Rev. Paul Pruitt

Executive Director
2003 – Present

Pastor Pruitt has been serving as Executive Director since April 2012. Paul has been serving as Pastor and Counselor at Bethel since 2003.

Pastor / Teacher / Counselor

• Associate Degree in Biblical Studies
• Graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in 2001
• Attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Has worked as a Commercial Fisherman
• Flooring Supervisor, and Welder Fabricator

Rev. Zac Starnes, M.A.Min.

Associate Director
2016 – Present

Pastor Starnes began serving as the Associate Director on November 1, 2021.  Pastor Starnes has been serving as Pastor and Counselor at Bethel since 2016.

Pastor / Teacher / Counselor

• Worked as a Carpenter from 2001-2016, Framing houses, remodeling, building furniture
• Has Associate of Arts degree in Leadership & Ministry, Grace Bible College, Grand Rapids, MI, 2016
• In 2021 Graduated from Grace Bible College, Grand Rapids, MI with a Master’s degree in Christian Ministry.
• Attended Lay Counseling courses from 2015-2017.

Mrs. Regina Kelly

Women’s Campus Co-Director
2021 – Present

Mrs. Regina has been serving as Women’s Campus Director, alongside her husband Pastor Johnny Kelly, at Bethel since September 2021.

Counseling Director / Teacher

• Bachelor of Science in English Education from Fayetteville State University
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University
• 2 years teaching High School English, 1 year teaching High School Bible at Freedom Christian Academy in Fayetteville, NC
• 1 year teaching High School Bible, 1 year teaching High School English at Falcon Christian Academy in Falcon, NC
• 1 year at house parent at Turbeville Children’s Home in Turbeville South Carolina

Rev. Don Loss, M.Div.

Director of Counseling
1984 – Present

Pastor Loss is serving as Pastor and Director of Counseling since 1984.  Pastor Loss also served as Associate Director from 1984 to October 2021.

Pastor / Teacher / Counselor

• Graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1971
• Graduated from Columbia International University in 1984 with a Master of Divinity
• Has worked as an Assistant Manager, E-5 rank in the U.S. Army during 1966-1968 and 1976-1980

Rev. Paul Ritchie

Senior Pastor
1986 – Present

Pastor Ritchie served as Executive Director and Senior Pastor from 1986 – 2012 and is now serving as Senior Pastor as of April 2012.

Pastor / Teacher / Counselor

• Associate Degree of Biblical Studies
• Graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in 1981
• Has worked as a Farmer, Plant Manager, Business Owner, and Director of Ministry Programs at a Mission
• Was also involved in Baptist Lay Witness Ministry for 10 years

Rev. Heath Benfield

Men’s Campus Pastor / Counselor
2023 – Present

Pastor Benfield served as a Counselor at Bethel from 2018 -2019 and returned to serve as Pastor/Counselor on January 1, 2023.

Pastor / Teacher / Counselor

• Graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible College with Associate Degree in Christian Ministry and Religion 2018.
• Currently attending Liberty Online for Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies.
• Worked in Factories as Maintenance Mechanic.
• Worked at Pierced Ministries as House Manager from 2015-2016.
• Worked at Pierced Ministries as Men’s Director from 2019-2020.
• Pastor of Manteo Faith Baptist Church March 2021- December 2022.

Cathi Loss

Business Manager / Newsletter Editor
1984 – Present

Cathi, the wife of Rev. Don Loss, has been serving as the Business Manager, and Newsletter Editor since 2005.

• Attended UNC-C
• Attended Columbia International University
• Missionary through Christian Literature Crusade in Panama
• Executive Director at Caldwell Pregnancy Care Center from 1990 – 2002

Stacy Pruitt

Accounts Payable / Database Manager / Website Manager
2003 – Present

Stacy, the wife of Rev. Paul Pruitt, has been serving as the Accounts Payables, Website Manager, and Database Manager since 2006.

• Attending Craven Community College – June 2019 began working on an Associate in Applied Science/Accounting and Finance.
• Has worked as a Receptionist, in Accounting, and as a Medical Receptionist.
• Shift Manager and waitress at Pizza Hut

Allen Shiflett

Chaplain / Construction Manager
1996 – 2000
2008 – Present

Allen served as Project Mgr 1996-2000 and has been serving as Chaplain, and Construction Manager since 2008.

• Attended Caldwell Community College for certification in HVAC
• Served in the U.S. Marine Corps. from 1975 – 1981
• Has worked in general construction, building from the foundation up, remodeling, and insurance restoration.

Shirley Shiflett

Account Receivables / Chaplain
2014 – Present

Shirley has been serving as Accounts Receivables and Chaplain (alongside her husband Allen) at Bethel since 2014.

• 1978 Graduate from Columbia International Univ. with B.S. in Biblical Education, Graduate studies at Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Christian Education.
• Attended: Northern AZ Univ. for a K-8 Elementary Education Certification, Lenoir-Rhyne Univ., for English as Second Language (ESL) K-12 Certification, Numerous Univ. & Community colleges for Continuing Edu. Credits including Chaplain courses.
• Missionary in Mohave County, AZ with Child Evangelism Fellowship, Chaplain with Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
• Elementary Classroom Teacher (2nd-5th); Substitute (K-12), Secretarial, Cashier, Pharmacy, Accounts Receivable experience. Volunteer in Sunday School, VBS, Puppet Ministry, GA’s

Randy Wetzel

Men’s Campus Office Manager / Med Room Assistant
2017 – Present

Randy has been serving as Men’s Campus Asst Office Mgr. and Med room Assistant at Bethel since 2017.  Randy began serving as the Men’s Campus Office Mgr. in 2020.

• Graduate of Valencia Comm College, Associates Degree in Business, Orlando, FL
• Graduate of Xavier University, Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Mortuary Science
• Attended Pinnacle Career Institute, Certified Medical Assist – CMA
• Worked at Fiserv in Fraud Prevention – Credit & Debit Card Services
• Worked at Convergys with AT&T Communications
• Worked at Chick-Fil-A as General Manager
• Worked at Arbys as General Manager
• Worked as a licensed Funeral Director for 35 years

Bethany Williams

Women’s Campus Office Mgr.
2021 – Present

Mrs. Bethany has been serving as the Women’s Campus Office Mgr. at Bethel since October 2021.

• Attended Craven Community College 2008-2010
• Veterinarian Assistant Certification 2018
• Has worked various housekeeping, service industry, and kennel attendant jobs

Donna Bowman

Women’s Campus Project Office Mgr.
2021 – Present

Mrs. Donna has been serving as the Women’s Campus Project Manager since December 28, 2021.

• Bernhardt Corporate Office 2021 – Customer Service
• Briefly served at the Women’s Campus in 2020 as Project Manager. Also, teaching class in the Battlefield of the Mind – Joyce Meyer’s book.
• Worked closely with Harvest Church to start W.O.M.E.N., a small group for a safe place to share environment. Teaching classes once opened meeting the students.
• Volunteered at Bethel Women’s campus prior to opening.
• Bio-Pro Research – Hickory, NC until 2019 when the company closed as Tradeshow Coordinator, Customer Service Manager, International, and Domestic Sales.
• Assisted in the start-up of Celebrate Recovery at Christian Fellowship – Granite Falls, NC. (Serving as Co-leader for Drug and Alcohol group as well as Worship singer), Living Word – Lincolnton, and Living Hope – Lenoir.
• Co-Owned Standard Caulk & Window – Granite Falls, NC until the company closed in 2008.

Todd Tucker

Media Technician and Production Mgr.
2008 – Present

Todd has been serving as Media Technician and Production Mgr. at Bethel since 2008.

• Graduated from Wilson Community Tech. College for industrial electronics in 1989
• Has worked in the commercial, industrial, and residential electrical field, construction, as a bench technician for a communication company, and as a truck driver.

Barry Lessel

Men’s Campus Project Manager
2019 – 2021
2021 – Present

Barry has been serving as Men’s Campus Project Manager at Bethel since January 2022.  August 2021 – December 2021 served as Bethel’s Maintenance Mgr and September 2019 – February 2021 served as the Assistant Construction Mgr.

• Residential / Light Commercial Paint Contractor from 1996 – 2019
• Residential Painter from 1991 – 1995

Wil Rion

Men’s Campus Kitchen Mgr.
2022 – Present

Wil was serving as Asst. Kitchen Mgr. since November of 2021 and is now serving as the Men’s Campus Kitchen Manager.

• College of Charleston (1990-1997) for Media Communication
• Over 30 Years of Experience in Restaurants and Hospitality
• 2022 successfully completed the ServSafe Certification

Sonny Thompson

Autoshop Manager
2017 – Present

Sonny has been serving as Auto Shop Manager at Bethel since 2017.

• Staff at Bethel 00’-02’
• Worked in Logging 20 years
• Owned Sonny’s Automotive 09’-13’
• Worked numerous mechanic positions

Chris Raines

I.T. Manager
2019 – Present

Chris has worked in the I.T department since December 2019 and is currently serving as our I.T. Manager for the Men’s and Women’s Campuses.

• Currently in school pursuing a Degree in Leadership Ministry through Grace Christian University.
• Attended CCC&TI for Network Security courses.

Chris Cooper

Med Room Manager / Laundry Manager
2021 – Present

Chris has been serving as Laundry Room Manager and in the Med Room since 2021.  Since February 2022 he has become the Med Room Manager.

• Worked in General Construction.
• Worked in Security.
• Worked in the furniture factory industry in maintenance, as an operator, and as a programmer of various machines including CNC machines.
• Attended CCC&TI taking courses in Business between 1990-1992.

Bryan Ingram

Lawncare Manager
2021 – Present

Bryan has served as the Assistant Lawncare Mgr. since January 2021 and is serving as Lawncare Mgr. since May 2022.

• Attended Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania (2010-2012) studying secondary education.
• Worked as a material handler and trimmer operator at R.R. Donnelley
• Worked as a senior polisher at Quaker City Plating. 

Joshua Whiteside

Purchasing Mgr. / Men’s Campus Counseling Coordinator
2021 – Present

Joshua has been serving as our Purchasing Mgr. and Men’s Counseling Coordinator since Sept. 2021.

Phil Lambert

Men’s Campus Housekeeping Mgr.
2021 – Present

Phil has been serving as our Housekeeping Mgr. since June 2021.

• House Cleaning from 2015 – 2018.
• Forklift driver and picker machine operator for a Freezer Company for approximately 3 years.
• Cook for Captain Galley’s Seafood Restaurant for approximately 10 years.
• Farm Hand at the family farm for approximately 5 years.