Reverend Kenneth Cauthen
Meet Our Pastor
Reverend Cauthen is the son of the late Deacon James L. and Jessie L. Coleman Cauthen. Rev. Cauthen was happily married for 29 years to the late Bridget (Lewis) Cauthen.
Rev. Cauthen have one daughter Kendra, son-in-law Bayonne. One son Kenneth II, and two granddaughter’s Journee and Kenlasia Jackson.
Reverend Cauthen is a graduate of the Lancaster Senior High School class of 1981. He also earned his Associate Degree in Theology from the New Life Theological Seminary in Charlotte North Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts in Divinity from Great Commission Bible Institute in Charlotte North Carolina, a Master’s Degree from Foot Hills Theological Seminary in Landrum, South Carolina. (Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Biblical Studies from Foot Hills Theological Seminary in Landrum, South Carolina.
Rev. Cauthen accepted his calling into the Gospel Ministry in 1987 and served as associate minister at Zion Pilgrim Baptist Church in Lancaster, SC. He is a former assistant field missionary minister of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Association; and a member of the Mt. Moriah Usher’s Auxiliary until he was called as Asst. Pastor of the Sand Hill Missionary Baptist church in Kershaw South Carolina. Reverend Cauthen became the Pastor of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Lancaster South Carolina in February of 1991. He is currently serving as Senior Pastor of Mount Nebo Baptist Church Lancaster, SC; Chaplain of Crawford Funeral Home Inc in Lancaster SC; and Chaplain of the Lancaster County Sherriff’s Department
He has served as Past Vice Moderator and Moderator of the Mt. Peaceful Baptist Association; former Executive Board Member of the Lancaster Pregnancy Center in Lancaster, SC. He is a silver Lifetime member of the Lancaster Branch N.A.A.C.P and former Executive Board member of Lancaster Branch N.A.A.C.P, a member of Lincoln Lodge #162 and Past Chaplain of Lincoln Lodge #162; Second Vice Chair of Lancaster County Democratic Committee, Lancaster County Mass Choir, past Chaplain of City of Lancaster Police Dept. Lancaster South Carolina.
Pastor Cauthen became the Pastor of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Lancaster South Carolina in 1991 and has continued to serve faithfully for the past 30 years. Under the direction of God Mt. Nebo built a new sanctuary in 1995 and in 2021 God blessed us with a family life center as we continue follow God.
Church History
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the World. A City that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
In 1865 a small group of Christians lead by the Rev. McDowell took the word of Christ literally and established a church on three acres of land donated by the Culp Family and a brush arbor was built. It appears that Rev. McDowell looked at the general location where the present structure sits and read from Deuteronomy 34:1. It reads “Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho.
There the Lord showed him the whole land from Gilead to Dan.” Moses died there but Mt. Nebo Baptist Church was born.
Rev. McDowell was succeeded by Rev. Bert Stewart. He pastured for many years. During his administration the church underwent many changes, including the construction of a new sanctuary. Rev. Stewart along with his brother Nat “Uncle Nat” Stewart, a carpenter by trade led the members in cutting and hewing logs. Rev. Stewart moved on and Rev. L. W. Gaston was then called as pastor. The church continued to grow but was, as most congregations at that time, not stationed. It was for that reason Mt. Nebo shared Rev. Gaston with St. John Baptist Church on Shiloh Unity Road.
After Rev. Gaston moved on, Rev. Fine Cornelius was called as pastor. Rev. Cornelius or “Uncle Fine” was a family member and during his time at the church, Mt. Nebo became renowned for its choirs which included the Fisher, Fletcher and Lathan children. Rev. Cornelius along with Rev. Ernest Mungo help to establish the Mt. Peaceful Baptist Building Association and Mt. Nebo was a charter member. A new structure was built during Rev. Cornelius’ tenure. He pastored until his untimely death and was buried in the church cemetery.
Rev. Cornelius death caused minor setbacks but the strong leadership of the church officers, which included Deacon A.B. Lathan, John H. Fisher, Willie “Bo” Fisher, and Deacon O. C. Lathan held things together. Rev. John T. Simpson of Heath Springs, SC was called as the next pastor. He served Mt. Nebo for 25 years. Under Rev. Simpson, Mt. Nebo went through another building program. The old sanctuary which is now the fellowship was built by the men of the church with the assistance of Mr. Arthur “Bee” Jackson, a brick mason. Mt. Nebo went into the building debt free.
Rev. Leroy Cole of Rock Hill, SC succeeded Rev. Simpson and pastored for six years. Rev. Cole was an excellent administrator and during his tenure many of the administrative practices he established are currently in place today. It was also during his time at Mt. Nebo that the fellowship hall was built. Rev. Simpson and Rev. Cole have since gone from labor to reward.
Rev. John Graham of Charlotte, NC was called to pastor Mt. Nebo. Under his leadership, the church grew spiritually, and we were dubbed “Holy Ghost Headquarters” by him. He served us for four years. In 1991 the church called Rev. Kenneth Cauthen of Lancaster, SC as pastor. He and his family have been a welcome addition to the church family. Although this was his first pastoral ship, he has proven to be a very capable leader and the church has grown tremendously. During his tenure at Mt. Nebo, Pastor Cauthen has been instrumental in many improvements both spiritual and physical which includes the construction of a new edifice. God has been good to us for 156 years and by faith “We Believe that the Vision of Moses is Alive and Well.”