United Ministries was founded as Greenville Urban Ministries in June, 1970, by the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was chartered as an interdenominational nonprofit organization in 1974 and became known as United Ministries in 1982.

During its first decade, United Ministries focused on mission churches, child development programs, nutrition and transportation for senior citizens, block partnerships, and community problems of drug abuse and criminal justice.

In 1984, United Ministries moved to its current location at 606 Pendleton Street. After assessing the needs of its neighborhood, the agency strengthened direct services such as heat and medication assistance, restructured its organization, opened the Place of Hope, found new ways for volunteers to be involved, and released some programs to other agencies.

In the 1990s, United Ministries helped create other organizations and committed itself to creating environments for change so that people could live full, whole lives. United Ministries continued to develop its employment program and its homeless day services. The organization began an adult middle school as well as an intense case management process. United Ministries began to focus less on "band-aid" services and more on helping individuals and families to become self-reliant.

Well into its fourth decade, the agency's programs focus on real outcomes that demonstrate an impact in the community. The homeless are guided into permanent housing. The unemployed are guided through job training and into stable employment. People who lack a diploma are guided through the process of earning a GED and enrolling in college. United Ministries is working to make a reality its vision that every citizen of Greenville County will meet the needs of self and family in healthy and edifying ways.