Carolina Messenger

Meet The Board Members

Chairman

Joseph Terry Wheeler was born in Atlanta, GA, in 1954.  He grew up in Breman and graduated in 1972.  Having acquired a BA degree in Bible from Freed-Hardeman College, he began full-time evangelistic work as an associated minister with the Central Church of Christ in Spartanburg, SC.  Before this, he preached regularly for the Austin chapel Church near Scotts Hill, TN, from 1973-1976.  He worked in Spartanburg from 1976 to 1979.  From there he became the pulpit evangelist for the church in Duncan, SC, where he served from 1979 to 1987.  He preached for the Ann Arbor, MI church for the next 8 and 1/2 years, conducting a weekly live call-in radio broadcast, and weekday radio devotions, as well as helping coordinate campus ministeries and seminars. He is now working with the saints of the Westside Church in Charlotte, NC.  He is married to the former Barbara Sue Tracy of Spartanburg.  They have three children; Traci, Paul, and Rachel.

Vice-Chairman

Paul Kirkpatrick is in his third year as the pulpit minister for the Warners Chapel Church Of Christ in Clemmons, NC. Paul was born and reared in Parkersburg, West Virginia.  He is a graduate of the East Tennessee School Of Preaching and Missions in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has course work from Ohio Valley College and West Virginia University at Parkersburg.  He was awarded the Regents Bachelor Degree and the Master of Arts from the Theological University of America.  Paul has served churches in Kansas, West Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

He has been preaching for twenty-four years and has preached Gospel meetings in West Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina.  He has been a guest speaker on lectureships in Indiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  He has had articles published in the Carolina Christian, Palmetto Messenger and the Carolina Messenger.  He is also a former Board Chairman and Associate Editor for the Palmetto Messenger [now the Carolina Messenger], and currently serves as board member.  Paul is active in youth work, such as the South Midlands Youth Rally, and Christian camps in Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Paul has also done radio and television work for several years. 

Paul is a part-time instructor for the Fishers Of Men evangelism program.

Paul was an instructor in the Central Carolina School of Preaching in Sumter, SC from 2001-2004.

Paul will be directing the North Carolina School of Biblical studies that will begin in August 2007 located in Clemmons, NC.

He and his wife Carla, have been married for twenty-seven years and have three children, Myca: twenty-one, Jennifer: twenty, and Joshua: seventeen.

Editor

David R. Pharr has been preaching for almost fifty years.  He gave his first sermons as a teen in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and has served in full-time with churches in West Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  In addition to local ministry, he has participated in revival meetings and lectureships in several states.  His determination "not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" is reflected in his seventh book, Voices of Calvary.
He is married to Margaret (Peggy) Bunker.  They have three sons and a daughter, and ten grandchildren.
David attended Freed-Hardeman College, Rio Grande College and Southern Christian University.  He is the editor of the Carolina Messenger and writes for The Spiritual Sword and Voice of Truth International.

Ernest J. Richards, Jr. is married to Doreen.  He has two children: Lucas Richards (deceased 2003) and Julie Richbourg.  He also has two grandchildren:  Kallie Richbourg and Anderson Richbourg.  He is a Graduate of East Tennessee School of Preaching (85).  He has preached in: Salisbury, NC, Newberry, FL, Owensboro, KY, West Columbia, SC where he has labored for 16 years and is presently with the Carolina Church Of Christ in Lexington, SC.  He has done mission campaigns in Jamaica and Russia.  He is the Associate Editor of the Carolina Messenger.

Treasurer

Jerry Craft has taught/preached for more than 40 years.  He has been involved in the educational programs of the congregations and has worshipped as either part of a committee, assist. Ed. director or as the Educational Director.  He has served as a deacon at the Greer church and he presently serves as an elder.

Michael M. Jordan recieved his high school diploma in 1973 and went on to graduate from Memphis School Of Preaching in 1975.  He attended one year of Freed-Hardeman University where he met his wife (Jewel Attebury).  He work secular work and after retiring medically from truck driving begain full time preaching at Water Valley, MS.  They adopted two children and his daughter is living in MS, married and has two children.  William is a disabled adult and is living with them.  He moved to Tilden, MS and then to Winona, MS., and to King, NC where he is served as one of the elders and their minister for nine years. He relocated to Bells, TN. and stayed for a year and had the opportunity to move to Marion, VA in 2007 where he now preaches.  They live in Chilhowie, VA.  He received his B.A. in Bible from Southern Christian University in 1997.

Board Member

Wellington H. Smith was born July 8, 1950.  He enlisted in the United States Army in September of 1966 and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam.  He completed his military enlistment on September 23, 1970.  Brother Smith has a variety of skills and has used them throughout the years.  He worked in Law Enforcement for two years.  Then he worked in long distance transportation until December 1974.  From February of 1975 to April of 1981, he worked in the Insurance Industry.  He was then was employed by Atlantis Detective Agency as an investigator from May 1981 to 1983.  Brother Smith obeyed the gospel on May 9, 1984.  He began preaching itinerantly while working full time for Hoover Building Systems in Lexington, S.C.  He attended Columbia Bible College and later completed his Bachelor's work at Alabama Christian School of Religion.  He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Biblical Studies.  He served the Walkup Avenue congregation in Monroe, NC from October 1989 to November 2003 as pulpit preacher.  He started a new work in Wingate, NC on March 14, 2004.  His wife (Julie Smith) and he were married on January 2, 1988.  He has two children (from Julie's previous marriage), two grandchildren, and a great-grand son.  He conducts seminars on "Building A Home For God", (a biblical perspective on marriage and parenting), "Biblical Church Growth" (The Best Plan is God's Plan). He writes adult Bible Class workbooks and articles for the Carolina Messenger, The Christian World, The Salt Shaker, and occasionally the local paper.