On Bolt Street in Greenville, South Carolina, Long Branch Baptist Church has shaped its identity around a single phrase: "Saving Souls and Solving Problems." For more than twenty years, the congregation has been pastored by Reverend Richard Sean Dwayne Dogan, a 1998 Clemson University graduate who went on to study at Shaw University Divinity School and later the Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Initiative. Together with First Lady Satreva Dogan, a registered nurse, he has built a church that reaches into its South Carolina neighborhood through weekly worship, midweek Bible study, youth programs, a community food pantry, a weekly food distribution, wellness initiatives, and mission partnerships on three continents.
Pastor Dogan and the First Lady
Pastor Dogan has led Long Branch for over two decades. His civic resume is wide: he has served on the boards of GHS, United Way, SHARE, Greenville Forward, LiveWell Greenville, Senior Action, Generations Group, Pendleton Place for Children and Families, Public Education Partners, Civitan, UNCF Upstate, and the N.A.A.C.P., and was recognized among Greenville Business Magazine's best and brightest under 35.
First Lady Satreva Young Dogan anchors the church's outreach. She coordinates a weekly food bank and a monthly senior feeding program that delivers boxes of food to elders, and has built a "gift of kindness" outreach that supplies diapers, toiletries, dishes, and blankets to families who need them. She also mentors young girls one-on-one with advice and prayer. Her guiding verse is I Thessalonians 4:11-12, aspiring to lead a quiet life, minding her own business, and working with her hands.
Three Sunday Gatherings
Long Branch meets in person three times each Sunday. Worship is held at 9:45 AM and 11:45 AM every week, with a third gathering at 7:45 AM on the first and third Sundays of the month. The 9:45 AM service is also livestreamed on Facebook Live and YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. Children and youth check in between 9:30 AM and the start of service on the first three Sundays of the month, and the King Daughters and Princesses of the King ministries gather at 9:45 AM on second Sundays.
The music program is broad. The Music and Media Ministry oversees five choirs that lead song each Sunday - the Mass Choir, Women's Choir, Men's Choir, Youth/Children's Choir, and Hymn Choir - and these choirs also travel with the pastor to other churches. Copies of the previous week's sermon are available on DVD after each service.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Midweek formation happens online. Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 6:30 PM on Facebook Live and YouTube, with an additional Virtual Bible Study at 6:00 PM on those same platforms. Impact 365, an outreach-focused small group, gathers every second and fourth Wednesday at 6:00 PM on the Bolt Street campus.
A Whole Campus of Ministries
The Bolt Street campus extends beyond its sanctuary. The church operates a Ministry Center that includes a youth auditorium for larger worship programs and gym activities, a Chapel Fellowship Hall for smaller services, and an outdoor Rock Space for outdoor events. Together these spaces host nearly two dozen ministries that touch every age and stage of life.
Beyond worship, the calendar is full. A Food Pantry is open to the community each Wednesday from 10:00 AM to noon. Food Distribution takes place on Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:30 AM. Breakfast At The Branch is served on second Saturdays at 8:00 AM, Intercessory Prayer meets in the Ministry Center on first Saturdays at 8:00 AM, and Grief Ministry gathers on fourth Saturdays at 11:00 AM. Men meet for Bible Study on Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, and the Impact Prayer Call happens on second Tuesdays from 7:00 to 7:30 PM via conference call.
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
Long Branch takes the next generation seriously. Cross Walk Kids welcomes children from K5 through fifth grade and is described as the cornerstone for developing a love of God and his goodness. Princesses of the King serves girls ages five to nine with the motto "the BEST" - Build, Engage, Serve, Teach. King's Daughters teaches and equips girls ages ten to seventeen to become disciplined young ladies of grace and virtue. Boys to Men prepares boys and young men to become Christ-centered leaders through activities such as Super Bowl parties, football outings, and trips to sporting events.
The Youth and Media Services ministry, led by Director Donovan Parks (a North Greenville University graduate in music education who has served youth for more than ten years), connects young people with community partners focused on literacy, social development, mental and physical health, and spiritual growth. Parks also oversees the Media side, which produces audio and video recordings of weekly services. Men of Valor, led by Doug McCoy, helps men understand God's purpose and grow in a closer relationship with Christ. The Singles Ministry, led by Meekie Austin, is open to unmarried adults 21 and older and aims to encourage, enlighten, and empower singles "single by chance, change, or choice." The Married Couples Ministry, led by Deacon Maurice James, builds families around the motto "ONE HOME - ONE VOICE."
Feeding the Community
Food is a daily ministry here. The Food Pantry, led by Sarah Duckett, stocks nonperishable items donated by members and retail partners and welcomes anyone who regularly needs food on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to noon. The Thursday Food Distribution at 10:00 AM extends that hand even further. The Golden Jewels ministry, made up of the church's senior members and led by Shirley Young, supplements those efforts by visiting the sick and shut-in. First Lady Dogan's monthly senior feeding program delivers boxes of food directly to elders in need.
Health, Fitness, and Grief Care
Long Branch treats the body as part of the soul's work. God's Aiding Hands: Health Ministry is staffed by registered nurses, LPNs, phlebotomists, and certified medical assistants who provide BLS/CPR and first aid, advocate for resources, and educate the congregation about diseases that affect the community. Faith, Fitness and Fellowship, led by Deacon Peggy Baxter, promotes healthy lifestyles and hosts fitness classes and a juicing class. HOG - Mind, Body, Spirit, led by Dr. Roy and Dr. Mildred Williams, equips members with tools to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. Grief Support Ministry, led by Minister Debra Smith, provides education, resources, and emotional and spiritual care to those suffering the loss of a loved one.
Global and Local Missions
Hand of God (HOG) - Global and Local Missions, led by Minister Janice Irby, fulfills the Great Commission mandate of Matthew 28 and Acts 1:8 through spiritual, financial, and ministerial support to international partners. Long Branch currently serves mission fields in Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Haiti. HOG - Transition/Transformation, led by Minister Ruby Davis, Freda Melford, and Randy Hill, volunteers with Greenville-area nonprofits to walk alongside people in crisis and to be the hands and feet of Christ locally. Women In The Word Outreach Ministry, led by Minister Matrulene Johnson, opens its arms to women of every age and walk of life, working toward a vision in which "the Word is Activated, the Love is Motivated, Praise is Saturated, and Women are Liberated." The Evangelism Ministry, led by Minister Peggy Ducker, takes the church off-site by going door to door, witnessing in nursing homes and senior complexes, and hosting workshops that equip believers to share their faith.
What the Church Believes
Long Branch Baptist Church describes itself as "Kingdom-Driven, Christ-Centered," focused on the holistic development of people, communities, and marketplace ministry. The church teaches that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God; that there is one God infinite in power, holy in nature, and revealed as Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in comforting grace; that in Jesus Christ "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," and that he was both human and divine, born of a virgin; that he died, was buried, and rose again, ascending on high and pouring out the Holy Spirit; and that the new birth is constituted by water baptism by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
Planning a First Visit
The church sits at 28 Bolt Street, Greenville, SC 29605. The phone number is (864) 235-6205 and the email is longbranchgreenville@gmail.com. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to noon. A Parking and Security Ministry, led by Deacons Robert Sullivan and John Hackney, directs traffic and helps visitors find a space. Ushers and Greeters hand out programs and answer questions at the door. Giving is available online through PayPal, with a receipt emailed for each gift, and worship services can be watched live online for those at home. Long Branch also maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for those who want to follow along before stepping on campus.