Our Mission

Vision: To influence the culture in South Carolina with the compelling and culturally relevant truth found in God’s Word.

Mission: To equip disciples of Jesus Christ to become disciple-makers within their culture.

Mission Verse: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (HCSB)

Core Values:

  1. Organic Growth – “Growing as you’re going”
  2. Generational Discipleship – “Reproducing yourself in others”
  3. Concentric Missions Focus – “From local to global”
  4. Nurturing & Celebrating Spiritual Milestones – “From where you are to where God wants you to be”
  5. Teaching God's Word – “…the truth will make you free”
  6. Remembering that it’s His church – “I will build My church….I am with you always”

Strategies:

  1. Culturally-relevant Bible Teaching and discipleship
  2. Relaxed worship environment
  3. Regular social fellowship
  4. Focused ministries to others in need
  5. Generous giving to missions

Meet The Pastor

Clayton Houchins, Pastor
After becoming a Christian at the age of 7, and with a clear sense of calling as a young man, Clayton studied theology in college for 4 1/2 years. With a deep love for God’s Word, a deep burden for our culture, and after worshipping and serving in local churches for many decades, on January 4, 2015 Clayton, along with his wife, Hope, stepped out on a new journey to pursue a long desire to build and lead a local church. Employed in the IT industry for over 20 years, Clayton is a bi-vocational pastor who recognizes the need for Christians to influence and affect the culture around them with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. You can email Clayton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Story Behind The Name

For many years, Clayton has said that when he starts a church he's going to go through the phone book and count how many churches are in Spartanburg County, add one number to it and that'll be the name. If there are 290 churches, the name of the church will be Church 291.

​​When Clayton and Hope knew that ​​the Lord had given them the green light and set their efforts to plant a church in motion, Hope googled "How many churches are in Spartanburg County?" Superpages.com returned 246 results. Hope sent a text to Clayton that said, "Church 247." Immediately the significance of that number confirmed God's hand and direction. Clayton's mantra has always been that the church doesn't have four walls or a brick casing or a steeple or pews. We are the church. And we are to be the church around the clock, 24-7.

Church 247, we love it!​​