Deacons

Servant Leadership

Eternal's Deacons are brothers and sisters who come alongside people to help meet practical needs, show compassion and assist in ministry. 
The primary functional roles in which our Deacons serve include: Helps, Hospitality, Stewardship, and Special Events.

Helps Ministry

Comfort and pray with people who are going through seasons of hardship, including but not limited to death of a loved one, medical issues, marital and/or parenting struggles, and loneliness.  Help meet non-financial physical needs such as meals, moving, yard work and the like.
Contact helps ministry

Hospitality Ministry

Foster an environment of joy, connectedness, and community throughout the congregation and amongst the volunteer teams on which they serve.  Proactively engage others in a manner that makes Sunday services a comfortable, smooth, gospel-centered, and hospitable experience for every man, woman, and child that walks through the front door of the church.
Contact hospitality ministry

Stewardship Ministry

Provide tangible help to people in need, often financial, both within the church and in the broader community, in such a way that people are pointed to Jesus and witness Him working through the church.
Contact stewardship ministry

Special Events Ministry

Serve as a resource for special events and projects that either take place at the church building, are organized at the church-wide level, or are add-ons to the typical Sunday service.
Contact Special Events Ministry

Our Deacons

Dennis Belov
Cindy Carroll
Garrett Copeland
Kim Gray
Kristy Fleming
Ronda Patterson
Scott Patterson
Cori Rockey
John Shumate
Nancy Swicegood
Emily Zimmer

Dennis Belov

Contact Dennis
Spouse:  Cassie Belov
Family:  Kate (6), Nathan (4), Caleb (1)

What are your hobbies & interests? Traveling, biking, surfing, building things, cooking, gardening

Brief story of how you came to faith:  I came to faith and was also baptized when I was ~13 years old. I had the holy spirit in me since that young age, but the very secular world around me pulled at me and did not make it easy to live a fruitful life. I was in this tension until sophomore year of college when I attended a conference in Atlanta, GA with thousands of other young believers that opened my eyes to Jesus being much more than my personal savior and the holy spirit as my nagging conscience. During that conference I also evaluated the lack of fruit in my walk with Christ, so I repented and committed to walking intentionally with Jesus. The fruits of this continued walk manifest today as engaging in intentional conversation and relationships in the communities God has put me in, raising 3 kiddos up in the word, loving and serving my wife, and engaging in an active relationship with God.

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Cindy Carroll

Contact Cindy
Spouse:  Scott
Family:  Chann Carroll (Adult), Chris Carroll (Adult), Jessi Kuykendall (Adult)

What are your hobbies & interests? Traveling, Camping, Hiking, Working in the Yard, Reading, Riding the Motorcycle

Brief story of how you came to faith:  After completing the confirmation class as a third grader at St. John’s Methodist Church in Rock Hill I received Christ and was sprinkled in a private ceremony on a Sunday morning. It was not until later years when Scott and I were dating in high school that my spiritual growth and understanding made a difference in my life. The excitement in the teaching and sharing at First Baptist Church was refreshing. I was baptized there and became a member before we married. So many people there had such impact on our lives and encouraged us as we teamed together as we followed Jesus in His calling on our life. It has been an adventure and lesson in trusting him. And the adventure continues.

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Garrett Copeland

Treasurer of Eternal Church

Contact Garrett
Spouse: Lauren
Family: Scarlett (9), Annie Reese (7), Lucy (5)

What are your hobbies & interests? I love spending time with my wife Lauren and three girls (bonus points if it is outdoors), exercising, playing sports, reading, and learning.

Brief story of how you came to faith: While I grew up attending church, I did not have a personal relationship with Christ as a youth or teenager. That changed when the Lord spoke to me (not audibly, but loud and clear) during a beach trip I went on during Spring Break of my Freshman year of college.  From that point forward, I gave my life to Christ.  I began to read the Word, got involved in campus ministries, repented of the sin patterns I was engaging in, and developed a personal walk with Christ. Since that time, I have been blessed to be mentored by some fantastic men who have led me to pursue a deeper, abiding relationship with Christ.  

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Kim Gray

Contact Kim
Spouse: Dan
Family: 5 adult children, 2 youngest in college

What are your hobbies & interests?  Spending time with family playing games and enjoying the outdoors together!  Reading and learning to play pickleball

Brief story of how you came to faith:  I came to faith in Jesus at a young age with my mom.  However it was until I was a young teenager that I trusted  my life to the Lord at Summer camp and believed that I was deeply loved by God and He had a plan for my life and I could trust Him completely.  It was a beautiful and life changing moment!  He has been so faithful through the years and I am forever thankful for His tender mercies and kindness over my life.

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Kristy Fleming

Contact Kristy
Spouse:  Troy
Family:  Brooke Krantz, Rachel Krantz, Aidan Fleming (all adults)

What are your hobbies & interests? Reading, Yoga, SUP (Stand up paddle boarding), Gardening, Walking/Hiking

Brief story of how you came to faith: I grew up in a Christian family going to church each Sunday and often throughout the week.  I never knew a point in my life where I did not know about God or the Bible. I got baptized as a 13 year old.   I have been part of a faith community throughout my entire life and have always found that important for my continued growth and development. Having said that my understanding and faith has definitely deepened over the years, especially in times of trial and difficulty as God has refined me and done his sanctifying work. 

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Ronda Patterson

Contact Ronda
Spouse:  Scott
Family:  Ally (adult), Sydney (adult), Jay (14)

What are your hobbies & interests? Enjoy reading, travel, walking and entertaining friends and family.

Brief story of how you came to faith:  Was raised in a little Baptist church in Indian Land, SC. My mom ensured my brother and I were there every time the doors opened! I accepted Jesus as my personal savior during Vacation Bible School when I was 7, was Baptized as a public profession of faith a few years later as my parents wanted me to be certain of my decision. I’m as certain now as I was then, and so very thankful for my Jesus and for God's ready presence throughout my life!

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Scott Patterson

Contact Scott
Spouse:  Ronda
Family: Ally (adult), Sydney (adult), Jay (14)

What are your hobbies & interests?


Brief story of how you came to faith:

Cori Rockey

Contact Cori
Spouse:  Guy
Family: Ryan and Brooke, Nicole and Nate, Devon Kyle (adult) Tycho, Hayden, Connor  and Kaleb, grandsons

What are your hobbies & interests? family, reading, some animal care, chickens and sheep, history, marriage

Brief story of how you came to faith: I grew up in a legalistic cult, we kept most of the old testament laws and traditions.  We knew that we were chosen people who had the truth delivered to us through our apostle.  It was drilled into my brain to “prove all things and hold fast that which is good” so there was no need to question all the teachings.  I was in this cult from approximately 9 to 40.  The problem for me was that I knew I was not keeping all the rules and so I was condemned to eternal death.  My experience did not involve any understanding of the Holy Spirit or of the completeness of the work of Jesus.  Yes, I believed He died for my sins, but I was in effect and by my actions that salvation was under my control.
But, God, in His mercy broke through my life and showed me His mercy and grace.  He opened my eyes and it was only by a miracle.  God opened my eyes as well as Guys eyes and changed everything.  My family disowned me, they have told me that I “took the easy way out” and am destined for the lake of fire
Since God turned my life upside down, or maybe a better view is that He turned my life right side up.  I have tried to follow Him, but not in order to secure my salvation but because I want to know Him and to please Him.  I can rest now, knowing that God is my Father and He will never leave me, no matter the circumstances that God brings me through.

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John Shumate

Contact John
Spouse:  Deanna
Family: Rachel, Genevieve, Jane, Liam, Elise, and Isaiah

What are your hobbies & interests?


Brief story of how you came to faith:

Nancy Swicegood

Contact Nancy
Spouse: Shawn
Family: Tanner (son), Courtney (DIL), Faith (daughter)

What are your hobbies & interests? I enjoy traveling (and eating donuts from every place I visit), taking lots of pictures, watching football, reading and spending quality time with my family and friends.

Brief story of how you came to faith: Growing up, I was one of five children in a blended family where we went to church every Sunday. When I was 8 yrs old, my mom made a huge sacrifice and allowed me to go to a different church from the rest of my family. It was at “my” church that I came to faith in Christ at age 10 and the Lord gave me a deep desire to know His Word and to share the Gospel with others. However, during my late teens and college years, I experienced some very difficult and tragic events that were devastating to me. In my pain, grief and confusion, I became so angry with God that I turned away from Him. Honestly, it wasn’t until I got married and had children of my own that I truly turned back to Him. Then in 2002, the Lord used an in-depth Bible study that I participated in to radically transform my life! My personal relationship with Him has never been the same since and continues to grow deeper and stronger to this day! One thing that has been pivotal for me is getting to know God and His character (attributes) through Scripture. The more I get to know Him, the more I can trust Him, especially when difficult or uncertain things happen. I have learned that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. 

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Emily Zimmer

Deacon Chair

Contact Emily
Spouse: John
Family: Luke (son, 18)

What are your hobbies & interests? I enjoy any and all family time with my husband John and son Luke. I also enjoy taking long walks in our neighborhood, hiking, workouts at Burn Bootcamp and traveling to beautiful places.

Brief story of how you came to faith: I grew up in a Christian home as an adopted only child of wonderful parents who taught me with both words and actions what it looks like to follow Jesus. My dad tells me that when I was about five years old, we had the TV in the kitchen tuned to a church service one day, and during the altar call, I told him I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. So he helped me pray with the preacher on the screen to give my life to Jesus. I didn’t really have my own memory of that moment, so when I was 10, attending a Christian summer camp with a friend down in Valdosta, GA, I rededicated my life to the Lord because I wanted to have that moment that I knew for sure and could remember making my own decision to follow Jesus. The Lord has been so gracious to provide communities of faith in each season and location of my life, showing me in ever deepening ways who He is, how He is at work in the world, and inviting me to join Him in that work. That is my heart’s desire - to pour myself out in service to Him and to be shaped each day, little by little, to look more and more like Him - through surrender, dependence and abiding.

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