Leadership
Robbie McAlister, Pastor
Robbie McAlister is a native South Carolinian. He was on the team that helped to start Riverbend while he worked as an engineer in the early 1980's. After coming on staff as an associate pastor in 1989, he enrolled at Columbia Biblical Seminary where he graduated in 1994. He was ordained at Riverbend in 1991. He and his family were sent out as Riverbend's first full-time missionaries to Ukraine in 1995. They served there in a church planting and leadership development capacity for the next ten years. Their family returned in the summer of 2005 and Robbie re-joined the Riverbend pastoral team. He and his wife, Criss, along with their three sons, Rob, Rick and Rustin live in Lexington and are excited to be a part of what God is doing through Riverbend Community Church.
Dan Rummel, Associate Pastor of Discipleship
Dan Rummel has served for over twenty years with Great Commission Churches in the southeast. He completed his Masters of Divinity Degree at Columbia International University and then joined the Pastoral Team at Riverbend in May 1995. He oversees the Assimilation Team and Pastoral Care Ministries. Dan and Connie have three boys, one girl, and a black lab. They live in Lexington where their family enjoys running, biking, water sports, and meeting new people.
Jason Williams, Associate Pastor of Youth
Born and raised in Sumter, SC, Jason came to know the Lord at the age of 19 during a youth crusade. He was discipled by his Youth Pastor who gave him a vision for discipleship and leading students to Christ. He went on to graduate from Columbia International University in 2001 with a degree in Pastoral Ministries/Bible. He met his wife Becky on a blind date while in college and they were married in May, 2001. He and Becky have led Student Ministries at Riverbend since September 2002.
Read Jason's Blog: jason-williams.net
Randy Wilson, Associate Pastor of Worship
In addition to leading the worship ministry of the church, Randy and his wife, Lynn, also head up the College & Career Ministry at Riverbend. Trained as an architect, but a lifelong musician, he is blessed to be able to pursue his two professional passions: music and design. Randy received his architecture degree from Mississippi State University and post-graduate degree from the East China Institute of Technology in Nanjing, China. He attended seminary at Columbia International University. He met his wife during a quiet time in the chapel at MSU. He and his wife have three children: Anna, Caleb and Sarah Beth.
Mike McMurphy, Elder
Mike Bledsoe, Elder
Mike grew up in a Christian home in the low country of South Carolina. Mike accepted Christ as a child but when he was twenty-five, his father became ill and subsequently died; he began to grasp the unfathomable peace and love of a sovereign God. This started him on the journey to a deeper and more intimate relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Mike and his wife, Lynda, (married in 1969) have enjoyed the journey together. They have a son who is married and has two daughters and a daughter who is married and has three daughters. (Yes, we are doting grandparents!) Being a part of the body of Christ has provided many opportunities for spiritual growth and developing lifelong relationships. God allowed them to be part of a church plant where they learned the spiritual value of small groups before coming to RCC. Mike and Lynda believe God systematically led them to Riverbend Community Church in 2004 and are so thankful to be part of what God is doing at Riverbend.