Elders

Brad Neese

Senior Pastor

• Grew up near South Bend, Indiana (Go Notre Dame!)
• Accepted Jesus around age 6
• Graduated from Cedarville University (B.A.) and Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M. and D.Min.)
• Involved in short-term mission opportunities in Italy, Alaska, Jamaica, Mexico and U.S.
• Began pastoring full time in 2006 in Michigan
• Married to Crystal since 2001 and have four children: Elianah, Caleb, Elizabeth, Samuel
• Member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Homiletical Society
• Certified CounselAid Administer and SYMBIS Facilitator
• Enjoy reading, spending time with family, baseball and learning new things

Chip Atkinson

• Born in Florida and raised in Greensboro, N.C.
• Accepted Christ in 1994 at age 33.
• Prior to accepting Christ operated an automotive service center and gas station.
• Attended Columbia International University between 1996 and 2000 earning a Master of Arts in Leadership.
• Owned and operated two small businesses, pressure washing, painting and remodeling, one while in seminary and one around 2007.
• I met and married my wife, Tana, while attending CIU. We have been married for 23 years!
• We have been at Fellowship for 22 years where I served for 4 year as associate pastor. Other ministry involvement include Missions Team leader, deacon liaison, small group leader.
• Activities enjoyed are not limited to but include boating, fishing, beach, hunting, all things NASCAR, shooting guns and compound bows, cars, and spending time with Tana.
• I have been on staff with Crossover Global for 18 years in various positions.
• Currently I serve as the U.S. Assistant Director of Crossover Global.

Howard Blomberg

• Born in Mississippi and raised in Florida
• Accepted Christ at the Tallahassee Federal Savings and Loan building in March 1969 at age 11
• Attended Troy State University and earned a B.S. in Theater, Art and Writing Arts
• Met my precious wife, Laura, at Troy and married in 1979. We have raised 4 sons and now watch over the growth of two marriages and 8 wonderful, brilliant, good-lookin’ grandchildren
• Earned a Masters in Theology from the seminary of Columbia International University
• Owner of Handyman Helper, LLC, a handyman service in the Lexington and Richland county area
• Enjoy woodworking, writing, handiwork, movies, reading and, most of all, being a husband, father and grandfather

Brion Burns

• Born and raised in North Dakota
• Accepted Christ when 18 while on the way to join the Navy
• Spent 6 years in the Navy working with electronics
• Graduated from Columbia International University
• Serve as Associate Dean for Student Life at CIU
• Married to Dianne in 1978 and have 3 children—Josh, Alison, and Ryan
• Been involved with FBC since 1986; ministries include small group leader, missions team liaison
• Hobbies:  running, watching sports (particularly Boston’s Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins), playing cards, and reading
• Involved with Columbia International University’s Prison Initiative

John Davidson, elder emeritus

• Grew up in Darlington, S. C.
• Accepted Christ at age 32 through a small group Bible study
• Graduated from USC
• Ex VP for Columbia International University for 24 years (Financial and Business areas)
• Independent registered investment advisor and consultant since 2000
• Married to Carolyn, two daughters, four grandchildren
• Part of FBC founding group since its beginning in 1983
• Enjoy helping others with financial issues
• Like being on the lake, travel, photography, and time with grandkids

Mike Harvell

• Born in Virginia, moved to South Carolina at the age of 12.
• Accepted Christ at the age of 19 after my freshman year in college.
• Graduated from Charleston Southern University with a B.A. in Religion.
• I met my wife, Cindy at Chapin High School and we married in 1978.
• After college we spent five years with Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Texas, Micronesia, and the Philippines.
• Began attending FBC in 1984.
• Since 1984 I’ve been working in the field of Alternative Energy.
• I enjoy hanging out with my wife, seven children, their spouses, and grand kids, along with watching and playing anything of a competitive nature.  That means I lose a lot.

Wade Hasty

• Born and raised in Georgia
• Accepted Christ at 17 while a senior in high school
• Spent six years in the Navy working with computers and electronics
• Graduated from Clemson University (B.A.) and the University of South Carolina (M.A.)
• Public school Spanish and ESOL teacher since 2005
• Took my first short term mission trip in 2011
• Married my amazing wife Sabrina in 2015
• Began attending FBC in 2016
• Enjoy spending time with my wife and children (Claire, Olivia, and Ethan), learning, watching sports (Go Tigers!), and being outdoors

Dick Hohn

• Born in Dayton, Ohio and moved to South Carolina in 1970
• Accepted Christ at age 35
• Degrees from Otterbein College, Ohio State University, and Temple University
• Middle school/Junior High English teacher and football, basketball, and track coach
• Wilmington College (Ohio) physical education instructor and football/baseball coach
• University of South Carolina professor in the College of Education, Department of Physical Education in Curriculum, Motor Learning, Teacher Education
• Began with Fellowship Bible Church in 1983
• Been married to Sally Ballou Hohn since 1966. Have two children – Greg, married to Lisa, an air force pilot stationed in Florida, and Megan, married to Shawn Norris, living in Lexington, SC. He is an elementary physical education teacher and Megan is a hard working mom. Have two beautiful and loving grandchildren.
• Enjoys golf, boating, kayaking, camping, reading, classical music and travel.

Mitch Johnson

• Born in Iowa, moved frequently between Iowa and Minnesota
• Accepted Christ as Savior and Lord during college
• Received my BS in Chemistry from the University of Texas-Pan American
• Recognized as outstanding senior chemist by the American Institute of Chemists
• Moved to Columbia in 1989 to attend CIU
• Worked for Safety-Kleen Systems since 1990 as a technician, chemist, senior chemist, and currently the lab manager
• Came to Fellowship Bible in April 1999
• Served as a Stephen’s Minister at Palmetto Health Richland for 4 years
• Have taken graduate classes toward an MDIV in pastoral counseling in order to pursue hospital chaplaincy
• Married to Connie since 1986 and we have two adult sons, Micah and Joshua
• Enjoy reading, studying, and watching movies

Don Johnson

• Born in Alaska and raised in California
• Accepted Christ at the age of 7
• Served an apprenticeship in Southern California and became a Journeyman Carpenter
• Received a B.A. and M.A in Bible from Columbia International University
• Received an MBA from Liberty University
• Joined SEND International as a missionary in 1987
• Ordained by Fellowship Bible Church in 1990
• Spent 11 years in Alaska and 10 years in Michigan with SEND International
• Currently serve as Assistant to the US Director for SEND International
• Married to Cherilyn since 1974 and have one son and one grandson living in Oregon
• Enjoy fishing, hunting, shooting pool, college football, and sitting on the couch with Cherilyn

Stan Tompkins, elder emeritus

• Born in Columbia, SC. Moved to Texas when I was two, returned to Columbia 9 years later. Trivia: John and I are the only elders born in SC. The elders are a diversified group!
• Accepted Christ at age 28 through my church and a men’s Bible study
• Attended Spartanburg Methodist College. Met my wife of 54 years there!
• Part of the group that started FBC in 1983
• Sales engineer for 51 years. Sold for manufacturer and storage equipment company. Designed cabinets and storage for military bases across the southeast
• Served in the South Carolina National Guard
• Married to Joy, two children and four talented and wonderful grandchildren. Tammy has two sons and Brad two daughters. Tammy is a professor in the College of Education at Winthrop University and Brad is a Director of Management with Innovatis Group and travels internationally
• Enjoy playing golf, watching movies , college football, watching the grandsons play high school basketball ( and soon to be college BB) and the girls tennis and dance. Oh, and watching Joy work in the yard!