The church is thankful for Dr. Bumgardner’s thirty years of faithful preaching….Preaching that has been faithful to the Word of God and to the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only has he been a faithful preacher, but also a faithful pastor to his flock and to many others in our community with his wonderful gift for Christian counseling.

The congregation of First Presbyterian Church [Dillon, S.C.] rejoices that Dr. John Owens Bumgardner has served faithfully as their pastor for the past thirty years. He began his pastorate at the church on August 22nd, 1982 after moving from Columbia, South Carolina where he was pastor of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Bumgardner attended the University of South Carolina where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He spent several years in the business world before receiving a call to the ministry. He enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. He later received his Doctor of Ministry at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.

Under his leadership the church changed denomination in 1985 moving from the Presbyterian Church US to the Presbyterian Church in America – a denomination true to the Word of God.  Dr. Bumgardner’s leadership was vital in starting Dillon Christian School in 1991, and he continues to help the school in many ways. He and his wife Kathryn have been strong advocates for the handicapped in our community and have served as mentors to parents of handicapped children.