Church Leadership

Elders

Eric Bitting

Elder

Eric Bitting is the Elder focused primarily on Youth.

Tommie Washington

Elder

Tommie Washington is the Elder focused primarily on Evangelism & Technology.

As an Army Brat, Tommie traveled extensively growing up, but spent most of childhood in Southern New Jersey and Germany. He obeyed the gospel 1990 at the Northeast Philadelphia church of Christ, where he was a volunteer Youth Leader, Teacher, Song Leader and Preacher. Tommie has served as a Deacon, and now an Elder at the Gold Hill Road church of Christ. He has a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a Master’s Degree in Motion Media.

Tommie and his wife Leila have two children, Aaron and Ethan. Aaron and his wife Rebecca are graduates of Freed-Hardeman University. Ethan is currently pursuing a degree in Communications at FHU.

Brett Pharr

Elder

Brett Pharr is the Elder focused primarily on Education & Missions.

A Virginia native, Pharr graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He later went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Bristol University. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Freed-Hardeman University.

Prior to helping found the Church of Christ at Gold Hill Road, Brett was active as a teacher at East Bristol Church of Christ, a Deacon and teacher at Westside Church of Christ in Salem, VA and a teacher at Charlotte Avenue Church of Christ.

In his free time, Pharr enjoys spending time with his wife Nancy and their daughter Brittany, playing softball, snow skiing, and investing.

Mark Inness

Elder

Mark Inness is the Elder focused primarily on Finance.

He grew up in the Church in Northeast Arkansas. He attended Crowley’s Ridge Academy, A small Christian School in Paragould Arkansas and later graduated from Harding University, with a degree in Business Administration. Mark and his family moved to South Carolina from Arlington, Texas where they were active in the Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ. There Mark served as a Deacon, a teacher and a Care Group Leader.

Mark and his wife Paula(P.J.) have 3 children, Tyler, Connor and Catherine. In his spare time Mark enjoys golf, softball, and spending time with his family.

Keith Franklin

Elder

Keith Franklin is the Elder focused primarily on Benevolence and Involvement.

He is a native of Gary, In. and a graduate of South Carolina State University (1977) where he obtained a B.S. degree in Music Education. He owned his own Insurance Agency in Charlotte, NC for 35 years before retiring in 2015, to begin serving the church and congregational needs full time.

Keith was added to the church in Augusta GA. at the Florence St COC in 1979 at the age of 24 and then moved to Charlotte, NC in 1980. While living in Charlotte he was appointed an Elder at the Archdale COC in Charlotte prior to Gold Hill Rd as well as helping to establish another congregation in Charlotte, NC.

Keith and his wife Rhunette have been married going on 40 years and have 3 children (Shanna, Marja and Alex) who all members of the body of Christ. They have 6 grandchildren.

Dave Beels

Elder

Dave Beels is the Elder focused primarily on Building & Grounds.

He relocated to South Carolina from western Pennsylvania with his family in 1987. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Engineering from Grove City College in Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Winthrop University in Rock Hill SC. Dave obeyed the gospel as a young adult at Charlotte Avenue in Rock Hill SC. The Beels’ family helped establish The Lord’s Church at Gold Hill Road.

Dave is married to Kim and have two grown sons; Stephen and Daniel. Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, traveling, fishing, and golf.

A Message From The Elders

Ministers

Jeff Trotter

Minister

Jeff Trotter has been a minister with us since the beginning of the congregation in 1996. He was the only minister until 2008 when Steve Miller came as the Associate. Steve has been a blessing and he and Jeff have formed a wonderful team.

Jeff grew up in Rock Hill and benefitted from the teaching and nurturing of the Charlotte Avenue congregation. His father, though aged, is still an active member there. During his undergraduate studies at Freed-Hardeman University, Jeff met and married his life partner, Mary Alice. She is a blessing of course to him, but as well to all those around her.

Jeff earned his Master’s in Religion degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville and then moved to Bristol, Virginia where he began his work as the minister for the East Bristol Church of Christ. After 11 years in Virginia, Jeff and Mary Alice came to his home area to support the fledgling congregation at Gold Hill Road.

Jeff believes that a minister should be doctrinally sound in the Word of God and a lover of people both within the church and in the community He should strive to relate to everyone in both teaching and preaching, and in day to day contact. Jeff appreciates your prayers as he continues to work on those attributes.

When he is not teaching, preaching, studying, or sharing time with others, you’ll find Jeff possibly enjoying a round of golf, catching up on the latest sports news, or traveling with Mary Alice.

Steve Miller

Minister of Spiritual Growth

The Spiritual Growth Minister’s goal is to recruit members who are willing to develop themselves into better students of God’s Word, who are willing to stretch themselves into opportunities to serve and work, and who are willing to be mentored for the service of Christ. This is accomplished by creating a culture conducive to growth: to provide opportunities (classes, studies, discussions – scheduled within church meeting times as well as outside), resources (books & materials), experience (serve, teach, and participate in worship, ministries, programs) and relationships, so members can study and develop skills and grow in their relationship to God.

After graduating James A. Garfield High School, he completed a bachelor’s degree in Business and Ethics at Asbury University (Wilmore, KY) and finished the M.A. Min., from Freed-Hardeman University (2017, Henderson, TN).

Steve and his wife Deanna have a daughter, Chelsea, who is married to Clay Batts; granddaughter, Maisy Batts, and one son, Isaiah, who is married to Abby Lambert.

Steve enjoys books, research, writing, Church / Restoration History, playing and listening to vintage Country and Bluegrass music, collecting vintage country music memorabilia going to the beach with Danna, and photography. He enjoys good coffee, burgers, and BBQ as well.

Chad Garrett

Minister

251.510.7069

Chad was brought on staff as “Missionary in Residence” in 2012 to help Gold Hill Road church grow more locally. He has been working part time with the Gold Hill and part time on the mission field.

Chad has worked worked in 7 different countries as a missionary, but recently is concentrating in East Africa. He started a preaching school in Kisii, Kenya and is working with 24 congregations there. Meanwhile Chad is helping with local Bible studies and training those who want to study the Gospel others.

Chad earned a Bachelors degree in Nursing and a Masters degree in Theology.

Chad and his wife Amanda have two boys, Koen and Mostyn, and enjoy their small farm in Rock Hill, SC. Chad and Amanda are both registered nurses and appreciate a balanced life of health and wellness.