ABOUT THE STAFF
Our hope is to see life-change in our lives and to help others experience this change also. We want to pass on what was given to us. In short, our Mission is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
Christ gave the Church leaders (Eph 4:11-16). The commitment of the pastors and elders is that:
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they will be selected and installed according to the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Tim. 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Pet. 5:1–4).
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they will prayerfully seek God’s will for our church community and steward her resources to the best of our ability based on our study of the Scriptures and following of the Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1–4).
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they will care for the church and seek her growth in grace, truth and love (Matt. 28:16–20; Eph. 4:15–16; Col. 1:28; James 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1–4).
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they will provide teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture (Acts 20:27–28; 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:1–5; Titus 2:1).
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they will equip the members of the church for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11–16).
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they will be on guard against false teachers and teachings (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:28–31; 1 Tim. 1:3–7; 1 John 4:1).
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they will lovingly exercise discipline when necessary, for the glory of God, for the good of the one disciplined, and for the health of the church as a whole (Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Cor. 5; Gal. 6:1; James 5:19–20).
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they will set an example and join members in fulfilling the obligations of church membership stated below (Phil. 3:17; 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7–8; 1 Pet. 5:3).
Jeff Smoak
Senior Pastor
Jeff was born and raised in Aiken, SC. He is married to Jennifer and is the father of four: Macayla, Jacob, Michael, and Savanna.
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Jeff graduated from The Citadel in 1995, and he received his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
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Jeff has served as an Associate Pastor in Springfield, TN before coming to Bishop Branch. He has also served in other Upstate SC churches.
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Jeff Whiten
Associate Pastor
Music Minister
Jeff is a native of Toccoa, GA, but has lived most of his life in South Carolina. He is a graduate of Anderson College, Anderson, SC, and Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, TN. He is also a graduate of Southeastern Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, with a Masters of Arts in Christian Education.
He has served B3 since May of 2013. Jeff has also served churches in GA, TN, NC, and SC.
Jeff is blessed with a wonderful family. His wife Suzanne also serves on staff at B3 as its Children’s Minister. They have two daughters: Laura (husband Casey), and Hannah (husband Ryan), son Jesse, and 5 grandchildren: Carter, Riley, Jase, Maddie, and Kinley.
Jeff enjoys playing the guitar, leading the Celebration Choir, and fishing/hunting.
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Suzanne Whiten
Children's Minister
Suzanne was born in Rogersville, Tennessee. She is a graduate of Carson-Newman College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, with a masters degree in Christian Education. Alongside her husband Jeff, she has served churches in NC and SC, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Suzanne is a proud mom to Laura, Hannah, and Jesse and sons in law, Casey and Ryan, and "Lolly" to three of the world's cutest grandsons and two beautiful granddaughters.
Suzanne desires to connect children to God's Word and to partner with families to unwrap the gifts of children to be spiritual giants, leaders of the next generation in the church and the world.
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Nathan Foxx
Youth Pastor
Nathan was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. He graduated from Anderson University with an undergraduate degree in Christian Ministry and a Master of Divinity at Anderson’s Clamp Divinity School.
Nathan is married to Victoria Foxx who teaches English at Riverside Middle School in Pendleton. Both have a passion for serving students by showing them the truth of God's Word.
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Nathan has been serving our Youth Ministry since September 2016
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Tom Stipe
Missions & Evangelism Pastor
Tom was born in Kansas City, Kansas and spent most of his childhood in Orlando, Florida. Tom moved to the upstate in 1975 to attend Clemson University where he graduated with a B.S. in Recreation and Park Administration. In 1981 he married Beth Mullikin of Pendleton, South Carolina. Tom and Beth have 8 children and 15 grandchildren and counting.
In 1982 Tom and Beth joined with several other families and started Anderson Christian Fellowship where Tom served many years as Worship Leader with Beth at the piano. An ordained elder with a heart for missions and evangelism, Tom has been involved with numerous short term missions to Zimbabwe, South Africa, Romania and most recently to China and New Orleans.
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Whitney Storz
Associate Youth Minister
Whitney was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC. She has an undergraduate degree from Anderson University and is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Discipleship from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Whitney desires to serve students as they discover who God has called them to be and enjoys partnering with parents, youth leaders. and the B3 Church Family to provide students with the resources and support system to follow in their calling.
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Whitney has been serving with
The Branch Youth Ministry since
August 2018 and has been in this role since January 2020.
