Greenville, SC 29607 | 864.271.7575

HISTORICAL FACTS

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The Ministry of Martin-Webb Baptist Learning Center began many years ago. According to the minutes of the Greenville Baptist Association, that association voted in 1941 to begin a joint venture with the National Baptist Church.

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The Reverend Dr. C. F. Gandy was the Moderator of the Enoree River Baptist Association; the Reverend W. M. Lipscomb was the Moderator of the North Enoree Baptist Association; the Reverend P. J. Barton was the Moderator of the Reedy River Baptist Association, and the Reverend J. T. Gillespie was the Associational Missionary of the Greenville Baptist Association. During the years to come, this was one of the few Bi-Racial Committees that met and kept open the doors to racial understanding. Much of the progress of the community resulted from the communications that came about in this group.

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1950 - The Greenville Baptist Association called as its Associate Missionary, Dr. O. K. Webb who served a tenure of sixteen years. Under his leadership, new emphasis was placed on the work with the National Baptists.

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1952 - The Reverend W. P. Whittenburg was called to direct this joint venture. The Reverend W. R. Martin and Dr. O. K. Webb served as the catalyst around which the work of founding Camp Enoree being founded, constructing a building and assisting a number of young men in acquiring a theological education took shape.

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1962 - The Reverend Nathaniel J. Brockman was called to direct the ministry of Cooperative Ministries and the Reverend Daniel F. Page became the Director of Missions for the Greenville Baptist Association. A Seminary Extension program was started along with the following programs being instituted:

• The Ministers Retreat, 

• The Martin-Webb Mid-Winter Convocation,

• A Tutorial Program for Children with Learning Problems, 

• A Summer Feeding Program,

• Summer Arts and Crafts,

• Recreational and Bible Study Programs, and

• a Program to assist families with problems such as food and clothing.

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1982 - The Reverend Donald L. Hill was called to serve as Interim Director and served until he was officially elected during the Bi-Annual meeting of the Greenville Baptist Association.

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1985 - Reverend Dan Page resigned as the Director of Missions and Dr. George Bullard became the Interim Director until the Reverend James Herron was elected in 1987.

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1989 - The Reverend Virgil L. Sullivan was called to serve as Director of the Cooperative Ministry. In earlier years, the director of the center was employed by the Greenville Baptist Association; however, the structure was changed to allow the director to be hired by the Cooperative Ministries Committee (Executive and Governing Body.)

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Reverend Sullivan's objectives for the program during 1989-1990 were:

• To intensify the current ministries

• To train laypersons in the role of leadership responsibilities for the churches and communities

• To communicate to the community the purpose and goals of the center

• To expand assistance to the community through Christian Education and physical assistance

• To seek additional financial assistance to support the expansion of the ministries

• To improve the building's outside appearance and to make the classrooms more conducive to learning and for auxiliary meetings.

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1990 - The American Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Program became a main part of the center's ministry and class size continued to grow during the years.

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1995 - The American Baptist College, formerly The American Baptist Theological Seminary, Nashville, TN, Continuing Education Division, presented the "1995 Unit of the Year Award" to the Greenville, SC Extension Unit, in Recognition of Outstanding Performance During the Year.

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Many ministries and activities have been sponsored by the Martin-Webb Baptist Learning Center under the administration of  Retired (2021) Director, Reverend Sullivan:

• Summer Enrichment Programs

• Sunday School Teachers and Workers Classes

• A Tutorial Program

• Training Classes for Deacons and Deaconesses, and other Workshops

 

2005 - The N. J. Brockman School of Religion was organized and named for the Late N. J. Brockman, Former Director of the Martin-Webb Baptist Learning Center.

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2006 - The N. J. Brockman School of Religion was approved for accreditation by the Accrediting Commission International, Inc.

 

 

HISTORY 

In 1960, the center was organized under the direction of W. P. Whittenburg and Dr. O. K. Webb.

 

Dr. N. J. Brockman was appointed Director and Mrs. Virginia Lambkin was Secretary. Teachers were Patricia Scott, Dr. O. K. Webb, Dr. E. D. Dixon, Ms. Bagwell and James Morrows.

 

The meetings were first held in a two story home on Jenkins Street, afterwards moving to a building on Augusta Street given by the Southern Baptist Association. 

 

In 1974, Moderators Dr. J. W. Henderson of Enoree River, Dr. S. C. Cureton of Reedy River, and Dr. N. P. Pearson of North Enoree along with Dr. N. J. Brockman who was Director, made arrangements to purchase the site of the Martin-Webb Learning Center on Fleming Street.

 

During this transaction, Rev. Dr. N. P. Pearson of the North Enoree Association was Moderator and Rev. John E. Young of North Enoree was Vice Moderator.

 

This center is named in memory of the Rev. W.N. Martin and Rev. O. K. Webb.

 

It is affiliated with the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville Tennessee.