GREG BARR has resigned as pastor after serving St. Andrews Baptist Church in Columbia for more than five years. He has accepted a call to become pastor of St. Matthews Baptist Church in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. His final Sunday at St. Andrews will be Aug. 22.
Chris DeWeaseCHRIS DeWEASE began duties July 25 as pastor of Blue Ridge Baptist Church, Greer. He and his wife, Laura, have one daughter, Hannah.
Jordan DavisJORDAN DAVIS began duties as minister to students and children on June 20 at Crosspoint Baptist Church, Sumter. He and his wife Stacy most recently served on Young Life staff in Spartanburg County, and he formerly served as a junior high minister at First Baptist Church, Spartanburg. Davis, a native of Spartanburg, graduated from North Greenville University in 2008 and is continuing his seminary education at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Charlotte, N.C.
TIMOTHY RYAN STOKES was ordained to the ministry on Aug. 1 by Park Street Baptist Church, Columbia. Guest speaker was Peter Beck, professor of religion at Charleston Southern University. Stokes has served this summer as youth director at Santee Circle Community Church, Moncks Corner, and will attend Southeastern Seminary in the fall. He is the son of Andy and Valda Stokes of Columbia. Andy Stokes is minister of music/administration at Park Street Baptist. This is the third young man who has been ordained to the ministry in the past two years at Park Street.