Our History

Our journey as The New Bluffton Worship is one of faith, growth, and transformation, deeply rooted in our commitment to Christ and the Bluffton and surrounding Lowcountry communities. While our official independence as a congregation began on February 12th, 2023, our story started much earlier, filled with milestones that have shaped who we are today.

In 2012, Rev. Daniel Burbage was appointed to St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church on Hilton Head Island, where he began to develop a vision for ministry in Bluffton. He assembled a Bluffton Action Team, created small groups, and initiated our first Christmas Eve Under the Stars at Buckwalter Place—a tradition that would become a cherished part of our community.

After much planning and ministry groundwork, we held our first worship service in Bluffton on February 9, 2014, at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) at 10:30 am. As our congregation grew, we soon outgrew that space and, in 2016, moved to 39 Persimmon Street, Suite 203—a former troubled bar that we transformed into a beautiful sanctuary complete with a nursery and children’s space. Our “Grand Opening Sunday” was on February 28th, marking the day when a bar became a blessing. To better communicate our mission to the community, we began calling ourselves Bluffton Worship.

In 2016, we welcomed Monica Barricks as our Director of Youth and Children. Under her leadership, our youth and children’s ministry flourished, and we expanded to create a larger center for these ministries within the same shopping center. Our congregation continued to grow, leading to the addition of a second service to accommodate our community.

In the winter of 2022, St. Andrew By-The-Sea decided to release the Bluffton Campus, prompting a significant decision for our congregation. Pastor Daniel Burbage, feeling a deep call to remain with the Bluffton community, chose to stay, even though it meant stepping away from his role as a United Methodist Elder in the South Carolina Conference. Monica Barricks also chose to remain with the congregation.

In the months that followed, our congregation formed a board, became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and officially became a non-denominational church incorporated as The New Bluffton Worship, with Pastor Daniel serving as an Independent Ordained Pastor. Throughout this journey, we developed our mission statement to “Worship, Learn, and Serve Jesus Christ,” which continues to guide our vision and efforts today.

Our story is one of transformation, guided by faith and a relentless commitment to serving the people of Bluffton and the Lowcountry. We invite you to be a part of our ongoing journey as we continue to write new chapters in our story, grounded in the love of Christ and dedicated to making a difference in our community.