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Missional Congregations Staff

Our purpose is to lead congregations and individuals in forming and deepening a missional identity as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission. The Missional Congregations team wants to be your first call for resources, leadership development, spiritual and missional formation, consulting, connecting to missions, and everything in between. We are here to assist you with whatever you may need. Tell us what you need and how we're doing. We are prepared for you and we care about you!

Learn about our Regional Missional Congregations Specialists and how they can help you and your church!


Rick Bennett
Director of Missional Formation

The most important thing about Rick is Rebecca, his wife, and Tyler and Ethan, their two boys. Together, they enjoy kayaking back home in NC on the New River. Rick is a graduate of Campbell University (B.A.) and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (M.Div. and D.Min.), as well as the North Carolina Young Leader Program. Before coming to CBF in 2004, Rick served churches in Virginia, North and South Carolina as associate pastor and minister of education. You can contact Rick directly at (770) 220-1605 or by e-mail at rbennett@thefellowship.info.
   
Susan Ferdon
Missional Congregations Assistant

Susan is an assistant with Missional Congregations and a third-year seminary student at McAfee School of Theology. Susan also serves as a chaplain intern for Park Springs/Cobblestone in Stone Mountain, Ga., and as a residence assistant in the campus apartments for Mercer University. Susan has over 20 years of corporate sales and sales training experience in the pharmaceutical and office product industries with such companies as Zerox and Pfizer. Susan enjoys boating, fishing, reading and spending time with family and friends. She has two grown children and a two-year old granddaughter. Susan can be reached at (770) 220-1659 sferdon@thefellowship.info.

Steve Graham
Director of Leadership for Missional Congregations

Steve Graham serves as the director of leadership for Missional Congregations. In that capacity, he focuses on Peer Learning Groups and in development of leadership events for ministers and lay leaders. Steve is a native of Oklahoma where he served as pastor of a new church start for over 16 years. He comes to the Fellowship from Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., where he served as senior pastor. His doctoral project centered on discovering congregational narrative. Steve and his wife, Jennifer, have a married son and daughter, and three grandchildren. Steve is available for preaching, speaking for worship retreats, workshops, and congregational consultation. He may be contacted at (770) 220-1675 or by e-mail at sgraham@thefellowship.info.

Terry Hamrick
Coordinator for Missional Visioning

Terry is charged with thinking about all things missional. Terry came to CBF in 1996 following 23 years in congregational ministry. He has a passion for developing leaders for the 21st century church.  Terry is married to Judy and has two adult sons and four wonderful grandchildren. Terry loves to work with congregational leaders as they discover their part in God’s mission in the world. Terry can be contacted at (770) 220-1615 or by e-mail at thamrick@thefellowship.info. 

Karen Harwell
Missional Congregations Assistant

Karen assists with administrative functions for the Missional Congregation initiative. She is a student at the McAfee School of Theology pursing a M.Div. with a specialization in Christian Education. Karen has degrees in Aerospace Engineering from NCSU and the University of Alabama. She previously worked as director of undergraduate research at Georgia Tech and as a program officer at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., before following God’s call to full-time ministry. During the fall you can find her cheering on her Alabama Crimson Tide and enjoying the fall leaves in the mountains. She has a passion for helping church members discover and use their spiritual gifts and for single adult ministry. You can contact Karen directly at (770) 220-1654 or by e-mail at kharwell@thefellowship.info.

David King
Church Starts Assistant
 
David has served as the assistant for new church starts since 2006. He came to CBF after serving local churches in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas. David earned his B.A. in History from Samford University and his M. Div. from Duke Divinity School. In addition to his work at CBF, David is completing his Ph.D. in American Religious History from Emory University. David and his wife Lauren have two young girls, Audrey and Kathryn. They live in Lilburn, Ga., and attend FBC Decatur. Contact David if you need assistance with New Church Starts. You can reach David directly at (770) 220-1626 or by e-mail at dking@thefellowship.info.

Devita Parnell
Missional Resources Specialist

As missional resources specialist for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Devita Parnell directs a team of writers, editors, and designers to produce missional formation curriculum, prayer resources, and other print and digital material for congregational study. She is passionate about challenging churches in their formation of individuals both spiritually and missionally. A native of Sandersville, Ga., she is a graduate of McAfee School of Theology and the University of Georgia. Devita has additional professional experience as a missionary, campus minister, and development officer, and local church experience as a choir member, Sunday school teacher, missions teacher, church organist and deacon. Devita and her husband Mark, along with their two children, Tyler and Julia, live in Lilburn, Ga., and are members of FBC Decatur. You can contact Devita directly at (770) 220-1619 or by e-mail at dparnell@thefellowship.info.

George Pickle
Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counselor Endorser

George Pickle specializes in the Fellowship’s Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling endorsement program. He has served as a journeyman missionary in Vietnam and as a campus minister for the California Baptist Convention and the Progressive National Baptist Convention at the University of Southern California. He has been a pastor, served as chaplain for Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California, and served as director of healthcare chaplaincy and pastoral counseling for the Home Mission Board. At the Fellowship, George coordinates the ministry of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling. His education includes a B.A. from Baylor University, a M.Div from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a M.S.Ed in counseling from the University of Southern California, and a D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains. George can be reached by calling (770) 220-1617 or by e-mail at gpickle@thefellowship.info.

Bo Prosser
Coordinator of Missional Congregations
 
Bo serves as the coordinator of the Missional Congregations initiative area. He leads this team after 25 years of local church experience as educator and associate pastor in local churches. Bo is an author, motivator, and a much sought-after teacher and speaker. He shares with congregations across the Fellowship with inspiration and humor. He enjoys songwriting, storytelling and engaging his listeners with rainbows and watermelons! Bo is married to Gail, has two adult daughters and collects old Coca-Cola memorabilia and baseball cards. Bo is available for on-site consultations and leadership training. You can contact Bo directly at (770) 220-1631 or by e-mail at bprosser@thefellowship.info.

Harry Rowland
Missional Networks Specialist

Harry is a native of Nashville, TN. He attended Baylor University where he received a B.A. in Business followed by a M.Div. from Southwestern Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served on church staffs in Texas and Tennessee and for 20 years pastored strong missional churches in Kentucky and South Carolina. Harry was asked to came to CBF in 2007 to direct church missional engagements both locally and globally. This position now includes connecting CBF’s Global Missions Initiative (Engagement) with CBF’s Missional Congregations Initiative (Formation) in such a way that the local church remains in the center of God’s missional call. As networking specialist, Harry facilitates CBF’s eight Mission Communities and networks with a number of global national partners as well as other mission agencies. Harry’s passion is consulting and journeying with congregations as they seek to become missional, using their unique talents, resources and identity to reach out to local communities and the world. He can be reached directly at (770) 220-1604 or by e-mail at hrowland@thefellowship.info.  

Meredith Shaw
Missional Congregations Assistant

Meredith is an assistant for CBF’s Missional Congregations initiative, working primarily with missional resources. She is pursuing her Masters of Divinity and Certificate in Religious Education at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In addition to her work at CBF, Meredith serves as Minister for Community Engagement at Peachtree Baptist Church. Meredith is originally from Lexington, Kentucky. Before coming to Atlanta, she studied Communication Studies and Religion at Samford University. She loves traveling, singing, yoga, cooking, arts and crafts, coffee, summer camp, a good book, and old and new friends. Meredith can be reached at (770) 220-1683 or by e-mail at mshaw@thefellowship.info.

Bekah Smith
Missional Congregations Assistant

Bekah is a part-time administrative assistant for Missional Congregations, primarily working in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling. Bekah earned her Bachelor of Arts from Shorter College with major concentrations in Religion and Philosophy as well as International Studies. She also minored in Business Administration. During her undergraduate studies, Bekah was fortunate to study abroad in Ecuador and in Israel at the University of Haifa. Bekah enjoys photography, reading, and learning from different cultures. Bekah is available at (770) 220-1645 or by e-mail at blsmith@thefellowship.info.

Clarissa Strickland
Networking Specialist
 
Clarissa Strickland is a networking specialist whose major responsibilities include the coordination of CBF’s reference and referral system. Clarissa has served with the Fellowship since its inception in 1991, making her the longest-tenured CBF staff member. One of the few actual natives of Atlanta, Clarissa was Baptist-born and Baptist-bred, and expects that, when she dies, she will be Baptist-dead. She was educated at Samford University and has been a science teacher and a medical technologist in a past life. She has one adult daughter who lives in Miami and one cat whose name is Noel. Her passions include sewing of all types – but especially as related to clerical vestments and worship banners. You can contact Clarissa directly at (770) 220-1635 or by e-mail at cstrickland@thefellowship.info.