 1996, they began a family Bible study in their home, attended faithfully by three other adults and one additional child. These ten became the charter members of RDCC; and
Whereas, in April 1996, Pastors Bailey held the first service of RDCC at Columbia's Holiday Inn Express. By September, the church had grown to forty people at that location. By 1999, the church had grown to three hundred worshippers in two Sunday morning services. God's hand of blessing was evident; and
Whereas, Sunday attendance had grown to four hundred at the end of 2000, and three services were necessary to accommodate the congregation. Pastor Bailey began looking and praying for a new place of worship. Another move, this time to 1230 St. Andrews Road, gave the church more room, but the congregation rapidly outgrew this new space, as well; and
Whereas, while church expansion was proceeding, new ministries were also being added: a Wednesday-night Bible study, women's Bible study, and Wednesday noon Bible study. In January 2003, RDCC launched Direction for Life local television broadcasts, a ministry that stimulated even more growth. Since 2003, RDCC's television ministry has expanded to daily broadcasts in Columbia and weekly broadcasts in other markets, including nationally on the WORD Network and internationally via Lifestream.tv; and
Whereas, the church reached a special milestone in July 2004 when it moved into its new worship center. Within one and a half years of occupancy, the $2 million facility was paid for in full. The church now has thirty-nine acres of land at its Broad River Road campus, in addition to a twenty-thousand-square-foot business facility at 1234 St. Andrews Road, which now houses the church's administrative offices, its community-outreach ministry (My Sister's Closet and The Hub Community Learning Center), and rental space. Presently, the nearby 1230 St. Andrews Road location houses the RDCC Christian Academy and Youth Facilities; and
Whereas, in 2007, RDCC officially opened its new $4 million Family Life Center, used to host fellowships, concerts, community sporting events, theatre productions, and a preschool ministry; and
Whereas, in 2008, the church purchased eight and a half additional acres on Shivers Road, and property in Orangeburg for yet further growth. RDCC's fifteenth year of ministry finds the church with more than 2,500 people hearing the Word in eight weekly services and Bible studies in Columbia, Orangeburg, and Florence; and
Whereas, standing on the faith and strength on which it was founded, Right Direction Christian Center's present congregation "press[es] toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14), continuing to preach and teach the unadulterated Word of God and serving its own, as well as the community; and
Whereas, RDCC has been a beacon of light in the Palmetto State for fifteen years, and, as God directs, will continue its godly heritage and Kingdom expansion in many more years of worship and service. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize Right Direction Christian Center of Columbia on the occasion of its fifteenth anniversary and commend Drs. Herbert and Marcia Bailey and the church for their many years of service to the people of South Carolina and beyond.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Drs. Herbert and Marcia Bailey on behalf of the congregation of Right Direction Christian Center.