Leadership

Pastor Allen Elder is a native of Greer, SC. He grew up in the Greer and Duncan area. He has served Southern Baptist Churches in South Carolina for 30 years. He is a graduate of James F. Byrnes High School, Spartanburg Community College, and Newburgh Bible College. Allen is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He has a passion for training church leaders as pastors, deacons, and as faithful church members. His single-minded focus is the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

Allen and Connie met in the tenth grade at Byrnes High School in 1976. They were married in 1985. Connie is employed with District Five Schools where she works in the computer lab at Berry Shoals Intermediate School. She has also coached girls sports within the district. They are the parents of three sons, Trey, Blake, and Scott. Their home is in Startex, SC.

Chris Kinard was born and raised in Westminster, SC. Growing up, Chris has had the opportunity to lead worship throughout the Carolinas and Georgia—from summer camps to youth retreats, men’s conferences to Sunday services. Likewise, Chris has served as His Vineyard’s Worship Leader since our first service in 2005. For Chris, worship is a lifestyle. As such, Chris strives to give all glory to God as he continues to grow in grace.

Chris, his wife Sallie, and their two young daughters currently reside in Lyman.

Derek is 35 years old and is a lifelong resident of this area. He and his wife Julie have 3 children, Caroline, Carsyn and Carter. He has previously served as Youth Pastor at Jackson Baptist Church in Wellford, SC.

It is the firm conviction of your pastor and leadership that God has called him to serve in this capacity for a time such as this. Certainly, a new day dawns for our Student Ministry and we rejoice in it!

Jo, originally from middle Tennessee, has lived in Lyman for the past 10 years. She and her husband Clay have two daughters Harper Jayne and Jordyn. She has been a member of His Vineyard for eight years and has always been extremely involved in the Children’s Ministry. She also serves on the Women’s Ministry team and is a 4th grade teacher at Lyman Elementary.

Jason Rainey is a native of Greer, SC. He attended Greer High School, North Greenville University, and Furman University. He has been a teacher in Greenville County Schools for over fifteen years, teaching Spanish, Music, and, currently, English to Speakers of Other Languages. He has led worship in English and Spanish at several area churches. Jason also likes to travel and has been all over the United States as well as five other countries. The country of Nicaragua has a special place in his heart as that is the country where he and his wife Jenn adopted their two children, Moises and Maribella. Jenn is a teacher in Spartanburg District One. For Jason, worship is not only a commandment, but a personal responsibility.