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.
TAB LEWIS
864-525-8901 • tablewis77@gmail.com
Tab Lewis is a native of Greenville SC. She and her husband, Chris, have served in ministry together most of their marriage including church planting, para-church youth camp/conference ministry, interim staff worship leaders and church ministry development. She has a great passion to see women come into a relationship with Christ and to help them grow in the desire to help others do the same! She makes her home in Taylors, SC. She is the mother of three children, one with special needs. Their family is growing and now they all share the love of two GRAND boys!
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BRUCE WHITE
214-538-0676 • pastor.bruce.white@gmail.com
Bruce has been in full-time vocational ministry for 28 years. He pastored The Journey Church in Lewisville, Texas for 13 years. He is on the Executive Board of NTBA local association of churches & is a Marriage Matters Conference Speaker. He is married to Lana and they have two sons, Ross and Isaac. Bruce loves cutting horses, hunting, hiking and traveling to see the mountains and oceans.
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.
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!
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.
BJ BATEMAN
864-275-3126 • bjbateman0930@gmail.com
BJ Bateman is originally from Virginia, BJ’s marriage vow has taken her to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and now back to Greer, SC. BJ and her husband Larry ministered with the North American Mission Board and locally at Taylors First Baptist, Edwards Road Baptist, and Greer First Baptist. BJ has served as the Director for Child Evangelism Fellowship for the Upstate. BJ’s passion is studying and teaching God’s Word. BJ and Larry also help couples build a Biblical foundation for their marriages. In addition to cheering for her grandchildren at local ballfields, BJ and Larry enjoy a competitive game of pickleball
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.
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.
BARNEY ATKINSON
864-934-2028 • batkinson53@hotmail.com
Barney recently retired after 45 years in the Commercial/Industrial Construction and Real Estate Development Business. . He and his wife, Mary, have been married for 51 years, raised two daughters, with seven grandchildren (six boys and one girl). He has been involved in all facets of ministry from teaching youth to adults, along with serving in numerous leadership roles. His spiritual gifts are prophecy and exhortation which has equipped his heart and fueled his passion for discipleship and telling people about the love of Jesus. Barney and Mary currently reside in the upstate of South Carolina.
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BILL MOUNTSIER
513-375-8300 • bill.mountsier@gmail.com
Bill enjoys being with people. With a BA from Duke University and a Master’s Degree from Southern Seminary, Bill draws on both academic knowledge and real-world experience in mentoring youth and adults of all ages. He has served as a pastor, coach, teacher, counsellor, and mostly, as a friend. Bill and his wife Deb have been married for over forty years and have two happy and successful grown children. Huge sports fans, Bill and Deb love their Reds, Bengals, and FCC along with all things Cincinnati - Skyline, Montgomery Inn, LaRosa's, the parks, the river, and of course, Graeter's Ice Cream.
