Rick EzellRICK EZELL has been called as pastor of First Baptist Church, Greer. He begins his duties Sept. 10. Ezell, along with his wife Cindy and daughter Bailey, comes from Naperville, Ill., where he served as pastor of Naperville Baptist Church for 18 years. He is a graduate of Samford University, Midwestern Baptist Seminary, Southern Baptist Seminary and Northern Baptist Seminary. He has served as an adjunct professor at Northern and at Midwestern Baptist Theological seminaries. Ezell has written six books that have been published by InterVarsity Press and Kregal Resources.
BLAKE PITTS began duties Aug. 6 as minister of youth and children at Secona Baptist Church, Pickens. Previously, he served at East Clemson Baptist Church, Clemson.
MT. CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, ELKO, baptized 11 – ages ranging from 8 years old to 30-something – on July 30. This was a record-breaking number of baptisms for the church.
Andy CaseANDY CASE is serving as pastor of Fingerville First Baptist Church, North Spartan Baptist Association. He is a graduate of Casey Creek Baptist Bible Institute and Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. Case, his wife Mellisa, and their daughter Michaela are from the Spartanburg area. The Cases are expecting a son, Seth, in November.
BRETT MASK has been called as pastor by First Baptist Church, North. He served the church as minister of youth and children from 1995-2001. He returns to North from Lakeside Baptist Church, Greensboro, Ga., where he was pastor of youth and outreach. A native of Vidalia, Ga., Mask attended Columbia International University and is a graduate of Charleston Southern University and New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Mask and his wife Laray have a son, Tanner.
Jack MabryJACK MABRY began duties Aug. 6 as music minister at Converse Baptist Church, Spartanburg County Network. A graduate of North Greenville College, he has been music minister in churches since 1962, serving previously at Eastside Baptist Church since 1983. Mabry serves on the school board for Spartanburg County District 3. He and his wife Beverly own and operate Building Blocks Daycare.
Wayne TraverseWAYNE TRAVERSE is the new youth pastor at Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church, Greenwood. He and his wife Maria previously served at Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, N.C.