Stephen Carpenter, a 48-year-old native of Canton, Ohio, recently assumed duties as senior minister at Christ’s Church at Whitewater in Fayetteville.

The Carpenter family was introduced to the congregation of Christ’s Church on Sept. 18 through the Sunday morning worship services, and an afternoon meet-and-greet reception and question and answer session. He began preaching Sunday services Oct. 16.

Carpenter recently completed an 11-year ministry at Countryside Christian Church in Midlothian, Va., where he was the founding pastor.

Prior to that, he served with the Christian Missionary Fellowship in Northampton, England, where he planted a thriving church in the British Midlands.

Carpenter also has served at Spring Branch Christian Church in Houston, Texas, as an associate pastor, and with Cherry Avenue Christian Church in Charlottesville, Va. as the youth minister.

Before joining the ministry, he served as legislative director for Congressman Bob McEwen and director of organization for the McEwen Congressional campaign from 1979-1982.

He is a graduate of Milligan College and also has studied at Emmanuel School of Religion and Fuller Theological Seminary.

He and his wife, Beth Ann, have been married for 23 years. They have three children, Kirsten, 19, Meredith, 16, and Ryan, 13. In addition to spending time with his family, Carpenter says he enjoys reading and playing sports, especially tennis, golf, and sailing.

Carpenter grew up in Canton, Ohio, as the son and grandson of a minister, who he says, passed on a legacy of faith and ministry to him.

“Grandpa Carpenter always told me that God puts His men where He needs them, Carpenter said. “I prayed for God to put me where He needs me and where He can use me for His work. I believe Christ’s Church has needs for which I am uniquely qualified as a senior minister. God opened the door and here we are!”

Carpenter says that Christ’s Church’s potential is one thing that attracted him.

“I see a warm, dedicated community of Christians at Christ’s Church. I believe this church can grow and I want to be a part of it — to help make it happen,” Carpenter said. He says he loves a challenge, and is anxious to develop the church property which would include adding a new worship center, administrative offices, and additional recreational facilities.

He says he also wants to focus on outreach and to create an awareness in the community that Christ’s Church is a great place to belong.

Darren Phillips, an elder at Christ’s Church and chairman of the senior minister search team, says that Carpenter was recommended to them by several trusted friends and former members of the congregation. He adds that Carpenter has a unique and solid background in the Christian Church in that his father, Richard, his father-in-law, Bob Shannon, and other family members are well-known and successful ministers, which offers a great connection with the members of Christ’s Church.

Phillips said the search team desired to find “a man with not only a heart for evangelism but a lifestyle of evangelism.”

Phillips adds, “I think the Lord will use Stephen and his wife, Beth Ann, to unite us in one purpose and with the other churches and Christians in our community to accomplish what Jesus has called us to here and in places around the world.”

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