CEF Greenville

District Director
Policies, School and Church Partnerships
(o) 864.292.5842 x11
(c) 864.275.3126
bj@cefgreenville.com

I grew up in a small town in Virginia and was a preacher’s kid. I did my best to live up to the stereotype that you may have heard about a preacher’s kid. While that does not give me bragging rights, it did strengthen my ability to catch my own children very quickly when they misbehaved! When I was 10, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  It was my daddy who had the privilege of opening God’s Word and sharing the plan of salvation with me. It was also my daddy who baptized me.

Being a preacher’s kid, I was at the church every time the doors were open. I grew up in a small town, and it seemed that whenever I did something I was not supposed to do (daily), the townspeople felt obligated to make sure my parents knew, sometimes before I could even get home. At some point I told the Lord I’d had enough and would never marry a pastor or be in full-time ministry, and I did neither. Then in 1998 my husband felt the call to become a pastor, and in 2005 I began serving full-time with CEF.

I thank God for calling me to CEF.  There is no greater joy than leading a child to Jesus and then seeing the joy on a child’s face as they tell others the good news. My husband Larry and I worship at Edwards Road Baptist Church, where we lead a Life Group, mentor couples in premarital counseling, and work with church planting and mission teams to reach Atlantic Canada with the Gospel.  I am also serving as a Trustee for the North American Mission Board and my hobbies include beekeeping (which means I encourage my husband from a safe distance), walking, reading, watching movies, cross-stitching, planning our next family event, and making a honey-do list!  My most current favorite name is “Bebe” by five precious grandchildren!

Office Assistant
Staff Support
(o) 864.292.5842
jean@cefgreenville.com

Bio coming soon!

Ministry Coordinator-Media
Staff Support
(o) 864.292.5842
taylor@cefgreenville.com

I’m Taylor and grew up in–you guessed it, Taylors, SC! I’m the third generation of my family to grow up at Taylors First Baptist Church and I love worshiping with my church family there. I graduated from North Greenville University in 2013 with a degree in Mass Communications-Broadcast Media, but I always felt called to work in ministry. I’m so glad I found a way to combine my passions here at CEF! Other passions include taking too many pictures (or so my friends say), painting, coffee, British television, bike riding, but most of all learning more about my precious Savior. I have worked with children’s ministry in various ways for 12 years, so I feel like the Lord has been preparing me for this job for quite a while and I’m so excited to be a part of what God is doing through CEF and Good News Club!

Special Events Coordinator
Staff Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.346.3234
ruth@cefgreenville.com

I grew up in Marion North Carolina where my family were members of the First Baptist Church. At age 10, I joined the church and was baptized which was the “expected” thing to do in our home. Jesus began to be real to me during my college days at UNC and I rededicated my life to Him after graduation. I am married with two adult children and my husband and I are members of Eastside Presbyterian Church.
I have had a passion for children’s ministry since I caught my oldest child praying in the bathroom at age 3, asking God for forgiveness after he had broken a DVD player. I knew what he was being taught was making a difference even at that young age. Since that time my work with children has included serving with VBS, teaching Sunday school, and working as Children’s Ministry Director at Shannon Forest Church (now Eastside). I believe God called me to start the Good News Club for Eastside 12 years ago and I have been involved in some way with CEF since that time.
I have been on staff since January of 2015 and am so thankful to combine my love of fundraising with my passion to see children know Jesus.

Administrative Assistant
General Information, Club Statistics, Ordering Materials
(o) 864.292.5842 x10
paula@cefgreenville.com

Hi my name is Paula Edwards and I grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  My Mother and Daddy were believers and I was blessed to grow up in a Bible believing church where at the age of 12 I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  I have been in Greenville over 30 years and met my husband, Sonny at Edwards Road Baptist where we are members.  I have always worked with young people and children in church where I have been a G.A. Leader and Director, Sunday School teacher and now working with the AWANA program.  Sonny and I have also taught in the Singles ministry at ERBC for many years and now we are active in an Adult Sunday School class.  I started working with CEF in Jan. 1999 after being on the CEF Board for 4 years.  The best part of what I do is working with GNC workers and our CEF donors.  It is such a blessing to me to get to know these people who love the Lord and are called to His ministry by giving of their time, talents, and resources.  One of my great loves is to read books, especially old fiction “antique books” that were written/published in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. Sonny and I like to travel and we hope to do more of that this year!

I started my walk with the Lord through guidance in His Word and the teaching in Bible Studies and church.  I attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Ok and then moved with my college roommates to Dallas, Texas where I began my business career with Bowater.  My roommates and I were very active in our Singles Church group and we also attended Dallas Theological Seminary classes.

Bio coming soon

Ministry Coordinator-Anderson
Club Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.353.1274
lori@cefgreenville.com

I am an Anderson native, growing up in Townville, SC.  I now live in Seneca with my husband, our daughter who we are in the process of adopting, and our 2 dogs.  I attend Oakdale Baptist Church, where my husband and I both grew up and where my dad still pastors.  I became a born again believer at 12 years old.  After having “prayed a prayer” at age 7, only to impress people, I knew in my heart I was not God’s child.  The increasing conviction became heavier and heavier until finally I surrendered my life to Christ.  It was a complete change, even at the young age of 12 my life became different.

I began working at CEF in January 2013 after working 9 years in cabinet sales and design.  I love working with fellow believers who have the same goal of evangelizing children with the Gospel of Christ.  It is awesome to see the body of Christ working together yet in many different forms.

I enjoy laughter, shopping, gardening, walking my dogs, watching sports, spending time with my crazy family, coffee, doing my daughter’s hair, and music.  Learning to play the guitar and traveling to Hawaii are two things on my bucket list.  Although I’m not a big time reader, some of my favorite books are Chuck Swindoll’s “Great Lives” series.

Director of Training
Ministry Coordinator-Greenville
Materials Information
(o) 864.292.5842 x13
(c) 864.616.4529
cindy@cefgreenville.com

I was born in Seattle, WA to parents who were attending Bob Jones University. When I was 4 I told my mother I wanted to become God’s child and she helped me understand how. Later that year our family moved to Brazil, SA where we served as missionaries, often using CEF material. I met my husband Bill at college here in the USA and we soon moved to Brazil where we served for 10 years and where our 4 sons were born. Southside Baptist Church was our sending church and was the body to which we returned in 1994. Though now called Fellowship Greenville, we continue to fellowship and serve there. I served as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator there for 10 years then came on staff with CEF in 2005. Bill and I enjoy cooking, traveling, and watching football and baseball together. Even though we are technically “empty nesters” we enjoy having children, grandchildren, and various foreign students in our home often. I have always seen myself as a missionary and one of my favorite books is “A Chance to Die,” Elizabeth Elliot’s biography of Amy Carmichael. The two things I enjoy most about being a missionary to children is working alongside others with like passion and seeing the faces of precious children as they understand God’s wonderful love for them.

Ministry Coordinator-Greenville
Staff Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.230.2531
debbie@cefgreenville.com

I grew up in Summerville, South Carolina known as “The Flowertown in the Pines.”  While I grew up in a Christian home, attended church and had a grandfather who was a pastor; I did not make a decision for Christ until I was 12. I met my husband, Billy, while attending Baptist College at Charleston, now known as Charleston Southern.  We have a grown daughter (Melanie), grown son (Colby) and daughter-in-law (Keri.)  We are the proud grandparents to 9 year old Nicholas.  I am a member of Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, PCA.  I am a former public school teacher.  But, the best job I ever had started when I joined the CEF staff in January, 2010.  I find joy in every part of my job.  My family and friends sometimes refer to me as Pollyanna because I’m always looking for the good in every situation.  I look forward each week to sharing the Gospel and the love of Jesus with my third graders in Sunday School at MRPC.  When in junior high school I performed in numerous plays that we did for the community.  Through modeling during high school I was named Miss US Keds.

Ministry Coordinator-Pickens
Club Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.640.5977
roxanne@cefgreenville.com

I am a Southerner that was born up North!  I grew up in Michigan and was blessed to meet a wonderful man on a visit to South Carolina…that was 29 years ago.  As a result of that move, I became a Christian when the Lord presented me with the opportunity.  We have attended Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley for the past 28 years.  I started working with CEF as a volunteer in an Good News Club that our church sponsored; took TCE and loved it and when a position on staff became available, I applied for it.  That was 4 years ago.  My favorite part of my church activities and my job is working with the children and telling them about Jesus.  We have 3 children (33, 21 and 20) and they are our greatest blessings!

Office Assistant
Miscellaneous Office Support
(o) 864.292.5842
christel@cefgreenville.com

My name is Christel Manley. I was born and raised in Loris, SC. I became a Christian at the age of seven. I am married to Sam Manley and we have a son (Austin) and a daughter (Ada Marie). My family and I are currently attending Edwards Road Baptist Church. I enjoy working with the children in AWANAS and helping at the Preschool Desk every fourth Sunday. I enjoying helping with our Wednesday Morning Bible Study and other Women Ministry events that we have at our church. I also enjoy being a chaperone for the children’s camp during the summer. I started working at CEF in November of 2013 and I enjoy all the smiling faces that I see at work. God is so good and I am blessed to be working with such great people.

Director of Stewardship
Club Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.395.0527
paul@cefgreenville.com

Having been a pastor for 30 years, ministering to and with all ages, I am thrilled to have a part in this unique ministry of reaching boys and girls for Christ in the setting of our public schools and communities—through Good News Clubs. My wife Tammy and I are also active in our church, Westview Baptist, ministering to children and teenagers. We have three children and three grandchildren: Maggie, Josiah, and Paul. In the heritage of my faithful grandfathers and father, it is my desire to leave a godly “inheritance to my children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22, Deuteronomy 6:1-25).

When time allows, I enjoy reading (there are piles of books all over our house), hiking the Appalachian Trail, and my great passion—fly fishing. My grandchildren and I have formed a hiking and fishing club, allowing us to discover the wonders of God’s creative work.

Ministry Coordinator-Greenville
Club Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.630.6937
kinley@cefgreenville.com

I was born and grew up in Greenville, SC. I became a child of God when I was 6 years old. I go to Taylors FBC. I started working with CEF in 2009 as a summer missionary and came on staff in October 2013. I love to spend time with my family and I loved working with the children at church. I teach 4th grade Sunday school and direct the children’s musical. I love the relationships I have built with the volunteers. That is definitely my favorite part of working with CEF.

Ministry Coordinator-Anderson
Club Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.367.2515
donna@cefgreenville.com

Hi, my name is Donna Rogers! I grew up in Rock Hill, SC in an unsaved household. My life with Jesus didn’t begin until 1990 at the age of forty in upstate New York (Saratoga Springs, NY). Nothing is impossible with God. In the last year, 2014, by His grace, He led me to become a volunteer at a Good News Club and from there, in January of 2015 I became a part of the CEF staff. My church, Christ Reformed Church, is a sponsor for an elementary school in Anderson and I love sharing His Good News with the children and working with such a great team of volunteers. My favorite thing to do is to pray and watch the Lord answer! He is able to do so much more than I can think or ask! I love reading Christian Classics and stories about missionaries, old and new, because they inspire me to pursue the Lord with even greater passion! My hero in the Bible is Caleb who, in his old age, had much more to do in the Lord, “by taking his mountain.” My mountain is the hearts of these children.

Ministry Coordinator-Oconee
Club Support
(o) 864.292.5842
(c) 864.905.4405
elizabeth@cefgreenville.com

Although I was born in Hillsboro, Texas, I have spent most of my life in Pickens County, SC.  I was a very shy child with an avid imagination and spent most of my time reading and swinging. I still love to swing. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was 10.  It was not until I was 13 that I made a public profession of faith. (Remember, I was very shy.) I cannot remember the first time I began working with children in church. I know I was a young teenager. I have taught Sunday school, VBS, GAs, Acteens, and currently Awanas. I also homeschooled my two younger children. I not only love children, but respect them.  I think it is very important to really listen to children and never ignore them. I have a tender heart for those rowdy boys who, try as the might, cannot help but fidget and get in trouble. I began teaching and later, co-coordinating at Six Mile Good News Club in 2006. I have served on staff with CEF since 2013.  I am married to a wonderful man named Dale and have three grown children, Seth, Aaron, and Grace.