Our Staff
Richard Thomas
Senior Pastor
Richard was born and raised in the upstate of South Carolina and came to saving faith while at Clemson University. Upon graduation, he served the Lord through college campus ministry. It was during this time that he met and married his lovely wife, Lisa. In those early years of marriage, God placed certain books in his hands that turned his world upside down and wonderfully led to a Reformed understanding of the Bible; books from authors like Richard Baxter, G. I. Williamson and R. C. Sproul. What opened up was an understanding of God -sovereign and gracious and wise, the God of the Bible who could be trusted. This time of growth would eventually lead to his theological training at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. God has since taken him to Mississippi, West Virginia and back to the upstate to serve in various churches. His passion is preaching and teaching God’s Word to see people in Spartanburg come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and grow in “the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Lord Jesus Christ.”
Pastor and Mrs. Thomas have four children.
Andrew Hane
Assistant Pastor for Spanish Ministry
Andrew has loved Jesus and known that he was loved by Jesus from as early as he can remember. He gave his parents many opportunities to remind him that he was a sinner, and to point him to the glorious gospel of a God who saves sinners! Andrew’s faith grew, and as he hungrily read and taught the Bible in high school, a sense of call to pastoral ministry developed.
Andrew moved to South Carolina for college, where the church he attended introduced him to presbyterianism. They later sent him to Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte for an MDiv and a biblical counseling degree. Following his ordination in 2018, Andrew taught seminary and pastored in Honduras. In 2022, he returned to his old church in South Carolina as interim youth pastor. There, he married their organist and music director, his lovely and talented wife Catie.
In 2023, Andrew became the first pastor for Monte Calvario. He loves Christ centered, biblically saturated worship, and he loves to explain the hope of the gospel as he preaches, teaches, and counsels. Andrew prays that those of Monte Calvario would grow in faith and godliness together, and that many in our community and throughout the nations would hear and respond to the gospel through us.
Jim Stephenson
Assistant Pastor of Visitation and Pianist
Jim Stephenson has been in ministry for the past 48 years, serving churches in Texas, Illinois, and South Carolina. He came to the Presbyterian Church in America in 1983, beginning a 15-year stint as Director of Music for the Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. In 1998, under the auspices of Calvary Presbytery and Mission to North America, he planted Horizon Presbyterian Church, leading that congregation as senior pastor for 23 years.
His academic background includes a B.S. in Music Education from Bob Jones University, an M.M. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University and an M.Div from Reformed Theological Seminary. He’s done additional D.Min work at Erskine Seminary and vocal studies at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.
Since coming to Mount Calvary Presbyterian Church in September of 2021, his role has been pianist and assistant pastor. He and his wife Debra have been blessed with two children and seven grandchildren. Debra has been honored to lead a Women's Bible Study at the church, and together with Jim, is delighted to serve our Lord Jesus and His people at Mount Calvary with gratitude and joy.
Malcolm Fary
Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Malcolm is the son of Tim & Sarah Fary and has two siblings Madeline and Patrick. Malcolm is a son of the PCA, his father served the U.S. Army as a chaplain for 20 years. In that time Malcolm lived all over the southeast United States with some time in Washington State as well as 3 years in Germany. Malcolm then went on to study at Anderson University in Anderson South Carolina where he received his undergraduate degree in Christian Studies. While at Anderson University, Malcolm was a member of the student ministry team of Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) under Rev. John Boyte where he served the campus ministry as a small group leader, freshman outreach team member, and on “CORE” a group of students chosen for the care and discipleship of the members of the RUF ministry team. He has also served at Ridge Haven Camp, Conference, and Retreat Center as summer staff for 3 summers. Over those summers serving as a counselor, operations staff, camp director, and worship leader at Ridge Haven camps. Malcolm will be seeking a Masters in Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte NC while serving at Mount Calvary Presbyterian Church.
Ruthie Bloxham
Administrative Assistant
Ruthie has been Mount Calvary’s Administrative Assistant since 2015. Her father, Rev. Joe Beale, was a PCA pastor, and Ruthie has spent her entire life in the church. Being raised in a Christian home, she doesn’t remember a day that she didn’t know the gospel story. Ruthie likes to think that she’s carrying on her father’s work for the Lord and His church here at Mount Calvary, as she serves church members and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ruthie has been married to her high school sweetheart, Don, since 1988, and they have four children: Andrew (Sarah), Joseph, David, and Olivia (Brian). As of writing this, they have one grandson, Timothy, and another on the way. She enjoys knitting, watching a good Jane Austin movie, drinking coffee (often all at the same time), piddling in the yard with her husband, eating boiled peanuts at Pawley’s Island, and watching Pooh with her grandson, Timothy.
David Pierce
Director of Music Ministry
David Pierce is a devoted follower of Christ and has been since he was a young musician learning to play cello for the first time. He came to faith in Christ through Good News Club at West View Elementary School. This is where both his faith and love for music started. David played cello and sang in choirs from 3rd grade all the way through high school. During that time, he lead worship for the youth group every Sunday, FCA every Thursday, numerous retreats at Camp Ridge Haven and Awanita Valley, and Vacation Bible School. David has a heart for reformed theology and is a product of the wonderful ministry poured into him by Mount Calvary PCA throughout the years. As the Worship Leader and MCPC Choir Director, David enjoys orchestrating pieces, curating hymns, and fellowship with other musicians. One of the goals of MCPC is to present worship in a mixed style, simultaneously sticking to our traditional roots while introducing contemporary music and modern settings of classic hymns. This unique blend alongside the robust reformed theology being preached is just one of the reasons why David finds so much joy pouring back into his long-time church home.
Robert and Marsha Ross
Directors of Children's Ministry
Robert and Marsha Ross have been members at Mount Calvary since 2007. They have been married since 2004 and have two wonderful children! They love spending time with family and friends as well as Mount Calvary’s kids!
Robert and Marsha have worked with the children here for many years and find great joy in sharing the gospel with them. They volunteered with the children through different ministries over the years, including: teaching Sunday school, Catechism, Wacky Wednesdays, Children’s Church, Nursery, Youth Retreats, RYM, and Ridge Haven.
Marsha is a first grade teacher and has taught since 2001. She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts from The University of South Carolina, Columbia and a Master’s from Converse College. She also earned a Master’s plus 30 from University of South Carolina, Upstate.
Robert is a middle school science teacher and has been in education since 1999. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from Clemson University, a Master’s and an Ed.S from Converse College, and a PhD from Capella University.
Robert and Marsha’s mission is to help children know that they are precious in the sight of God. They want them to grow in faith through the word of God. It’s their desire to immerse our young people in prayer and fellowship around God’s word so they can love him with all their hearts, minds, and souls!
coming soon!
Ben Smarzynski
Pastoral Intern
Benjamin Smarzynski serves as Mount Calvary’s pastoral intern. As such, he serves in a wide variety of ministries. Some of these include teaching at and leading Wednesday night prayer meetings, spearheading fellowship meals, periodically preaching on the Lord’s Day, conducting visitation, and occasionally helping with the youth.
Ben was born in New Jersey, but moved with his family to New Hampshire when he was 12. He grew up in a Christian household, and during his earliest years, his father pastored a small church. As he grew older, Ben struggled to make his parents’ faith his own, and began having serious doubts about the reality of the Christian message. After moving to South Carolina in 2019, God showed great mercy on Ben as he began to grow in his faith through the influence of Christian studies classes at college. During this time, he increased in love for Christ, developed a passion for reformed theology, and ultimately felt called to study for full-time ministry. After completing his undergrad, Ben started his divinity studies in California at the Master’s Seminary, but the Lord has since brought him back to South Carolina, and he is currently enrolled at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Catie M. Hane
Organist
Catie Moyer Hane has been promoting congregational singing & sharing the joy of music with God’s people since middle school, first as a church pianist, and then later as an organist. After graduating from Bob Jones University with a degree in Church Music, she continued to play at her home church, while also substituting at dozens of churches around the Upstate. She served as Director of Music Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian in Clinton, SC from 2020-2024, when she came to Mount Calvary. In addition to playing organ for English services, she is actively involved in the music of the Spanish service.
Passionate about making the organ accessible to average or even skeptical listeners, Catie uses her church and concert collaborations to showcase the organ not only as a solo instrument, but also as a chamber instrument, pairing it with everything from cello to wind band. She also enjoys involvement in community music; she has served on the executive committees of the Greenville American Guild of Organists and the S.C. Bach Choir and sung alto with the S.C. Bach Choir and the Laurens County Choral.
Catie and her husband Andrew’s married life motto is More Jesus, More Better. She loves crocheting, reading, hosting friends, talking to her plants, and being the fun aunt to their 17 (and counting) nieces and nephews.
Marshall and Phyllis Holder
Directors of Senior Saints Ministry