Dr. Mark Trump – Professor in School of Christian Ministries
Greetings to you all. My official name and title is Mark L. Trump, Ph.D., Rev., Associate Professor of Christian Ministries at Emmanuel College. But really, I am just someone on the journey of faith who has chosen to try to make the most out of, and be faithful with, the interests and abilities that God gave me. I enjoy teaching. I think that it is what God has created me to do. I also enjoy being around learning environments where people want to wrestle through the issues of Christian faith, theology, and practice. I also thoroughly enjoyed the 12 years that I served as a pastor in various ways.
I began my college career in art school first at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and then at Savannah College of Art and Design before finishing my undergraduate degree, after a change of major and submitting my life to Christ, at Messiah College. I received a BA in Biblical Studies and a minor in Art. Academics was my gift, as was pastoring people, so I knew that I always wanted to keep these two worlds together. So after spending several years as a youth pastor, I returned to school and completed two Masters Degrees, one in Biblical Studies and the other in Theological Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. For some of my time at Asbury, I also served as a Youth Pastor at a church outside of Detroit Michigan and then taught Hebrew and Greek at Asbury Seminary before completing my education (a Ph.D.) in Religious Studies with a concentration in New Testament at Marquette University. Yet even while I was working on my Ph.D., I served as the Lead Pastor of two United Methodist churches in Racine and Union Grove Wisconsin. I came to Emmanuel in 2012 with an interest in training up the next generation of leaders for God’s Kingdom.
When I am not teaching or grading, I am doing a lot of things. I paint and design sets for my son’s theater company, I enjoy riding my mountain bike, I occasionally run (the latest adventure is preparing to run my first 5K), and I really love fishing for trout in the North Georgia Mountains. That is probably the best way for me to “recharge.” Basically, I love being outside in creation, it is the Sacred Pathway that I use to connect with God and to relax. I also spend a great deal of time with my wife of over 20 years and our two children.
Rev. Jason McCary – Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries
Jason has been married to his high school sweetheart (Marcia) since 1995 and is father to, Reagan (2002) and Gabe (2005). Jason served in youth ministry for a number of years before serving as campus pastor at Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma City in the early 2000’s. In 2003 Jason and Marcia moved back to their hometown of Greenwood, SC to pastor REALife Church, where they ministered from 2003-2016. In 2016 Jason accepted a full-time position with the Upper South Carolina Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church Discipleship Ministries Director and Director for the Upper South Carolina Conference School of Ministry. Jason holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies and Master’s of Ministry from Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma City, a Master’s of Theological Studies from Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, TN, and is presently a Doctoral Candidate at Southeastern University in Lakeland Florida. In Fall 2019 Jason accepted a full-time faculty position for Emmanuel College’s School of Christian Ministries. He is especially passionate about guiding those who sense a particular call to vocational Christian ministry.
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Mike Luper –
I came to Emmanuel College in 1997, along with my wife Cindy, and two boys, Rob and Dave. At that time I felt a clear call of God to come and be a part of Emmanuel College and the School of Christian Ministries. In the over two decades I have been here, that sense of God’s call, and the certainty of the choice to come, have been confirmed. Over the years it has been exciting to see the Lord at work in the lives of so many students who have come into the School of Christian ministries with the call of God upon their lives, and a desire to be trained for ministry. We are blessed with faculty who have the academic, as well as practical experience to provide the best training available anywhere. Perhaps more importantly, we have a faculty that has a heart for students, and a desire to see them grow not just mentally, but experientially as well. I believe it is this commitment to our students and their training that has made our graduates so highly sought after for positions of ministry. I am excited about what the Lord is doing in the School of Christian Ministries currently, and continue to look to the future with expectation of what he will continue to do.
Pastor Chris Maxwell –
Chris Maxwell served 19 years as lead pastor in Orlando, Florida, after five years of youth ministry. He’s now in his 16th year as Campus Pastor and Director of Spiritual Life at Emmanuel College. He speaks in churches, conventions, and schools, and is the author of ten books, including “Pause With Jesus,” “Underwater,” and “a slow and sudden God: 40 years of wonder.” His latest book is his 2nd collection of poems—“embracing now: pain, joy, healing, living.” Chris loves books, sports, time with students, and time with his family. He and his wife Debbie have three sons and daughters in law, and eight grandchildren.
Trés Ward –
Trés serves as Director of Ministry Teams, Assistant to the President,, and as an adjunct faculty member at Emmanuel College (GA) where he leads special projects and plans events for the Office of the President, teaches courses in Worship Ministry and Music Education, and directs the worship ministry teams including the Emmanuel Singers, The Voices of Emmanuel, Conquest, and Chapel Worship.
He is an advocate for worship renewal. He develops students and works alongside local churches to make disciples through the arts of music and biblical preaching.A fourth-generation preacher and credentialed minister within the Cornerstone Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Trés communicates to a wide audience and is a frequent camp speaker, choir director, worship leader, and Fine Arts adjudicator. He serves as a Worship consultant to IPHC Discipleship Ministries and is the IPHC Next Generation Representative to the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA). He has preached revivals and youth camps, served on staff in three IPHC churches, led domestic and overseas mission teams, and has ministered in Spanish in five Central/South American countries including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Prior to his work at Emmanuel College, Trés taught four years of high school music in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he led a 115-voice choral program to annual Superior ratings at the North Carolina High School Choral Music Performance Adjudication. His choirs have sung in every state on the East Coast from Maryland to Florida as well as including New York City, Nashville, Orlando, and Washington, D. C.
Trés holds the Master of Divinity degree from Liberty University (2020), the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Appalachian State University (2013) and is a candidate for the Ph.D. in Christian Worship at Liberty University. He is married to his favorite girl and singer, Rachael, and they reside in Lavonia, Georgia.
Pastor Tracy Reynolds –
Tracy Reynolds has been in pastoral ministry for over forty years vocationally, serving lengthy tenures in three local churches. By day, he serves as Discipleship Pastor at Grace Fellowship, a thriving church near Athens, Georgia. By night, he is an adjunct professor at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Richmont Graduate University since Spring 2017. He holds a Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University as well as masters and bachelors degrees in Music Education. He is a lifelong learner in all areas of leadership, discipleship, and organizational development. Tracy Reynolds has served as a John Maxwell EQUIP Associate Trainer for the past 18+ years in the Philippines. He has traveled extensively across the islands training leaders in Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan City, Urdaneta, Naga, Baguio, Dumaguete, and other regions of the Philippines as well as Ukraine, Brazil, and Jamaica. Dr. Reynolds has also served as a Leadership Coach and Trainer with Dr. Tim Elmore’s Growing Leaders, Inc. His wife, Lisa, and he have been married over forty years. They have two grown children and three granddaughters. He loves jazz, Starbucks coffee, and training the next generation of leaders! Most people affectionately refer to him as “Pastor Tracy” or simply “PT”. Campus Pastor, Chris Maxwell, and Tracy Reynolds publish a weekly podcast entitled Next Step Leadership.
On-Line handles:
https://nextstepleadership.buzzsprout.com
Facebook: C. Tracy Reynolds
Twitter: @ctracyreynolds
LinkedIn: Tracy Reynolds
Email: treynolds@ec.edu
Eric Foster-Whiddon-
Originally from Moultrie GA and currently living in Scotland, Eric Foster-Whiddon relocated to the UK with his wife and three teenage children to pursue postgraduate studies in New Testament. A second-career scholar (or third, but who’s counting?), he returned to the academy after a decade in pastoral ministry and almost another decade in entrepreneurship. Eric holds a BA in Christian Ministries from Emmanuel College, an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of St Andrews researching the Gospel of John. Alongside his research, Eric tutors biblical studies courses at St Andrews, teaches Latin online for Colquitt Christian Academy, and is an adjunct professor with EC Online. His professional goal is to serve the church through research, writing, and teaching those in preparation for pastoral ministry. Eric enjoys guitars, vinyl records, old books, ancient languages, and hiking with his friends.
Robby Brown –
Pastor Robby began teaching in the SCM in 2010. He is a graduate of Emmanuel College (BS Religion) and Southeastern Baptist Seminary (MDiv). He is currently completing his D.Min. at Mid-America Seminary in Memphis, TN.
Pastor Robby is married to Tina and has served as the lead pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Danielsville since 2000. Pastor Robby and Tina also lead the college ministry at Trinity. Prior to coming to Trinity, he spent 10 years as a student pastor and minister of education in churches in North Carolina and Georgia.
Pastor Robby’s passion is to equip families and students to experience life the way God intended by expounding to them the truths of Holy Scripture. Emmanuel College provides him with further opportunity to equip students to discover the “boundless riches of Christ” revealed in God’s Word. (Eph. 3:8)
Dr. Keith T. Marriner –
Keith T. Marriner has formally served in Christian higher education for nearly two decades. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor of Christians Ministries at Emmanuel College and as an adjunct faculty member at Liberty University Online, School of Religion. Besides teaching students, Keith is the Executive Editor of One Accord Resources, which produces Sunday school and small group literature. He also serves as an elder of his local church. Keith holds degrees from Emmanuel College (B.A.) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M., and Ed.D.). He is the author of Following the Lamb: The Theme of Discipleship in the Book of Revelation (Wipf & Stock, 2016), as well as the author of articles, book reviews, and Sunday School literature. When he is not teaching students and editing literature, Keith enjoys spending time with his family, playing disc golf, and watching sports, especially college basketball. He and his wife, who met at Emmanuel College, live in Northeast Georgia with their two daughters.
Andrew Gilmore –
Andrew has served in the church in a variety of leadership roles since 2008, and currently is the Director of Discipleship and Children’s Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. He and his wife have been married for 13 years and have an 8-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. Andrew holds a BA in Biblical Studies from Messiah University, a MDiv and MA in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a ThM in Old Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary. During his time in graduate school, he also studied in Israel. He has taught at various colleges and seminaries since 2008. Andrew’s passion in ministry is helping to create pathways where people can encounter God and develop their faith. In addition to serving in the church and teaching, Andrew is a big fan of the US Men’s soccer team. He also enjoys coaching his son’s soccer team, walking his 2 dogs Katniss and Sunny, as well as playing with his kids.
Lance Brooks
In 1991 Lance began his tenure as an associate Conductor at the Boys of Harlem in Harlem, New York. During his time at the Boys Choir, Lances’ primary responsibilities included but were not limited to training students in the art of singing and recruiting new talent to the organization. Many of these students performed with artists such as Stevie Wonder and Michael McDonald and have recorded with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, and Brian McKnight. The students performed for a vast range of audiences ranging from heads of state at the United Nations, United States Presidents at the White House, and Arts patrons at Lincoln Center in New York City. His proudest moment in this arena was preparing choir members to perform with the New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur as Conductor.
In 2003 Lance Brooks transitioned into full-time ministry and has served as the Worship Arts Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Athens, Ga., where he continues to be a full-time staff member. His passion for the next generation is the primary theme in his life and ministry. For this reason, Pastor Lance created and developed Harmony in Motion student performing Arts program and, for the past 19 years, has dedicated much of his time to helping young people discover and develop their gifts and talents. Pastor Lance has taken students on choir mission trips to New York and New Jersey, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Vatican City in Rome. He’s also had students participate in Junior and Teen Talent through the Church of God denomination and has served as a Teen Talent adjudicator for national and international Competitions. His influence has produced next-generation Pastors, Worship Pastors, Artists, and Music Educators.
Lance believes it is also crucial for the church to do what is necessary to be as progressive as possible. He firmly believes the Word of God and God are immutable, but the application must be considered and modified where permissible to be relevant to the upcoming generations.
Lance attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, where he studied Church Music with an emphasis in voice. He also attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN, where he studied Ministry Leadership with an emphasis in Music and Worship.
Lance and his wife of thirty years, Sandra, have five beautiful children, Angelia, Gabrielle, Joshua, Josiah, and Justin, and two adorable grandbabies, Esther and Jacob.
