Leadership
SENIOR MINISTER
Rev. John Brearley is the perfect fit as senior minister for FPC seeing that his grandfather, Dr. Cecil Brearley organized the founding of our church back in 1928. John received his undergraduate from Presbyterian College, his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Seminary. He comes to us after serving multiple other churches in North and South Carolina. He and his wife, Tammy, are high school sweethearts with four loving children and a growing number of grandchildren. In his spare time, you can spot him walking on the beach, spending time with his family or playing on the links. He also loves to travel and schedules a trip with members of the congregation every year.
The Rev. Christa R. Brewer
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Rev. Christa Brewer was born and raised in Carmichael, California, and is our associate pastor who primarily works in the areas of pastoral care and adult discipleship. She received a BA in Classics and Economics from Stanford University, an M.Div. and MA in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is currently working on her D.Min at Columbia Theological Seminary, studying the gifts and challenges in ministry of PCUSA pastors living with depression. She came to First Presbyterian in November 2014, after previously serving as an associate pastor to congregations in The Woodlands, Texas and Groomsport, Northern Ireland. She currently serves on the Presbytery of New Harmony’s Committee on Ministry and is a certified spiritual director. In the community, Christa plays the flute with the North Myrtle Beach Community Band and the Wilmington Symphonic Winds. In addition to playing the flute, her other hobbies include cross-stitching, exploring her surroundings, and traveling the world. In December 2021, Christa married Rev. Barrett Ingram, who is the pastor at Clarkton Presbyterian Church in Clarkton, North Carolina. They first met in 2010 as members of a young pastors’ colleague group in the Houston, Texas area.
The Rev. Nathan See
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Nathan has devoted the first fourteen years of his church career to full-time youth ministries in Columbia, Missouri, and Littleton, Colorado. Prior to beginning his ministry, Nathan graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in both Psychology and Religion. In addition to his undergraduate studies, Nathan received his Certificate in Youth and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary and obtained his Master of Divinity with a concentration in Family Ministry from Denver Seminary.
Nathan is so excited to be in Myrtle Beach and really enjoys what he gets to do at FPC (working with young families, young adults, The Gathering worship service and missions). Nathan loves spending time with his wife Morgan and their two children, Tyler and Georgia. Nathan also enjoys woodworking, good coffee, smoking meats, and rooting for (and usually being disappointed by) his Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott
PARISH ASSOCIATE
Charles Elliott has served our denomination in almost every capacity—pastorates in the Carolinas, management positions at Presbyterian College and Thornwell Home, executive officer in multiple presbyteries, and interims throughout the area (including Mt. Pleasant and Georgetown). Now, most importantly for us, Charles will serve our church ten hours a week in pastoral care (hospitals, visitation, and care facilities). That Charles and his wife, Caryl, have family in our church is a bonus, for sure.
The Rev. Lamar Helms
PARISH ASSOCIATE FOR MEMBERSHIP
After serving a twenty-four year tenure at Big Canoe Chapel, a multi-denominational church in the mountains of northeast Georgia, as both Associate Pastor and Director of Music Ministries, Lamar came to us first as member, then as Membership Coordinator, and now serves as Parish Associate for Membership. He received his BA (1971) and MA (1975) degrees in English from Wake Forest University, and his MDiv (1987) in preaching and pastoral care from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Lamar and wife Sylvia retired to Little River, SC, in October 2020, and currently participate together in our music program. They have a daughter and two sons, two granddaughters and one grandson, and enjoy two dogs and a bearded dragon.