FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Charleston, South Carolina
About
MINISTRY TEAM
R. Marshall Blalock
Pastor
R. Marshall Blalock has served as Pastor of First Baptist Church since July of 1997. A native of Charleston, Marshall grew up attending First Baptist School from second grade through high school graduation, becoming a member of the church as a teenager. A graduate of Furman University (B.A. History), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and North Greenville University (D.Min.). Marshall was ordained at First Baptist in August of 1981. He previously served as pastor of St. Helena Baptist Church in Beaufort, SC, and Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church in the Charleston area.
Marshall is married to Cathy and they have three adult children, all married, and three grandchildren. Cathy is a partner in ministry, serving in the Women’s Ministry leading Bible studies and prayer groups.
Marshall’s tenure as pastor has been marked by an abiding commitment to the original mission of the church, missions and education. First Baptist Church annually gives generously to international missions, ranking in the top one percent of all Southern Baptist churches. First Baptist takes teams at least twice a year to partner with First Baptist’s many missionary families serving in various parts of the world. First Baptist is involved in local mission projects, two church plants in the city, and has opportunities to reach families through the ministry of First Baptist School of Charleston.
In recent years, the Regeneration campaign has renewed the church campus to provide opportunities to reach generations to come. First Baptist Church has made several key decisions regarding properties and buildings during the pastor’s tenure. Among those was the 2008 purchase of 60 acres to build new school facilities on James Island. The beautiful and spacious facilities have created a new home for hundreds of students. The renovation of the original church campus was completed in 2022 with the opening of the new Learning Center which provides nursery and children’s space, a new fellowship hall, and a welcome center.
Since June of 2015 when nine people were murdered at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the pastor has been working to bring racial reconciliation to the city and beyond. He serves on the steering council for Unify, an initiative to bring reconciliation through churches across America. He has spoken at Mission Mississippi, the Southern Baptist Convention, and in universities across South Carolina. He has served as president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and currently serves as a trustee on the International Mission Board and as chairman of the Abuse Reform Task Force for the Southern Baptist Convention.
“In my life I have been afforded many blessings by the grace of God, and among the choicest of those blessings is being a part of First Baptist Church of Charleston. I rejoice in getting to love and serve our people, to preach the eternal truth of God’s word, to be part of a church on mission for Christ, and to rejoice in worship of the One True God together. Our staff and our volunteer leaders are all outstanding, and together we seek to honor Christ and make disciples as we serve our city.” — Marshall
support staff
Lori Putnam
Admin Assistant to the Pastor
843.722.3896, ext. 1
Catherine Brewer
Financial Manager
843.722.3896, ext. 2