Greetings! On behalf of my family I can say that we are all excited to be a part of First Cheraw and this community!
I wanted to tell you a little about my family. My parents were born and raised not too far away from here in Rockingham, North Carolina. They eloped and were married in Bennettsville. I was born in Raleigh and grew up in Charlotte, a city I still consider my hometown. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Biology from Wake Forest University, a Master of Divinity degree in Counseling and Psychology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Education degree in Counseling Psychology from The University of Sarasota/Argosy University in Florida.
I was raised in a Methodist family (third generation) and spent my first year of seminary at Emory. I would eventually finish my seminary education in the Baptist faith and was ordained in 1990. I have served as a hospital and hospice chaplain, a clinical psychotherapist, and a clinical director for a hospice. For the past five years I have served as the pastor of Mt. Zion UMC in Central, South Carolina. This past Annual Conference in Florence, I became a Full Elder in the United Methodist Church.
I enjoy playing golf and soccer, and watching ACC basketball (Go Deacs!). My wife, Lillie, is originally from St. Petersburg, Florida. We met at a church there and were married in 1997. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University (Go Paladins!) and a Master of Arts in Counselor Education from the University of South Florida. She will be employed as a guidance counselor at Cheraw High School. Lillie loves to cook fabulous meals, read and knit.
Our oldest child is Phillip John. We call him “PJ.” He is 11 years of age and is a rising sixth grader. He loves to play video games and is a gifted soccer player. Our youngest child is Sophie. She just turned 9 years old and is a rising fourth grader. She loves to dance and is the life of the party (you will see).
Well, enough about us. I cannot wait to meet you and hear your story!
In Christ,
Kurt