The Lexington Church of Christ functions under the oversight of its elders, the definitive decision making body of the congregation. The Elders have ultimate responsibility for the direction of the congregation and all decisions that are made in that regard.
Deacons and Ministry Leaders serve the congregation. These are not seen as honorary postions, but positions of service in which each deacon and ministry leader has a specific task or area over which they are in charge. They, as well as all of the church staff, work under the oversight of the Elders.
The Pulpit Minister at Lexington Church of Christ insures that each member of the congregation is growing in his or her faith through biblical teaching. The Creative Arts Minister organizes our assemblies, leads us in worship, and also coordinates our Children's Ministry.
We are very fortunate to have leaders in all of these areas who are helping us make the vision for our church a reality. We'd like to introduce you to them.
Mr. Allan Whitacre
(wife's name: Carolyn)
Allan Whitacre and his wife, Carolyn, celebrated their 40th Anniversary in 2004. They have two adult children. Kathy and her husband, Tim Coble, graduated from David Lipscomb University in 1989. They have four daughters. Todd and his wife, Dee, graduated from David Lipscomb University in 1993. They have one son and one daughter. Both families are actively involved serving the Lord where they live.
Allan attended Freed-Hardeman University, Harding University and received his BS degree and Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of South Carolina. He began his teaching career at Lower Richland High School and later became an Assistant Principal at C. A. Johnson High School. Since 1978, he has been an Assistant Principal at Lexington High School, Principal at White Knoll Middle School and Principal of Lexington High School. In June of 2002, Allan retired from public education after 35 years.
Allan has served as an Elder of the Lexington Church of Christ since March of 1985. He and Carolyn are involved in the adult education ministry, children's education ministry, and many other activities and ministries of the Lexington Church of Christ.
Dr. Stephen Izard
(wife's name: Erma)
Dr. Stephen Izard and his wife, Erma, have lived in the Columbia, SC, area since 1978. They have four children: Jim, Ben, Laura, and Kari. Steve has served as an Elder of the Lexington Church of Christ since April 1995.
Dr. Izard has an active medical practice in the Northeast Columbia area. In addition to his M.D. degree, Dr. Izard also holds a MS degree and a Ph.D. degree. He is a member of the American Medical Association, The SC Medical Association, The Richland County Medical Society, and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and has a special interest in Occupational Medicine.
Dr. Izard and his wife, Erma, work closely in the many activities and ministries of the Lexington Church of Christ.
Mr. Phil Harrison
(wife's name: Miriam)
Phil and Miriam became Christians as adults in 1984. They have been part of the Lexington Church of Christ family since they moved here in 1987. Both were in the sales profession for many years. Phil continues in that field for NaturChem, Inc., while Miriam works in the home.
The Harrison's have two adult, married daughters and three grandchildren. Their hobbies are traveling and restoring historic homes. Phil has served as an Elder at the Lexington Church of Christ since 2004.
Mr. Jack Close
(wife's name: Karen)
Jack completed his BS degree from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. In 1969, Jack a widower with his son Allen, married Karen. After earning his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Texas in Austin in 1973, the family moved to Canada to work with Western Christian College. During the next 29 years Jack taught math, chemistry, physics, Bible, and Christian Ethics and was the Dean of Men for two years. Jack also served the Church of Christ in Canada as a deacon and an elder.
Jack and Karen moved to Lexington in 2002 in order for Karen to complete graduate work in counseling. Jack taught math, Chemistry, and Physics at Lexington High School and White Knoll High School until he retired in 2007. He currently teaches science as adjunct faculty at Columbia International University. He is enjoying more time to serve as an elder in the church and to devote to his wife, 3 married children and eight grandchildren.
Pulpit Minister
Mr. Allen Close
(wife's name: Laura, and children Luke, Ashley & Brianna)
Allen was born in Dallas, Texas and lived in Texas for eleven years until he moved to Weyburn, Saskatchewan Canada. After high school, Allen attended Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas where he received his BA, MA and the Masters of Divinity in 1993.
While he was at ACU, Allen met and married his wife Laura. Laura was raised on the mission field of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) until her family moved to Lubbock, Texas when she was fourteen. After graduating in 1986, they moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where Allen worked as the Campus Minister and the Pulpit Minister for twelve years. While in Saskatoon, all three of their children—Luke, Ashley, and Brianna—were born.
In August, 1998 the Close's moved to Lexington where Allen is the Pulpit Minister at the Lexington Church of Christ and Laura teaches at Pleasant Hill Elementary school in Lexington. Their son, Luke, is currently attending Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, Ashley will be attending Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and Brianna is in school here in Lexington.
Creative Arts Minister
Rick Castleman
(wife's name: Teresa and children Katie, Micah, and Riley)
Rick Castleman and his wife Teresa joined the Lexington Church family in July of 2004. Rick serves full-time as the Creative Arts Minister. Originally from St. Petersburg, FL, he attended Harding University and majored in art, later graduating from the Gemological Institute of America with the distinction of Graduate Gemologist. He worked for 9 years as a jeweler while leading worship at church part-time. Rick also traveled and performed for 10 years with a contemporary Christian music group, recording 7 albums, before being called into full time ministry with the Lexington Church. Rick and Teresa have three wonderful children: a daughter, Katie, and two sons, Micah and Riley.
Rick and Teresa met at Harding University and married in 1995. As Rick began his career in jewelry, Teresa graduated with a degree in education. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Teresa happily gave up the cold weather for warmer climates and taught school in Arkansas until Katie was born in 2001. She has been a stay at home mother ever since. Micah was born in 2005 and Riley was born in 2008.
Rick’s interests include music performance and production, art, woodworking, videography, digital photography, web design, graphic design, computer technology, fishing and many more. Some folks have called him a renaissance man.
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Mrs. Dawn Wisniewski
(husband's name: Corey and children Bryan, Jake, and Courtney)
Go to the Youth Ministry page
Dawn Wisniewski joined the Lexington Church of Christ family about 13 years ago after moving here from Melbourne, Florida. She met her husband, Corey, in High School and they married during their last semester of college. After graduating from University of Florida in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Microbiology and Cell Science, she and her husband moved to Lexington, SC to pursue his career and begin their family. She now has three children, one of which just entered middle school. Bryan is 12, Jake is 8, and Courtney is almost 7. She has been a stay-at-home mom since they were born. Over the years she has been working with middle school and high school age teens growing and developing relationships, mentoring, organizing and chaperoning events, and teaching. She has a passion for this age group and feels called to this ministry.
Dawn's interests include shopping, scrapbooking, communicating with friends and family through facebook, watching her kids play baseball, basketball, and gymnastics, and watching the Gators play football. Of course, she also enjoys hanging out with the youth group.
Young Adult/College Minister
Keke Brooks
Pastoral Counselor
Mrs. Karen Close
(husband's name: Jack)
Go to the Pastoral Counseling page
Karen & Jack Close were married in 1969 while Jack, a widower, was in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin with a six-year old son, Allen. After Jack graduated in 1973, they moved to Western Christian College in Canada and over the next 29 years she served in a variety of roles at the college, including Dean of Women. Karen was actively involved in her community and volunteered her time on a number of committees and boards. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at Western Christian College.
In 2002 Jack and Karen moved from Manitoba, Canada to Lexington, South Carolina. Karen earned Master’s Degrees in both Christian Education and Pastoral Counseling from Columbia International University where she now serves on faculty as the Director of Christian Service Learning. She is currently a candidate for her Doctorate in Marriage and Family Ministry from Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Her greatest joy comes from her husband Jack and their married children, Allen & Laura, Kristi & Cyrus, John & Angie and their eight grandchildren: Luke, Ashley, Brianna, Maddie, Ethan, Alexa, Connor, and Kayla.
Secretary
Mrs. Mary Turner
(husband's name: John)
Mary grew up in northern Alabama. Mary and John Turner were married in 1979 and were living in Florence, SC at the time. Mary and John moved to Ridgely, WV and later returned to South Carolina, moving to the Lexington area in 1994 and began attending the Lexington Church of Christ. John works for CSX Railroad Company and their children Staci and Jonathan are both attending College at Clemson Universtiy. Mary has served as the church secretary since Nov. 2004.
To contact any of these minstry leaders, click on the mail icon to the left of their name and minstry.
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Mike Bridges & Kris Bridges Hispanic Outreach Ministry |
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Lance Daniel Community Service Projects Ministry |
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Laura Close, Mary Joy, and Karen Lowe Children's Education Ministry |
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Dennis Carter Foreign Missions Ministry |
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Karyn Giles Women's Ministry |
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Ernie Oliver Greeter's Ministry |
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Sharon Carter & Debbie Ross Fellowship Ministry |
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John Turner and AJ McElfresh Grounds & Buildings Ministry |
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Copyright © 2009 Lexington Church of Christ. All Rights Reserved. Questions or Comments? Call the office at 803-359-2002 or, Email us at office@lexingtonchurch.net |
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