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| Church Staff (scroll down to see all) |
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Senior Pastor: Bryant Harris (shown with his wife Linda)
Dr. Bryant C. Harris was born and raised in Tidewater, Virginia, graduating from Old Dominion University in 1982. He graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1986 with a Master of Divinity Degree and received his first call to ordained ministry as an associate pastor at Third Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina that same year. Moving to Columbus, Georgia in 1990, Bryant became the pastor of Morningside Presbyterian Church. While pastor of Morningside, Bryant completed his Doctor of Ministry degree, also from Columbia Theological Seminary.Bryant began his ministry at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church in March, 1995. Bryant's family includes his wife, Linda, their daughter Jennifer, and son, Christopher. |
Director of Music: Barabara Efird
Barbara has been with Mars Hill Church since 1998 as the Director of Music. In addition to staff position at Mars Hill, she has a private piano studio and a small picture framing business. Holding a bachelor and a master degree in music performance from the University of North Carolina she also completed all course work toward a doctorate of music performance at the University of North Texas and spent a year abroad studying at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. After 18 years away from music working in a variety of positions at GE, she returned to a music career in 1996. She has made a number of professional recordings, both in the United States and Europe. Barbara served as a staff accompanist, accompanying both student and faculty recitals at Kennesaw State University.
During her music career, Barbara served in many churches and many denominations over numerous states. She has been in churches as small as 100 members and as large as 4000, functioning in a variety of capacities. One church choir had only 8 singers while another contained 110 teens.
Her non musical interests include a love of animals... she currently has 3 dogs, all rescues who are lovable "mutts." Her other great passion is for her piano students. "These kids tend to stay in my studio for years. They grow from young children into young adults and our lives stay connected for many years. The studio provides a way for me to share my faith while also sharing the joy of music."
To sum up, she uses a wonderful quote, "'God gave us music that we might pray without words.' Music has the power to move us to a place where we encounter God to both praise Him and to ask for strength, hope, courage, peace and to continually rekindle our faith." |
Christian Growth Director: Michael Porter
Born and raised in the Acworth area, Michael returned to his hometown after earning his BS in Psychology from the University of Georgia and his Masters in Christian Psychological Studies from P.S.I. in Atlanta. Michael's passion is seeing people ALIVE, giving up the concerns of this world to worship the King. Michael has a son, Avery, who is a beautiful reminder of God's grace and life-giving childlike faith. |
Diane Chiprany - Preschool Director
Originally from Millersburg, Pennsylvania, Diane graduated from Bloomsburg University with a B.S. in Spanish/Education. She taught for a total of 10 years in Westmoreland County, Virginia and Cobb County, Georgia. In addition to teaching elementary Spanish, middle school Spanish and reading, high school Spanish and adult Spanish classes, she has lead many group tours of students, parents and community members to Mexico. Diane and her husband David have two children who both graduated from Mars Hill Church Preschool. The Chiprany's are members of Mars Hill Presbyterian Church. Diane started her preschool director position at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church in February, 2005. |
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