History of Redemption Life Fellowship

History of Redemption Life Fellowship (formerly Pelham Road Christian Fellowship and previous to that known as Pelham Road Alliance Church)

On July 1, 1944, a store front located at 108 East Stone Avenue was bought for $7,000 and then renovated to become the first Alliance church in the state of South Carolina. On August 13th of that same year, the first meeting was held with Mr. Paul E. Freed leading an attendance of about 150 people. Mr. Freed continued as pastor of the church for only a year. He married Betty Jane Seawell, on October 17, 1945, and later founded the Trans World Radio ministry in 1952.

At the end of 1945, Paul Freed left Greenville, South Carolina and it was not until June of 1946 that a new pastor, Rev. B. Francis Glenn, was appointed. Under the leadership of Rev. Glenn, the church grew too large for the store front and, as a solution, a larger property was purchased on West Park Avenue. The members of the church dug out a basement and built classrooms where the church could meet. The smaller classrooms formed a box around a central, larger room which was used for the actual church services.

On April 1, 1949, Rev. William B. Bedford was appointed pastor. Less than a year later, on March 1, 1950, Park Avenue Alliance Church was officially organized and adopted the charter of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. On Easter Sunday, 1954, the Park Avenue Alliance Church was officially dedicated and Rev. Bedford served as its pastor until February of 1955.

Several other pastors served until Rev. Ronald G. Wellner, Ph.D. was called as pastor in February, 1969 and served until September 23, 1974. In the early 1970s, the Park Avenue property was sold and a new property was purchased off of Pelham Road. As the new church was being built, the congregation met at Brushy Creek Elementary School for a year. The new church was dedicated on September 16, 1973 and named Pelham Road Bible Church.

Several other pastors served until November 1990, when Timothy Yale became the full-time pastor at Pelham Road Alliance Church. Pastor Tim was involved in helping the church move once again to its new location at 1311 Pelham Road. He retired in June 2023. While Tim was pastor, Pastor Suhas Raiborde arrived from India with his family, Vijaya, Sujaya, and Suyash in September of 2004 with the purpose of reaching and ministering to Indian families.

The former Pelham Road Christian Fellowship officially dissolved June 30, 2023. The C&MA in coordination with the Upstate Church Collective decided to plant a new church on this property. In August of 2023, Redemption Life Fellowship began with a vision night and core value meetings. September 17, 2023, a new church, Redemption Life Fellowship was launched with 80+ in their core group.