United Christian Ministries of Abbeville County, better known as UCMAC, was created when a group of concerned lay people from several area churches began discussing a united Christian ministry for Abbeville County based on similar organizations in Anderson, Greenwood, and Greenville. We saw people in need going from church to church looking for handouts and others with critical needs going without.
In March of 2007, our steering committee invited any church interested in collaborating to send a delegate to a meeting at the Abbeville Area Medical Center. Committees were formed and over the following months, the United Christian Ministries of Abbeville County was formed and became a reality in January 2008. Mental Health America invited us to share their office in the Masonic Lodge building.
At first, we only assisted with utility bills, rent, and other miscellaneous emergency needs. It was not long before we realized that food was a basic need that was not being met. This prompted the opening of our first Food Pantry in the basement of Main Street Methodist Church. In 2011, the Calhoun Falls Food Pantry became part of UCMAC, and in 2021 the Lowndesville Food Pantry joined UCMAC, giving us 3 locations to disburse food to people in need in Abbeville County.
In working with clients in the crisis ministry, we saw a great need for medical services for people who were not covered by any type of health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Our Free Medical Clinic became a reality in August 2011. The clinic serves citizens of Abbeville County who are 18 years or older and have no health insurance.
At the same time, thanks to the generosity of the Abbeville Area Medical Center, our office moved to West Greenwood Street, where we remained until October 2015. As the Abbeville Area Medical Center grew and offered more medical services to Abbeville area residents, their need for more offices and updated medical spaces for their physicians and medical service personnel meant expanding their existing office spaces. They decided to build a beautiful new medical building that would better serve their growing number of patients. Unfortunately, the plan for this new building was right where our UCMAC Free Medical Clinic and Crisis Emergency Assistance Ministry building sat. While this necessitated our moving to a new location, we were fortunate to be given a modular building that once housed Lakeland Federal Credit Union on Hwy 25 in Greenwood. The building was moved to 101 Center Street, near the Abbeville Nursing Home. A longtime supporter offered this lot to us on a long-term lease for a nominal fee. Without using any of the funds designated for our three programs and with the help of God and our community, we were able to raise the funds necessary to make this relocation.
We believe that God identified the opportunity to create the Free Medical Clinic and has blessed and supported us throughout the years. But as of December 31, 2024, we believe that God opened up a different door for our patients, and UCMAC no longer provides primary healthcare services. The Abbeville Area Medical Center, in partnership with Self Regional, has developed programs to better take care of the underserved and uninsured in Abbeville County. It is our sincere belief, with the LORD’s leading, that we take advantage of this opportunity to provide the best care possible for our patients.
Each time we see a need, God provides. With the support of local churches, individuals, organizations, and groups, we look forward to continuing to be Jesus’ hands and feet in Abbeville County.