Worship Arts Staff
Dwight Huthwaite
I was born in a hospital that is actually on the border of two towns. Crazy.
My life is like that in many ways. For instance, when it comes to music, I love massive rock music that makes your chest wobble and your brain rattle. Some of the most meaningful worship music I know of is like that.
Yet much of the time, I listen to 17th century viol da gamba music, Romantic period piano music, solo cello, jazz, and ambient ‘new agey’ stuff of various kinds.
When it comes to art, worship, and skinning cats, there are no borders.
Kristy Barry
Worship Arts Administrative Assistant
Worship Leader
KBarry@WeAreStAndrews.com
843.284.4351
I am originally from Ohio but have been in the Charleston area since 1984 and consider this to be my home. I began attending St. Andrews in 1993. My entrance into worship leading began in the children’s ministry, leading the children in their weekly worship. Later, a sermon titled Living Your Impossible Dream led me to join the worship team, my impossible dream.
My time on the worship team has been an amazing journey. A journey of conquering fears, receiving God’s grace, and drawing near to Him in a way I had never before experienced. I joined the Worship Arts staff in 2003 as the Administrative Assistant. I consider it a great privilege to be a member of the Worship Team and Worship Arts Staff … it truly is a dream come true.
One of my greatest joys is to be able to be on worship teams with my entire family. My daughter Kate, 19, and son John, 18, both serve on contemporary worship teams and my husband, Mark, is a member of the Men’s Worship team that leads worship for the 9:00AM Church Service and other special events. In my “spare time” I love to cook, read, travel, play with my dog Hokie, and do just about anything outdoors when the sun is shining.
Andrew Jones
I was born in Charleston, went to The Citadel in Charleston, got married in Charleston. My son was born here and now I work for an educational software publisher here in Chucktown. I would say this place means a lot to me. And beyond all of that, I get to lead God’s people in worship on Sunday mornings at St. Andrew's in Goose Creek. I consider that such a privilege.
I am married to the ever-so-beautiful Hillary Jones and my son, Nathan was born December 2008. Life has been moving very fast, but I have found that the Lord has always been there … always. I think it a mistake to say, “The Lord never gives you more than you can handle.” Truth be known, I always have more than I can handle. But I am humbled to know that God’s power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12.9).
I picked up the guitar for the first time as a freshman in high school. I thought it would be a great way to pick up girls. I like classic rock. I like rap. When the sun is out, I even like country music. I am basically open to any genre of music. All that to say that I really feel that God, with his crazy sense of humor, decided to turn my chick-picking-upping-guitar-playing into a service for His Kingdom. Leading worship is just that…service. It’s a scary thing to know that I have been entrusted to help lead His Church into His presence. Pray for me.
Worship is more than singing on Sunday, though. My goal is to make it everything. Everything we do should be an act of worship. If we are grateful for that which God has given us, humbled by His grace undeserved, and on fire to see those who are far from Him draw near, repent and believe the Gospel, then our lives become one big messy Worship-fest. Join the party!
I need your Spirit to help accomplish this, abundant grace and your strength in weakness, the steady hand of the Father holding me….You alone, deserve the highest praise, Jesus. (Gareth Robinson)
Dewey Strang
I was birthed in 1971 in Savannah, Georgia, grew up and did all my fancy book learnin’ right here in Charleston and then lost my heart to the girl of my dreams in 1999. We have been truly blessed with three amazing kids that will be returning to school from summer break in 8 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes. But who’s counting! They will be missed.
My wife Kimberly was a professional ballerina and I an aspiring musician, song-writer and just all- around backstage brat. This work has had us on the move quite a bit over the better part of the past decade. I spent several years as the Production Manager of The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA rubbing elbows with Robin Williams or talking college ball with Bill Cosby, hanging out backstage between sets with Pearl Jam or Widespread Panic. I also, designed audio, lighting and sets, managed tours and crews for off-broadway productions, ballets, operas and pretty much any kind of show from Swan Lake to Kenny Rogers. So, if they are out there doing a show, chances are that I have worked with, played with, or hung out with them. And much to my friends and friends of my friends (autograph seekers) dismay I have never been “star struck” by any of these so called “famous” folk. I guess that just doesn’t do it for me!
I was born in 2009 when I met the most famous man who ever walked this earth. Now I am “STAR” struck, by the one who named them all! As I get older I realize that we are here on this earth but for a moment, and then the moment is gone. My prayer is that I'd be a blessing to someone along the way. Life wasn't meant to be so complex; it's just what each of us has made it. After years of what I assumed to be living, I now live to believe that loving God and loving people is what it's all about.
From childhood we are all taught to think with our brains but I think we would all do well to spend more time learning to think with our hearts. I guess that’s what does it for me!
Peace-
Volunteer Worship Leaders
Barbara Barnes
Born in Charleston into a military family, we moved around a lot until we settled back here when I was in high school. Part of my childhood was spent in Charleston, though, and I began singing in church at a very young age since my grandparents were in the choir. Even at home and in the car, we were always singing together as a family, which is how I learned to love harmonizing. “Daddy sang bass, Mamma sang tenor,” as the old song says. Music influenced my siblings and children as well, with two brothers formerly in rock and roll bands and my son still singing and playing for a living.
Struggling through piano lessons as a child, I then began playing guitar as a young parent of two children, David and Elizabeth, now grown. I earned a little much-needed money back then by playing folk music in small bars/restaurants, but busy-ness caused me to eventually put my guitar away. I picked it up again for good when I attended Cursillo at Camp St. Christopher and found a way to express my deep love of Jesus through music and song. What a thrill that was! I joined the praise team at St. Andrew’s in 1990, and in 1996 Sharon Harper and I recorded a CD of our original worship songs. I have been bouncing around the worship ministry ever since … sometimes leading … but put me anywhere on any team, and I’m happy!
Several years ago, I went to England with Steve, Alan Kilpatrick, and a group from St. Andrew’s. While there, God gave me an inkling of an idea to see both a Women’s Worship Team and a Men’s Worship Team participating at St. Andrew’s in whatever capacity He wanted to use us. I mentioned it to Steve on the train, and he said, “Do it!” I should have known! I started the team in 2002 with a very small group of dedicated ladies, and in 2009 the men formed a team. My dream was fully realized on Easter as these two teams joined together to lead the pre-service worship music at Boone Hall.
When my voice begins to waver too much and my fingers won’t reach the chords, someone (Dwight!) will have to tell me to step down from the worship team because I might not notice. I’ll be too busy worshipping. I am married to John Barnes, and God blessed us in February with our first grandchild, Taylor Catherine Dunning. My favorite scripture is John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Jay Davis
I grew up in Augusta, GA in a large family with three older sisters. I was the first in my family to go to Clemson University and after graduation, I moved to Charleston. My parents used to own a timeshare in Wild Dunes when I was a kid, and we would come up for vacation about four times a year. Growing up, I remember thinking to myself, this would be a great place to live when I'm older, and it just so happens that it came true and I've never regretted it for a second. Charleston has become home to me, and I'm thankful to live in a place where God's handiwork is displayed in so many beautiful ways.
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I would definitely say that my biggest influence was my father. He would always have music playing in his truck from the Beatles to Otis Redding to Sly and the Family Stone. Being a guitarist and loving the soul genre, he tried to teach me to hear the music. My mother on the other hand played classical piano and sang in the church choir. She encouraged me in music, as well, by enrolling me in my middle school band. Being in a concert music setting, I learned to read music and play the tenor saxophone although I really wanted to play the drums. (I finally did get to play the drums when I joined our church's praise team.) Throughout high school and college I played in bands outside the church, but one night at a Clemson FCA meeting, I realized that God had given me musical gifts to bring glory to Him. When I graduated and moved to Charleston, I knew I wanted to find a church where I could serve Him in music, and when I found St. Andrew's, I knew I was home.
I started out playing drums on worship teams at St. Andrew's (and still do), but through our Men's Hike Ministry, I started leading worship when we went out on the trails. Over time, and through God's ever moving hand, I began to lead worship in church. Looking back, I find it to be no coincidence that a simple thought I had years ago in college would come true and that he would use me to serve Him in leading worship. Learning to truly lead worship has been an incredible journey. I've learned that it's not simply creating a list of songs and playing them in the right key at the right time, but it's about following God's ever-moving hand. Worship has become much more than singing the songs on the screen; it's a lifestyle that we choose on a daily basis. My hope has become this:
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
John Pawley
Hi! I’m John Pawley
Currently 34
Married To Leah
With No Children
But by the time I finish writing this I will be closer to 35 … Married … and with a beautiful baby daughter, Eloise. [Editor’s Note: Eloise Pawley was born May 5, 2010!]
I moved to America, from my homeland of Nottingham, England, September 2004 to be a part of Year Team. I believed God wanted me to be here about two years … but here I still am!
Worship for me has taken all kinds of styles and shapes from being in the church choir as a little boy to singing and writing songs for schools, churches and prisons for 11 years and also being the lead worshiper for my home church for about 5 years. It’s amazing the doors He opens.
I have been so blessed with these roles and opportunities to be His worshiper, to sit at His feet and seek the Lord and hear His voice guiding me in so many ways, even through songs. Over the years, I have grown deeper in love with Him through worship. This is something for which I long for everyone to experience. It is an honor to lead others to the places He has shown and taken me.
My prayer as I continue to be a worshiper and worship leader is to continue going deeper in Him, to take my family with me, and if you’re open, I’d like you to come, too!
Julie Acker
I was born in Charleston and grew up attending St. Philip’s Church downtown, where from the age of 7, I donned the red gown and cap of the junior choir and learned to love traditional hymns. I participated in adult choirs in Pennsylvania and Connecticut at Methodist and Episcopal churches before moving back to South Carolina and to St. Andrews in 1995.
I started out attending the traditional service in the beautiful old church and participated in the choir. I admit I did not have much appreciation for praise songs. I started attending the contemporary service when my teenage daughters brought me along with them. I began to appreciate contemporary songs and their ability to draw the congregation into worship. In the midst of this time, I was invited to attend a Women’s Worship Team Retreat in the NC mountains, and that was the beginning of my involvement with the Worship Team.
Leading worship is such a joy and a privilege. I feel truly blessed that we are able to offer both traditional and contemporary forms of worship here at St. Andrew’s. I love looking in the hymnal at the dates that the songs were written. I get a picture in my head of all the saints through the ages up to today who have poured out their love for God through music and singing!
I am employed at the Medical University of South Carolina where I work in the Corporate Compliance Department. I have two wonderful daughters, aged 22 and 24, who help keep me humble and bring me loads of joy. Besides singing, I enjoy kayaking, camping, gardening or any activity outside.
Ken Johnson
I have been drawn to music all of my life. From early childhood I knew I enjoyed singing. Later, in dental school, I purchased my first guitar with a friend who was a great encourager to me.
I find worshiping through music connects us to God in deep and meaningful ways. I started singing with the Praise Team at St. Andrew’s a number of years ago. Whether being with tens of thousands at a Promise Keeper’s conference, or hiking with men in the N.C. mountains, or participating in Third World missions, having a hand in worship has blessed me and actually given me a greater hunger to go deeper. In August 2008, we started the Men's Worship Team, which is a group of men committed to Christ with a real desire to worship through singing. We sing 1-2 Sundays a month in the Old Church 9:00 service, and also at men's breakfasts. It's quite a blessing in my life to enjoy worshiping with these men.
I enjoy traveling, especially to Israel and Italy, with my wife, Debbie. We joined St. Andrews about 15 years ago. I've had the great experience of serving on the Vestry, and being involved with the Marriage Course and Alpha with Debbie. We've been married 25 years and have two grown daughters, Anna and Rebekah. Anna and her husband, Brett, have blessed us with a wonderful grandson, Hudson. Running the Ravenel Bridge and almost anything outdoors, including golfing, boating, and surfing, are some of my favorite things to do.
Professionally, I'm a dentist and have a practice which includes many in the St. Andrew’s family. I enjoy involvement in foreign and domestic missions, where I can provide dental care, coupled with sharing the truth of the Gospel. Mentoring other men has also become an important part of my Christian walk.
My desire to worship in singing and playing my guitar is best expressed in the chorus of one of my favorite songs, Revelation Song:
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings;
You are my everything, and I will adore you!
Kirk Fischer
I was born here in Charleston but spent part of my childhood in the Upstate. As the son of a Lutheran minister, I grew up in church singing traditional hymns. As an adult, I got introduced to a blend of contemporary and traditional worship at Heritage Presbyterian Church. I joined the Choir and the Men’s Choir, where I sang and eventually played a little guitar. A growing interest within the church for contemporary worship led to an evening music service, where I helped lead worship for the first time. Eventually, I began to lead worship during the regular services as the church service became more blended.
My family and I came to St. Andrews eight years ago and quickly felt at home in the congregation. St. Andrews continues to bless our family. We regularly attend the Sunday evening service in the Historic Church, where we enjoy the casual atmosphere and the intimacy of a smaller service. I have been a member of the worship team for the past six years.
In my spare time, I enjoy song writing, star gazing, nature photography, and spending time with my family. My wife, Andrea, and I have been married for 13 years and we have two children, Micah and Maggie. I am employed at Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, where I teach physics, chemistry, and astronomy.
Patti Wheat
If asked to write a book about my life, the title would be something like ‘How Did a Good Catholic Girl End Up Here?’ The story would begin with the early days of catechism and liturgy, church choirs, Vacation Bible School, and a teary-eyed confession at age 13 at the oh-so-cliche closing ceremony at church camp, singing ‘Pass It On’ as we gathered to close out our week of studying ‘The Late Great Planet Earth.’ The story would proceed with several stops along the way in various churches, denominations, Bible studies, each stop adding deeper revelation and a deeper devotion and love of Jesus Christ and a passion for His bride, the Church universal.
Blessed to be born to believing parents who lived their lives saturated in the church (Mom was Presbyterian, Dad was Roman Catholic) our family thrived in the fellowship and closeness that comes from being attached to the Body. I believe my love of music was born out of my love for the Church, where I was nurtured and given ample opportunity to develop skills and gain experience in the safety of other believers with a heart for edifying a sister in Christ. And then, imagine the joy of finding St. Andrews upon moving to Charleston in 1996! I wept my way through every service for the first four months as the Holy Spirit touched me in indescribable ways, bringing me both satisfaction and hunger.
As the rest of the story unfolds, I can only pray for more of the same privilege that the Lord has graced me with. Be it musical or visual, be it as leader of the Women’s Worship Team in the historic church or as a keyboardist in the Ministry Center, be it working with the kids in the Deep End or with the rest of the Worship Arts Team in the various services, I can only say, ‘Thank You. May I have some more please?’
Whitney Bradburn
Though born in Indiana, I did most of my growing up in Atlanta, Georgia. I have always loved to sing, and even as a small child, it was my first line of communication with God. I used to swing in my backyard and sing my own songs to Jesus.
I was raised in a growing and active Methodist church where I sang in children’s, youth and adult choir. In high school I attended a retreat, called Chrysalis (Cursillo, Emmaus, Tres Dias), where I was first exposed to praise songs and a more contemporary style of worship. I began to serve on those retreats as part of the worship teams. In my college years I began to lead worship on a weekly basis at the Methodist student center, at UGA.
This is also where I met my husband, Pete, who was the drummer in that worship band. We got married 13 years ago and in that time have always been involved in worship ministry together in some capacity. Over the years as I have grown in my faith, I have grown in worship. The more I know Jesus, the more I am compelled to worship him!
Our family moved to the beautiful city of Charleston 8 years ago and began attending St. Andrew’s 6 years ago. I immediately felt at home. At St. Andrews, I am constantly challenged to grow in my relationship with Christ, grow in my knowledge and understanding of who God is, and grow in the many aspects of worship. I love St. Andrew’s! I have been truly blessed to be involved in this worship ministry for 4 years.
Pete & I and our children, Forester, Micah & Slade Katherine, reside in West Ashley.