Life Verse:
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
This verse speaks to my heart as a person who truly believes that there is no one that Christ will turn away if they will simply come to Him. This affects everything surrounding the way I minister to others. I am always looking for "invitation crossroads" when speaking with people. When the Holy Spirit is working on a heart, I do not want to miss the opportunity to help them understand what is going on and Who it is that is reaching out to them. My philosophy of ministry for myself, and for those I pastor, is that we should all be doing three main things in our walk with the Lord.

1. Converting the Lost.
2. Disciplining the Convert.
3. Maturing the Disciple to repeat the process.

Licensure:
Hillcrest Baptist Church, Lauren,January 2, 1994

Ordination:
Hillcrest Baptist Church, Laurens, SC
May 1, 1994

Education:
Doctor of Philosophy, 2011
Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburg, IN. Administration Major

Masters of Arts, 2001
Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburgh, IN.
Graduated with Honors.
Human Resources Major


Bachelor of Arts, 1986
Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC.Psychology and Counseling Major

Associates of Arts, 1983
North Greenville College, Tigerville, SC

Glenn Street Baptist Church, Newberry, SC
2000 to 2007, Pastor.

East Columbia Baptist Church, Columbia, SC
1996 to 2000, Pastor.

Wayside Baptist Church, Laurens, SC
1994 to 1996, Pastor.

Secular Experience:
Supervised Program Administrator

Special Needs and Disabilities Board, Laurens SC 1991 to 1994 Special skills were found in taking a failing program and turning it around to one of the most efficiently ran programs in Laurens County.

Senior Program Manager
Tri-Development Center, Aiken SC, 1990 to 1991. Special skills were found in managing a staff of 15 and working with outside sources for client services.

Residential Counselor
Department of Youth, Hendersonville NC,
!986 to 1988.
Special skills were found in working with troubled youth.

Special Training:
Joe Beam Seminars, Aiken, SC 1991 *Maximizing and Utilizing the Most from your Staff. *Improving Your Leadership Skills

Super Supervisor Workshop, Aiken, SC 1993
Conflict and Anger Management, Columbia, SC 1993
*Staff resolutions.

Crisis Center Director, Laurens, SC 1994 to 1996 *Community food and clothing bank for the Laurens Baptist Association.

Trustee, Laurens, SC 1995 to 1996
Laurens Baptist Association Camp Grounds'

Mission Development Counsel, Laurens, SC 1994 to 1996
Human Rights Committee, Laurens, SC 1994 to 1996

Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.
Seminar Speaker, 1989 to Present.

*The New Age Movement and Evolution and their influences on our society, religion and children.

*The M.A.R.Y. Project. A program started by my wife and I to encourage people to read through the Bible every year from cover to cover to encourage Bible maturity. Meditate, Arm, Read and Yearn for God's Word.


Personal Information:
I was born on April 15th, 1963. I married my best friend Cathy Epps Kirkland on July 11th, 1992. We have a wonderful and strong marriage and have ministered to many others to help them along their journey. We were Foster Parents in SC and tried to adopt because we were not able to have children of our own. But God told us no and we had to just wait on His timing. We learned a great deal about our marriage, God and the ministry He has called us to in that time of suffering. It has helped us to better relate to those around us that are hurting. But after 18 years of God saying no to children, we found out that at 44 and 46 we were going to have our first and only baby. Her name is Hannah Elizabeth and she is the joy of our life. It is an amazing blessing to know that God has chosen you to hold an actual miracle in your hands.


Phone: 615-332-2507
Email: cathy.kirkland2081@gmail.com