RICK EZELL
Managing Partner
864-770-3560 • rick@employeecareofamerica.com
Rick pastored churches in Indiana, Illinois, and South Carolina before launching ECA. He is a graduate of Samford University, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rick has authored six books, contributed to other books and Study Bibles, written over 1200 articles. He and his wife, Cindy, have one grown daughter.
DAVID BLANTON
Director of Operations
864-909-7221 • blanton.dm@gmail.com
David served as a campus minister, missionary to Ecuador, pastor, and Director of Missions. David is bilingual in English and Spanish. David is from Fort Worth, Texas, graduating from The University of Texas at Arlington and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. David is a U.S. Department of Justice accredited representative offering legal services to immigrants. He is married to Norma, a retired ESOL (English Spoken as Other Language) teacher. They have two grown children. David enjoys being "Opa” to six grandchildren.
JUAN RIVERA
Director of Operations
540-809-1564 • revjuanrivera17@gmail.com
Juan served in pastoral ministry for over 37 years in Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio before joining Employee Care of America. Juan is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in Business Administration and a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Religious Education. Juan is bilingual (Spanish and English). His strengths are pastoral care, leadership development, spiritual formation, and project management. Juan is married to Rosa, and they have two grown children and three grandchildren.
RICK WOLFE
Director of Operations
804-519-6141 • Rpwolfe5477@gmail.com
Rick served as pastor of churches in Illinois and Florida before moving to Southeast Asia to serve as a church planter. He brings over 30 years of cross-cultural experience from serving as an international missionary and missions personnel consultant. Rick is a graduate of the University of South Alabama and Southwestern Seminary. He is an avid outdoors enthusiast, enjoying hiking and fishing in his spare time. Rick is married to Beth, and they have two grown children.
JIMMY HAWKINS
Director of Relational Development
864-430-0839 • noflyzone365@gmail.com
Before joining ECA, Jimmy Hawkins served the local church as an evangelist, discipleship director, worship leader, and pastor. Jimmy is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Business Administration. His wife Teresa is a Finance Director with Chick-fil-A restaurants. Teresa and Jimmy have four children and eleven grandchildren.
JEROD TAFTA
Director of Relational Development
864-704-2158• jdtafta@gmail.com
Jerod loves Jesus. His greatest joy comes from seeing hearts made whole as the human soul overcomes pain through Christ. One of his second greatest joys is to see healthy men and women engaged in fulfilling work. There is no greater reward than for Jared to see those he cares for walking and healthy stature blessing the world with
their unique gifts and abilities through their creative work. Jerod and his wife Jordan live in The upstate of SC with their 3 children.
LYNDSAY M. EVATT
864-436-9099 • lindsay.evatt54@gmail.com
Lindsay and her husband, Wes, have served in various ministry capacities for the last eighteen years together. After serving as the director of a children's home in Honduras, Lindsay most often finds herself as an active community member giving voice to vulnerable children all around the world. Lindsay is currently continuing her education to become a certified Biblical Counselor while also working at an area university and serving on the staff at her church. She and her husband have called the upstate of South Carolina "home" for most of their lives. Together, with their three children, they love serving their church and community.
ANGEL GONZALEZ
203-510-7732 • rubiogonzalez768@gmail.com
Angel was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Connecticut. He’s an Ordained Minister. He pastored a Spanish speaking church in Connecticut before relocating to Virginia. He founded and directed a prison ministry of volunteers through the Connecticut Department of Corrections. He has participated in mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He and his wife, Santa, have been married for 33 years. They have 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren. Angel’s passion in life is spending time with his family and the Word of God.
JAY DOCKWEILER
404-281-3923 • jay@southedge.org
Jay is a husband, father of three, and has been a resident of Georgia since 1993. During his professional career, he has been an educator, a speaker, a coach, a marketer, a college administrator, and a pastor. He volunteers in a variety of ways in his local community and as a part of a nonprofit doing community development work in Uganda, Africa. In 2002, he started The Church at SouthEdge, in Henry County, Georgia and still serves as Pastor.
MITCH WHISNANT
423-782-6402 • whisnant.mitchell@gmail.com
Mitch has served churches in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He is a graduate of Carson-Newman University and Southern Seminary. He and his wife, Vickie have two sons and two grandsons. Both sons are also ministers, Matthew in Kingsport, TN and Christopher in Waco, TX. Mitch served as a volunteer hospital chaplain for 32 years and as an industrial chaplain for 4 years. Mitch enjoys crossword puzzles, sudoku and word scrambles. His social calendar is filled with his grandsons’ activities.
John Lee Malphrus
864-770-5129 • john.lee.malphrus@gmail.com
John Lee served as a missionary to Mexico and Peru. He currently is working in construction as a Human Resource Manager but also serves as a chaplain. He joined ECA in September as a part-time chaplain. He is bilingual in Spanish and English. He is a graduate of Clemson University in Business Administration and a graduate from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a MDIV in Missiology. He is married to Tricia and has 2 children.
TIM MURRAY
864-515-8101 • timothymurray796@gmail.com
Tim is married with five children and a granddaughter. He serves as an Associate Pastor at his church where he oversees the Men's and Outreach Ministries. Tim’s passion is to help men and women walk in their God-given purpose. He has an Associate of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies from Columbia International University. He’s a huge sports fan.
TRUDY CRITTENDON
864-617-5618 • jtcrit@att.net
Trudy Crittendon lives in Anderson, SC. In 2010, she and her husband Jim retired after serving as missionaries for 28 years in both South and Southeast Asia. Trudy also taught 17 years in public schools in Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina – primarily teaching high school English. In South Asia, she and her husband were itinerate teachers, traveling throughout the region to train and equip national pastors. In 2001, she and Jim became member care providers for missionaries assigned throughout the region. Now, she enjoys living near her two sons and their families, which includes six grandchildren.
EDGAR MONTANO
770-837-6165 • ch.edgarm@gmail.com
Edgar is originally from Venezuela where he graduated from Colegio University. He has also studied at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the Hispanic Pastor at New Hope Baptist Church. He is married with three children.
EDDIE SANCHEZ
956-243-0518 • egsp@sbcglobal.net
Watching my parents serve prepared me for work as a special needs counselor, pastor, church starter, immigration shelter & transport chaplain as well as various other ministries. At the core, I always seek work in helping those in the community.
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CHET ANDREWS
864-304-6414 • chethope@att.net
Chet has served in pastoral ministry for over 30 years in North and South Carolina. Chet has an undergraduate degree from The University of South Carolina, a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University, and a Doctor of Ministry from North Greenville University. Chet is gifted in pastoral ministry and enjoys helping others with their health and fitness goals. Chet has been married to Hope for 29 years and they have four children.
ROD WEST
910-620-0313 • rod@rod-west.net
Rod is the Founder and Director of Biblical Counseling of Christ-Centered Solutions. Before founding CCS, he served in pastoral ministry for thirty years in the Carolinas. After graduating from Liberty University, and prior to entering full-time ministry, Rod worked as a Behavioral Counselor and Social Worker in the NC mental health system, serving children with severe behavior and emotional issues. He holds several degrees, including a BS in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Biblical Studies.
VINCE SMITH
972-838-3845 • vincesmithsf@gmail.com
Vince grew up in Slidell, La. He began his career as a Nuclear Submarine Officer/Engineer in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Tulane University and receiving his naval commission. Following the Navy, Vince entered vocational ministry, graduating from Southwestern Seminary with a Master of Divinity. Vince’s wife is Kimberly; they have two children. His hobbies are sailing and traveling—49 states, 43 nations and five continents so far.
RUTH MCWHITE
864-680-1795 • ruth@rockycreek.church
Ruth McWhite is originally from Greer, SC, where she grew up at First Baptist Church. She and her husband, Allen, pastored churches in Manning, Spartanburg and Taylors, SC. They also served two terms with the IMB in Ecuador. She served sixteen years as the Director of Women’s ministries at North Greenville University. She has a great passion to see women come into a relationship with Christ and then grow in that relationship through the knowledge of His Word. She makes her home in Travelers Rest, SC. She is the mother of five children, and her family is multiplying, as four children have married wonderful spouses and have provided thirteen precious grandchildren!
MARK HUGHES
804-878-6659 • markhughes.pastor@gmail.com
Mark has pastored churches in Virginia over the past 27 years and now serves as senior pastor of West End Baptist Church in North Dinwiddie, Virginia. Mark is a graduate of James Madison University with a degree in Art and a graduate of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond with a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry. Mark is married to Kelly, and they have three children.
PHIL BRYSON
864-981-0131 • Philbpastor1@gmail.com
Phil has served two churches in his home town for a total of 37 years. He attended Fruitland Baptist Bible College and Mid Atlantic Bible College and Seminary. He has served in multiple Chaplaincy positions in which he now serves as Chaplain Trainer and Coordinator for the South Carolina Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Ministry. He has been married for 43 years, and has two daughters and five grandchildren. He loves to play golf and hunt.
JOE LA SALANDRA
769-428-1961 • jalasa47@gmail.com
Joe was born in Ohio and raised in Texas, and now live in Ocean Springs, MS. He loves God, people, and sports. He served in different cultures as a coach, teacher, counselor, chaplain, volunteer firemen, bus driver, and custodian. He pastored East Verde Baptist Church in Payson, Arizona. Joe is a graduate from Texas Tech University with a degree in Physical Education, and he is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity.
LISA EDMONDS
864-517-9218 • lisa.edmonds57@gmail.com
Lisa was called to the ministry when she and her husband were transferred to South Carolina in 2008. Lisa attended Columbia International University Seminary. After receiving her Masters of Theology, she went on to complete an internship and residency at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Clinical Pastoral Care. She spent many years at Greenville Memorial in the Emergency Department working with staff, patients, and families as they faced crises and decisions. The care of others, in whatever the circumstance, is what gives purpose to her life in service to God’s people.
HOWIE HAMILTON
859-585-8759 • Chaplainhowie@gmail.com
Born in Northeast Indiana and raised in Kentucky. Recently retired from Montgomery County Fire/EMS after 31 years. I worked as a firefighter/paramedic for most of my career, and five years ago, I added Kentucky State Certified Fire Chaplain to the list. I am also a member of the Kentucky Peer Support team.
Graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Religion: Christian Counseling and a minor in Biblical Studies.
Married to Kimberly and have one daughter Danielle and three beautiful granddaughters, ages 9, 7, and 2.
LUCY HUDDLESTON
803-448-6951 • lucyhhuddleston@gmail.com
Lucy had been a pastor’s wife for 45 years. She earned a degree in Biology/teaching from Winthrop University and a Master of Agriculture from Clemson University. Lucy taught Adult Education and also worked with volunteers and juveniles through Juvenile Arbitration Programs. She enjoys leading women in Bible study. Her husband Tommy and she have three children.
STEVE FOSS
602-376-1321 • esteban1956@gmail.com
Steve Foss is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with additional post-graduate studies at Phoenix Seminary. His ministry career began in worship ministries, and later transitioned to both teaching and senior pastor roles. His published works include: “Freedom’s Foundation”, “Psalm 119, A King’s Tribute to the Sacred Texts”, and “I’m a Country Gopher” (a children’s book). Steve and his wife, Sandra, have two married daughters and ‘sons-in-love’, and a beloved grandson.
