The Reverend Joe Rhea Blevins

and his wife, Sara

Previous Service as Pastor (1979 - 2004)

Good Hope Presbyterian Church, Iva, SC
Forest Lawn Presbyterian Church, Marion, OH
Mission Developer, Fort Mill, SC
Tirzah ARP Church, York, SC
Maupin Avenue ARP, Salisbury, NC

Service as a Missionary (1974 - 1976)

Ethiopia - doing famine relief

Education

Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, SC (1976-79) Master of Divinity
Southeastern College, Lakeland, FL (1972-74) Bachelor of Arts
Central Bible College, Springfield, MO (1971-72)

Family

Joe and his wife, Sara, have two grown sons who are married and live in South Carolina and Georgia. They have six grandchildren.

His Statement of Spiritual Journey

I was raised in the Presbyterian Church in Lockwood, MO and came to the faith at a young age. Sara came to faith after we were married, and we jointly agreed to follow God's call into the ministry. After college, we spent time in Ethiopia working in famine relief during a difficult time for that country. Upon return to the states I felt led to enter pastoral ministry and entered seminary. Since then God has allowed us to serve in churches in North and South Carolina and Ohio. Each experience has been different and we have learned a great deal about the church. Sara has been a partner in ministry as well as a minister's wife. She loves to be involved in the church, is an ordained deacon, and has taught Sunday School, led youth groups and is active in Presbyterian Women. We both feel God has much ahead for us and are excited about a new location.