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School Ministries of Spartanburg County was started through great conviction and much prayer by the late Mrs. Margaret Bridges. In the latter part of 1998, Mrs. Bridges was grieved by the decision to remove prayer from public schools.

 

Mrs. Bridges began to pray specifically that God would use her to help reverse that decision.  In her prayer time with the Lord, she was greatly burdened by the decision and asked the Lord to use her to help change it.  Months later, an article appeared in the Greenville News about Released Time programs.  She knew that this was God’s answer to her prayers and began asking for help in starting the program in Spartanburg.  However, she would have to wait because it was not yet God’s timing.

 

Months later, a local pastor approached Mrs. Bridges to discuss getting Released Time started in our area.  They both knew that this was God’s plan.  She called School Ministries’ national office and was told about Released Time and how School Ministries could give guidance in starting the program in Spartanburg County.

 

Mrs. Bridges began by going to local churches and sharing her heart’s burden for the program.  She asked God to steer her in the direction she should go.  The Lord led her to the North Spartan Baptist Association where she met with Dr. Wayne Dickard.  Dr. Dickard knew that God had a way to allow students to pray and study His Word, and Released Time was the way.  Through further calls to School Ministries, Mrs. Bridges became aware of others in the area with a burden for the Released Time program, but it was still not God’s timing; God had to put His people in place.  Finally, with much prayer, work, and God’s blessing, the Board of Directors was formed with pastors and other Godly people.  Mrs. Margaret Bridges was named Director and the program was named Spartanburg District Two Released Time.

 

On May 11, 1999, Mrs. Bridges presented the Spartanburg District Two School Board, under the leadership of Superintendent James Jennings, with the initial proposal to begin the Released Time program. At the next School Board meeting on June 9, 1999, the board approved the proposal to allow the Released Time program to begin in District Two.

 

The first class started on January 10, 2000, for students at Chesnee Middle School. The site location was Southside Baptist Church where 97 students were enrolled.  Rev. Michael Todd Johnson was the teacher, and the late Ms. Ella Mae Colbert served as the Teacher’s Aide.  Ms. Colbert was also one of the biggest supporters of the program. She was a great advocate and champion in getting the ministry started. You would see her alongside Mrs. Bridges at every meeting encouraging others to support and help in starting this program. Ms. Colbert was very well known and respected because of her many years of service as a public school teacher in Spartanburg district two. Her love for children and their education went much deeper as she desired each of them to know the love of Jesus! 

 

The first curriculum used was entitled What the Bible Says to Me and the textbook was the Bible.  The following year, Released Time also began in what was then called Boiling Springs Jr. High School.  The first operating budget was $26,956.  The ministry was incorporated in July 1999, and the ministry received 501(c)(3) status in June 2000.

 

 After the death of Mrs. Bridges in March of 2006, who had battled cancer for some time, Mrs. Ailena Geddes was hired as the new director.  In November of 2011, the ministry changed its name from Spartanburg District Two Released Time to School Ministries of Spartanburg County.

 

Mrs. Bridges will always be remembered by the wonderful legacy she left behind in being obedient to following God’s plan to start a Released Time program in this community.  We at SMSC honor her memory each year by presenting a “Leaving A Legacy” award to a faithful person in our ministry.

 

Today, Mrs. Ailena Geddes continues to serve as our Director and Mrs. Beth McKee serves as our Administrative Assistant.  We are currently offering classes to Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary, Shoally Creek Elementary, Boiling Springs Middle, Chesnee Middle, and Rainbow Lake Middle schools with plans for further growth into additional schools as the Lord guides and opens the doors to present the gospel of Jesus Christ, promote Christian development and discipleship, and provide quality biblical instruction to every student we are blessed to serve.