The Woodruff community became home for members of Fellowship Greenville as far back as 1996. Over the years, more families from Fellowship Greenville moved into the area, a Community Group was established, children grew up together and started their own families, and a number of activities would bring these people together over the years that would continue to deepen relationships.

In the early 2000’s, a few men would gather in the vineyard before the sun rose and prayed that God would use the resources available to advance His kingdom. In 2020, men began to gather in the brown barn to pray for our country and seek the Lord’s strength in their everyday lives. There was a sense over time that the Lord was working in Woodruff and using many things to affirm that He desired to build His Church in Woodruff as a part of the Upstate Church Collective.

An informational meeting was held in May 2023 at the barn that also included people from Summit Upstate who were interested in joining God in what He was doing in Woodruff. This group of people began to meet in four Community Groups to see how God intended to use them to partner with area churches and “saturate” Woodruff with Jesus. Not only was Jesus needed in Woodruff today, but with thousands of new homes being added, His love could be spread to welcome newcomers to the area. It was evident that the “harvest was plentiful, but the laborers are few” and the group would pray to the Lord to send more “laborers” whose hearts are broken for our neighbors in Woodruff.

The group also met monthly over the year in Unity and Prayer Nights seeking the Lord’s guidance, establishing and building relationships with one another for the sake of each one carrying the Gospel to their neighbors as the Spirit leads them. The Living Vine Community Church name was an acknowledgement to our ongoing need to stay connected to “the vine” and prioritize our need for an ongoing abiding relationship with the Lord. That reminder is evident every time we gather in the barn surrounded by the vineyard. Plans also began to establish Sunday morning worship services at the barn starting in September 2024.