Liberty County native Bishop Samuel T. Brown loves to bring people good news. Whether he’s preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as a pastor or securing someone a sizeable income tax return through his accounting business, this servant of God just wants to help people.
A 1970 graduate of the old Liberty County High School in Midway, Brown is the pastor of New Church of Christ Holiness unto the Lord of the Apostolic Faith in the Freedman Grove community. The church was founded by his father, the late Bishop Sam Brown. He also serves as pastor of a mission in Ellabell.
Brown also is the owner of Brown’s Tax & Accounting, which has offices in Midway and Hinesville. He said his business is a “one-stop shop” for people who are starting new businesses.
Before entering the ministry, Brown was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and Sunday school superintendent.
“I have been in the ministry for 20-plus years and have served as pastor of the New Church of Christ Mission in Ellabell for seven years and pastor of the New Church of Christ in Freedman Grove for three years,” Brown said.
He also has held the position of assistant bishop of the organization for three years.
“Bishop Dr. Andrew Mole of Varnville, S.C., is the general overseer of the organization. The headquarters is in Burton, S.C. We have 21 churches in the organization. Some are in Long Reach, Savannah, Hardeeville, Freedman Grove, Ellabell and South Carolina. Most of the churches are in South Carolina,” Brown said.
“I desire to get the gospel out to all mankind so we can win souls for Christ. We are reaching out to the community by passing out gospel tracts and a radio broadcast every Sunday morning on FM Joy 100.1. The broadcast is aired from 8-8:30 a.m.,” the pastor said.
As part of its evangelism outreach, the church has an annual picnic for members of the surrounding communities to enjoy.
“We are trying to reach out more and implement more outreach programs to the community,” Brown said.
New Church of Christ in Freedman Grove has church at noon on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. Sunday school is at 11 a.m. every Sunday, and Bible study and prayer is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays.
“We have praise and worship on Friday night at 7:30. The mission in Ellabell has church on the first and third Sundays at noon,” Brown said.
A student of the Bible, Brown has a doctorate in Christian education from Tripp Bible Institute in North Carolina. He established the New Life Bible College and also teaches Christian education classes Tuesday nights at the church in Freedman Grove.
“My main ministry is teaching. I love to do expository teaching,” he said.
The bishop credits his father; his older brother, the late Bishop Joseph Brown, who ministered in Boston and the northern United States; and the late Bishop Harry Colty of Burton, S.C., for being mentors who helped him in the ministry and fostered his spiritual growth.
“My brother was very influential in my life,” Brown said. 
He has some advice for fellow pastors. “Preach the word. It is the word that is going to change people, not the philosophy of man,” he said. “The apostle Paul told his son Timothy to preach the word. Your message must be Bible-centered with Jesus as the main focus. Put emphasis on preparing people for the second coming of Jesus and let them know they must be ready.”
Brown and his wife, Karen, married in 1995. They live in Midway, and Karen works as a registered nurse at Winn Army Community Hospital. In his spare time, Brown enjoys raising cows, primarily Black Angus.
“They stay in the pasture,” he said with a laugh.