Kilbourne Park Baptist Church sits on Kilbourne Road in northeast Columbia, South Carolina, just minutes from the neighborhoods off Forest Drive and Richland Mall. The congregation gathers under the motto "One Savior, One Mission, One Church" and has made a home in this part of the city for generations. Its presence is felt not only through Sunday worship but also through a weekday preschool that has welcomed local families since 1941, a busy Wednesday night schedule for every age, and a steady ministry of prayer that runs quietly through the week.
Sunday Morning in the Sanctuary
The Sunday rhythm begins at 9:00 a.m. with fellowship, followed by 9:15 a.m. Morning Bible Study for all ages, often called Sunday School. Classes for men, women, coed groups, youth, and children meet across the campus, including options tailored for senior adults. Worship gathers in the Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. The service is shaped by traditional hymns and praise songs, supported by an instrumental ensemble and led by the Sanctuary Choir. Special music is offered throughout the year, including a Christmas musical, an Easter presentation, and a summer Patriotic Service. Pastor Terry Smoak preaches from the pulpit, and sermons can be watched online through the church's video library.
Visitors who arrive for the 10:30 service will find greeters stationed at the doors. They will help locate the nursery, Sunday school rooms, restrooms, and the Sanctuary itself, and they can answer questions about the service. Parking is available on the street beside the church and in the Family Center parking lot. For anyone with mobility restrictions, an elevator entrance is available on the Pinemont side of the Sanctuary. Dress is relaxed - suits and ties appear, but most of the congregation wears anything from business casual to jeans, and newcomers are encouraged simply to come as they are.
Wednesday Family Night
Wednesday is when the whole church shares a table. The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with the Family Night Supper in the Annie Greene Building, a long-running tradition that lets families eat together before splitting into age-appropriate activities. At 6:00 p.m., youth gather in the Youth Building for Bible study while children move to the Family Center for play time, then Bible and mission study at 6:15. A church-wide Bible study for adults meets in the Annie Greene Building at 6:15 p.m., followed by Prayer Clusters at 6:45 p.m. The Sanctuary Choir rehearses in the Choir Room inside the Sanctuary at 7:30 p.m., welcoming anyone who wants to lend their voice.
The Prayer Ministry
Intercessory prayer is one of the defining strengths of the church. Throughout the week, members of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry keep watch in the church's prayer room, lifting up physical and spiritual needs. Anyone can submit a prayer request through the prayer wall, and the church will send a PrayerGram to let a person know they have been prayed for. Requests are handled confidentially; email addresses are not added to mailing lists unless specifically requested. The Tuesday morning Bible study by Zoom, held at 9:30 a.m., often focuses on prayer as well, keeping the congregation connected between Sundays.
Children's Ministry
Children are described in the church's own words as "a treasure from the Lord," and the ministry is built around that conviction. Sunday morning begins with Bible study at 9:15 and continues into worship at 10:30, where children are welcomed as part of the congregation. Wednesday nights add a play time at 6:00 p.m. for relationship building, followed by a Bible and mission study at 6:15. The stated aim of the children's ministry is to spiritually care, share, and prepare children for the future, partnering with parents to encourage and support them. A staffed nursery is available during Sunday morning Bible study and worship for the youngest children.
Student Ministry
KPBC Youth meets twice a week and is open to anyone in grades 6 through 12. Sunday morning Bible study runs from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., and the group gathers again on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The ministry describes its goal as making disciples who make disciples, leaning on three biblical pictures for its work: students equipped to articulate the Gospel (Ephesians 4:12-16), students living life together in fellowship (Acts 2:42-47), and students discipled by mentors (Matthew 28:19-20).
Music Ministry
Music is treated as an essential part of worship, not a warm-up to it. The congregation joins in traditional hymns and praise songs, supported by an instrumental ensemble and led by the Sanctuary Choir. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and provides special music throughout the year, including the Christmas musical "A New and Glorious Morn," Easter offerings, and the summer Patriotic Service. Musicians who want to use their gifts in worship are encouraged to speak with the Minister of Music and Outreach.
Senior Adults and WMU
Senior adults have a clear place at Kilbourne Park. The Sunday morning Bible study offers men-only, women-only, and coed classes that connect older members in a small-group setting. WMU (Women's Missionary Union) keeps women engaged in missions and ministry through study, prayer, and service, grounded in Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to keep busy working for the Lord.
Weekday Preschool Since 1941
The Kilbourne Park Baptist Church Preschool has been serving families in the community since 1941, making it one of the oldest continually operating weekday ministries of the church. Believing that preschoolers are a special gift from God, the program helps children grow spiritually, physically, socially, mentally, and emotionally through the Wee Learn Curriculum, ZooPhonics, a Success reading program, hands-on math, and daily Bible stories. Classes are offered for infants as young as six weeks through Kindergarten, with preschool hours from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Kindergarten from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Early care opens at 8:00 a.m. and extended care runs until 3:00 p.m. Optional extracurriculars through the extended care program include soccer shots, art, gymnastics, music, and dance. The preschool is registered with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and follows Richland School District One for inclement weather decisions. The current director is Stephanie Pantoja, with Kari Morris serving as assistant director.
Beliefs and Affiliation
Kilbourne Park Baptist Church identifies with the Southern Baptist Convention. The church points visitors to the Baptist Faith and Message outline of beliefs maintained by the convention, covering the Bible as the trustworthy written word of God, the Trinity, the person and work of Jesus Christ, salvation by grace through faith, the church as the body of Christ, and the call to share the Gospel with the world. The church teaches that the Bible, not tradition, is the final authority for faith and practice, and that every believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ.
The Pastoral Team
Pastor Terry Smoak leads the church. A native of Bamberg, SC, he holds an undergraduate degree from Charleston Southern University and a graduate degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has pastored churches in both North and South Carolina. He and his wife Lori have three teenagers, and in his spare time he enjoys hunting and following the South Carolina Gamecocks. Craig Duensing serves as Minister of Music and Outreach. He and his wife Jane both hold bachelor's and master's degrees in music; Craig taught high school choral music for 37 years while serving bi-vocationally and is in his eleventh year at Kilbourne Park. Stephanie Pantoja directs the Weekday Preschool, and Alise Daniel, who grew up at Kilbourne Park, serves as church secretary. Dr. Kevin McClendon is the Business Administrator, and Julie Gill serves as Church Administrator.
Staying Connected
The church publishes a monthly newsletter called The Voice, and a digital copy can be requested through the First Time Guests form on the New Here page. A mobile app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for those who want services, sermons, and announcements on their phone. Sermons going back several years are posted online with both video and scripture references, making it easy to follow along with recent series on prayer, the book of Romans, and seasonal messages. The church is active on Facebook, and giving, contact, and prayer request forms are all available online.
Finding the Church
Kilbourne Park Baptist Church stands at 4205 Kilbourne Road in the 29206 ZIP code of Columbia, South Carolina. The church office can be reached at 803-787-3371 or by email at alise@kilbournepark.org. Sunday fellowship begins at 9:00 a.m., Bible study at 9:15, and worship at 10:30. Wednesday Family Night Supper starts at 5:30 p.m., with activities for every age following through the evening.