Pastor Cameron DeBrew, Lead Pastor, Beulah Baptist Church, Hopkins, SC

Looking Back and Praising God for His Faithfulness

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:09:09 GMT

2025 Financial Summary

Now that we are nearly four weeks into a new year, I wanted to take this opportunity to give a summary of our financial standing after we have closed our books on 2025. As you know, we had many unexpected maintenance expenses last year – specifically A/C units and roof repair. Even with these unexpected expenses we had a good year. The 2025 budget was planned based on an anticipated income of $347,000. Last year our income totaled $372,000 for the year. That is $25,000 more than was anticipated. That is a gift from God and a testament of your faithful and generous giving to the work and the mission of this church. In 2025 we gave $55,000 to missions, missionaries, and mission partners

I am thankful for the work of our Ministry Funding Team and for our Treasurer, Mikey Norris. These individuals have spent many hours praying over our finances and working to figure out ways to fund the work and the ministry of this congregation. We have worked to improve the communication from Ministry Funding Team to the congregation by creating concise, easy to understand charts and reports. These methods seem to be helping based on an increased average giving over the last six months. You can clearly see that in the Simplified Cashflow Chart included with this article.

The bad news is we did end the year with a significant deficit, but the good news is we have several brand-new A/C units that are now under warranty. Much of our Rainy Day funds were used to fulfill the costs of maintenance issues. However, the 2026 budget increases the amount of money we are directing to our Rainy Day fund.

I asked Mikey if he would provide a summary of the past year from his perspective as treasurer. Here is what he submitted:

__________________________

2025 Snapshot (rounded figures)

Total giving received: $372,000 Includes general giving and designated gifts (e.g. Food Pantry, Lottie Moon, Moment of Hope, etc.)
Total expenses: $409,000
Standout: Facilities - about $130,000 or around 35% of total spend
Important figures:
We expected $347,000 of income but we got $372,000 - That’s $25,000 more giving than we anticipated
Planned deficit: - $24,000 ---> Actual deficit: - $37,000
We gave over $55,000 to missions, missionaries, missions partners
For the peace of mind of you bean counters, remember, if you make a designated offering (say, to Lottie Moon) we must honor it.
Therefore, the $55k missions giving testifies to your Kingdom-mindedness in spite of growing facilities bills. Praise the Lord for that fruit of the spirit!

Bottom Line

We planned to outspend income by $24,000 but we spent even more than that. Nevertheless, giving was stronger than anticipated; God provided. I’m confident this exactly how ministry resources should be utilized and am comforted by your individual response to our church’s needs. Thank you!

About the Cash Flow Chart

Monthly, I prepare a simplified cash flow chart and post it at each door
This is separate from the official financial statements
Key differences:
I removed Rainy Day Fund transfers from income line 0093
On official reports, Rainy Day spending is counted again as income (see line 0093 on standard cashflow reports)
This muddies the water and confuses the average reader
My simplified report lets me fix these shortcomings manually.
Ask me about these- I can’t define everything here .

Looking Ahead to 2026

The 2026 budget is approved and posted --> Few major changes:
Planned facilities spend increases from $27,000 to $40,000 in 2026
Rainy Day savings increase from $750/month to $1,000/month

I am thankful, encouraged, and looking forward to a strong new year in 2026. God is so, so good.

Respectfully, Michael “Mikey” Norris II

Treasurer

_______________________________

I am thankful for Mikey and for our Ministry Funding Team in how they are serving this congregation. I am also very thankful for you, our church family. You all have an incredible heart for seeing people come to faith in Jesus and to meet needs. It is my prayer that 2026 continue the faithful legacy of Beulah of intentional Kingdom work.

You can click HERE to view, download, or print monthly financial reports throughout the year.

https://www.beulahbaptist.com/financial

Cameron

VBS 2023 In the Books

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:13:00 GMT

Impacting Young Lives with the Good News of Jesus

Vacation Bible School was a tremendous success! Over the course of three days, we had the privilege of welcoming numerous children from our congregation and the local community. It was an incredible opportunity for us to share the good news of the gospel with these young hearts and engage in meaningful conversations with their parents. Participation and attendance were great, and energy was exciting.

I want to personally express my heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated workers, teachers, and helpers who played a vital role in making this event possible. Your commitment and enthusiasm were truly inspiring, and I am grateful for your time and your contribution. This could not happen without you. Your attention to the children and the purpose of sharing Jesus was amazing. Also, thanks to those of you who spent time talking to the parents and adults that hung around during each evening. Many community families were in attendance, and I appreciate you getting to know them and for making them feel welcome.

Furthermore, I would like to extend a special thank you to Helen Bradley and Pastor Ken for their exceptional leadership and tireless efforts in organizing and coordinating this remarkable VBS event. Their dedication and passion for spreading the love of Christ were evident in every aspect of the program.

Our theme this year was "Meeting Jesus." Pastor Ken taught three specific stories of people meeting Jesus in scripture. Those encounters demonstrated Jesus' power to forgive sin. The gospel message was clearly communicated to the children that our greatest need is to be saved of our sin by trusting in Jesus as our Savior. The small group leaders unpacked each story with discussion and questions. Several of the children responded to an invitation to learn more about following Jesus. Here is a prayer point for you - We have invited those kids to join us this coming Sunday evening to continue that conversation. Be in prayer for that.

We were blessed to have had the opportunity to create lasting memories, build relationships, and impact lives through VBS this week. Thank you again to everyone involved, and we look forward to next year as we continue this journey of faith and outreach together.

A Thankful Journey

cameron@beulahbaptist.com (Cameron DeBrew) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:49:54 GMT

Looking Back on 30 Years

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful weekend you prepared in recognizing my 30-year anniversary at Beulah. It was such a special day for me and my family. Thank you for all the planning, the decorations, the power point, the delicious meal, the sweet fellowship, the “special guests”, and yes, even the entertainment. It was all so meaningful.

As I think about the days of late 1992 when I was finishing up my time inn seminary and looking for a church to serve, I remember very clearly the phone calls I had with J Thompson who was the pastor at aa church in Hopkins, SC. A place I had never heard of and literally a place that I could not find on a map. (Yes, we used maps in 1992). Pastor J was a voice in the wilderness for us as we sought God’s next step in our journey. We had several phone conversations with Pastor J, we spoke to the search committee a couple of times, and we arranged for personal interview. All of that went well and Beulah brought Donna and I down to Hopkins to have some more conversations, pray together, meet some of the congregation, and ultimately present me to the church for consideration as their Minister of Music and Education. Those days and conversations, and faces are crystal clear in my mind all these years later.

That congregation took a chance on me, a 28-year-old, newly graduated, inexperienced minister. They loved us, accepted us, encouraged us, and fed us. We did not know a single person in the community, but we were accepted as family. They became our parents, our grandparents, and our babysitters. They taught us about the church, the community, and the surrounding area. They taught us about life, they taught us about marriage, and they taught us about being a parent. They guided and grew me spiritually. I had the opportunity to be a part of their personal and family celebrations and I also had the opportunity to grieve with them and cry with them. All that grew me as a pastor. Many of those faces are no longer with us. All those wonderful people that invest greatly in this church and in my life. I miss them dearly and wish that they could have been present to celebrate this milestone with us.

To this congregation, you revealed a calling in my life that I did not know existed. You saw something in me that I did not know was there. Through your prayers and willingness to follow God wherever He led, you saw that God had kept Ken and I here on staff for so many years. You were willing to think outside of the box in leadership structure and present me with the opportunity to be your Lead Pastor. Those days, and those conversations were life altering for me. I am writing this article sitting in a chair that I never considered and behind a desk that I never sought after. It was NEVER in my plan to be serving in the capacity that you have called me to serve. You have been patient with me, you have been gracious, loving, and supportive. I am very grateful to you and for you. God has certainly used you to influence the path of my life.

Like the children’s story about the little train that could, here we are 30 years later pushing every day in every decision to know Jesus and make Him known, (toot-toot).

I love you all so much. Sunday was a monumental day for me, and my family and I believe it was a monumental day for our congregation. God is to be celebrated for His goodness and His grace on this congregation for so many years. I am looking forward to the coming days and years.

BBQ and Missions

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:51:40 GMT

BBQ and Missions

There is a lot going on in the life of Beulah this coming month. May brings spring fever, yard work, school coming to an end, Mother’s Day, proms, graduations, and so many other things. We are looking forward to the opportunity to leverage these events and activities to advance the kingdom by presenting and representing the good news of the gospel in all our “extra” activities.

We will be highlighting Mother’s Day, Baby Dedication, and Graduation during the next few weeks and we will be hosting a familiar event with a new purpose. On May 27 we will have our First Annual Missions Fundraiser BBQ. This is shaping up to be an extremely exciting and impactful event. As you know, we as a congregation are blessed to have many Ministry Partners, both local and international, that are working daily to evangelize, disciple, and meet the needs of people throughout the world. We are so blessed to be able to come alongside them in their work by praying specifically for them, by financially supporting them, and by physically assisting them.

We also have several Community Partners that are important to the overall health of the Lower Richland community. Working with these partners allows us to be a part of the education, safety, well-being, and direction of our community, and most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to build relationships with our community and to engage the gospel message to our friends, family, and neighbors.

The Missions Fundraiser BBQ will be an opportunity for us as a congregation to raise money to continue our work and support of these great partners, That day you will definitely enjoy some delicious BBQ, but you will also have the opportunity to meet several of our partners and hear the important work that they are doing and work that we are supporting, There will be a Missions Fair where our partners will interact with you and provide updates and information on their specific ministries. It is an amazing opportunity to have so many of our partners together at one time on our campus.

I encourage you to make plans to attend this event and to invite your friends and neighbors to also attend. I mean everyone wants to eat BBQ on Memorial Day weekend, right? I also encourage you to pray concerning your financial contribution and involvement to this effort. The funds raised will be used exclusively to support these partners and the incredible work that they will do throughout the year 2023.

I am looking forward to seeing you and your family at this event on Saturday, May 27. 11:00am – 2:00pm

Pastor Cameron

Listed below are our current Ministry and Community partners. Look through the list and see the variety of ways this congregation is partnered in fulfilling the Great Commission. Click the links to learn more about each partner and discover specific ways to pray for each one.

Our Ministry Partners include:
Set Free Alliance, Robby & Chrissy (South-Asia), Brian & Cathy Hutchens (Texas), Hans & Brandy Ostrem (FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)- Canada), Pastor James Roy (Bangladesh), Alex & Bethany Tandon (South Africa), A Moment of Hope, Christian Adoption Services , BCM @ USC , Benedict BCM , Operation Christmas Child , Columbia Metro Association , North American Mission Board , and the International Mission Board .

Our Community Partners include:
Camp Cole
Richland District One Schools
Local Schools – Horrell Hill Elementary, Hopkins Elementary, Southeast Middle, Hopkins Middle, and Lower Richland High School

Spring Cleaning and Newness of Life

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:34:56 GMT

Your life – my life needs a spring cleaning.

Why is it around this time every year we feel an urge to clean? We seem to be hardwired to start cleaning up our yards and our homes just as the weather gets warmer and the grass gets greener. We get rid of the old and replace it with the new? New bushes, new paint, new clothes. The former things are replaced, maybe as a sign that we are longing for what is coming. We are anticipating Spring. Warmer weather, vacations, planting a garden. There is excitement and our lives are altered to prepare. There is a sense of urgency because we know that the newness of Spring is coming.

We are currently in the process of changing our Church Management Software and in order to bring our existing data into the new system, we are having to clean it up. We are having to look through every line and entry to see if it is good data or if it is outdated. We certainly do not want to bring old, out of date, inaccurate data into the new system.

If you are still reading, this is where I turn from this pleasant conversation and start meddling in your spiritual life. When is the last time you spent any time looking through your life to see what belonged and what did not belong? My guess is that it has been awhile. The things that are in our Christian lives that do not belong are kind of like the stuff cluttering your closets. We know that it is there, but we have just gotten used to it. It serves no purpose and is only taking up space.

As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the coming weeks, let me remind you as a believer what scripture says about the junk in your life.

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Romans 6:4
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Isaiah 43:19
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

1 Peter 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

As believers, we are raised to walk in newness of life. Newness requires space to grow, it requires full faith in the hope of Christ. When you are in Christ, you are given a new identity. You are no longer your own, you belong to Christ. Here is what God declares about you:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10

Robert B. Kruschwitz gives this perspective: “Christ’s resurrection guides us into “newness of life,” which is life here and now, but with a new, eschatological dimension. We examine everything we feel, think, and do from a new perspective that takes our present bodies, our resurrectional bodies, and Christ’s body (which is the Church) ever more seriously.”

Are you walking in newness of life? Is your full identity in Christ’s death and resurrection? Are you striving to continually identify and evaluate the worldly labels and identities that you are holding on to so tightly? Your life – my life needs a spring cleaning. We are hoarding junk in our lives that is in contradiction to the new life that Christ has called us to.

Pastor Cameron

Raised to Walk in Newness of Life: Robert B. Kruschwitz; Copyright © 2014 Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University

Pray Like Daniel

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:43:42 GMT

Cry out in anguish that the truth of the gospel be revealed.

With Easter only a few weeks away, I want to encourage you to earnestly pray for our families, our community, and our world to cling to the salvation that is only available to us through the good news of Jesus! As I write this, I am also preparing for our Wednesday evening Bible study. In Daniel Chapter 9 , there is a beautiful payer of confession, petition, and praise. It is Daniel pouring out his heart to God on the behalf of the sinful, unrepentant Jewish people. Not only for the sins and rebellion of the Jewish people but also for his own sinfulness. This is a prelude to the prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His arrest and crucifixion. It was Jesus pouring out in anguish and passion a night-long prayer on behalf of not just the Jewish people, or for Himself, but for all the peoples of the world. Just listen to the language of the prayer Daniel prays starting in verse 16: “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Do your prayers sound like this? I must admit that mine do not. I typically find myself praying very selfish prayers that will improve my circumstances, or my health, or my financial situation. Daniel prays scripture. He says back to God the things that God has revealed about Himself and the promises that He has made with His people, Israel. This is how we should pray. We should be so consumed and familiar with God's word that it is natural for us to say back to God what He has already said. To speak the characteristics of God and the will of God for His people reminds us of the sovereignty of God.

I ask you to cry out in anguish for your families, for your neighborhoods, for your community, your state, your country, and the world that the truth of the gospel be revealed. Pray for repentance and for faithfulness. Pray that God would be patient, merciful, and gracious to His people, but with the overriding theme: Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.

Pastor Cameron

Seek First the Kingdom

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 19:40:16 GMT

As believers, we are all called to advance the Kingdom. We are all called to “labor in the harvest.”

Seems like the older I get; the faster time passes. Is that true for you? I cannot believe that we are in the year 2022, but here we are. I am excited about the coming year for our congregation as we seek to engage our community and our world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. For the first time in 15 years, we are headed into a new year without debt! I am so encouraged that our 2022 budget reflects this congregation’s heart for evangelism, discipleship, and ministry.

Our 2022 calendar is already beginning to fill up with many ministry opportunities throughout our community, and many mission opportunities here at home and around the world. We are looking forward to continuing to come alongside of our many ministry partners and our community partner. We are also excited about the addition of several new partnerships that will begin this year.

God has poised this congregation to engage this community with the hope of the Gospel like never before. Jesus says in Matthew 9:37-38 “Then he (Jesus) said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” We cannot approach this new year convincing ourselves that this world will not respond to the truth of the Gospel. Nor can we convince ourselves that we do not have a responsibility on the work. We do, personally and corporately. As believers, we are all called to advance the Kingdom. We are all called to “labor in the harvest.” The good news is that the harvest is not only ready, but also “plentiful”. That means that God has already gone before us changing people’s hearts so that they will respond to the saving power of the Gospel. Our work is not in vain. It will produce lasting results. This verse is saying to me that the church is not seeing the harvest God is providing because we as a church are not laboring in the fields to gather the harvest. The harvest is there, and it is ripe, and it is plentiful.

My prayer for you and for this congregation is that we continue to keep our focus and our gaze on Jesus and Jesus alone. That we “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness...” I truly believe that if we do, God will use us in ways that we cannot even imagine.

May God bless us as we enter this new year with anticipation and with obedience. I love you all and it is a great pleasure to serve alongside of you in the harvest.