Rev. John R. Virgin
Pastor J.R. is a 2007 graduate of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has served in full-time ministry in the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, until moving to South Carolina in June of 2022. In Western PA, Pastor J.R. served in a variety of settings and roles. He has served rural congregations as both a Senior and Associate Pastor, as well as, serving a large church with a multiple site ministry. Pastor J.R. has also served many years on the Western PA Board of Ministry and as a District Committee on Ministry Chairperson. Pastor J.R. is now an ordained Elder in the Global Methodist Church and will continue to serve at St. Paul’s Waccamaw.
Joining Pastor J.R at St. Paul’s Waccamaw are his wife Allison and their 3 children; Elijah, Evelyn, and Madison, as well as their German Shepherd, Myla. Pastor and his family live just south of Myrtle Beach in the Carolina Forest area. They are overjoyed to have the opportunity to serve at St. Paul’s Waccamaw and look forward to all that God has in store for the future.
Rev. Leon “Len” G. Kircher
Rev. Leon G. Kircher serves as the preaching pastor for St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Pastor Kircher (Len) was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and grew up on a tomato farm. His entire adult life was serving as a military Chaplain in the Army. He graduated from Tunkhannock High School in 1973 and joined the Army that same year. In 1974 he was assigned to the Berlin Brigade, West Berlin, Germany. After discharge, He remained active in the 100th Infantry Division in Missouri while attending college graduating with a degree in Biblical Studies, Greek Language Studies, and the Ancient Near East. He then attended seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity (cum laude) in addition to a second master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from Drew University. He then served as senior pastor for two United Methodist Churches in Pennsylvania. In November 1989 he re-entered the Active Army as a Chaplain.
Pastor Len served in several assignments in his 40-year Army Career, spending 11 of his 28 active-duty years Overseas. These include Desert Storm, where he was the battalion chaplain for the famous “SCUD” Buster PATRIOT Missile Battalion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Later assignments included The Panama Canal, then Senior Chaplain for the Military’s Airborne School in Fort Benning, GA.
In 1999 he was assigned to the Army’s Premier 101st Airborne Division (the Band of Brothers Division) in Fort Campbell Kentucky. In 2001, he deployed to Kosovo as the Task Force Falcon Senior Chaplain and in 2003 was tapped to be the Assault Command Post Chaplain (Forward) during the initial invasion of Iraq and the Global War on Terrorism, finishing his time there in Mosul, Iraq. He was then assigned to the US Army Garrison in Vicenza, Italy. Upon returning to the States, he was the Senior Chaplain for Infantry Training on Sand Hill, Fort Benning, and finished his military career as the Senior Instructor for all Army Chaplains at Fort Jackson, (Columbia), SC. In almost every assignment, he was able to serve as pastor for one of the many Army Chapels.
“I have a passion for Ministry. A lifelong Christian in the Methodist Church, I have always been focused on the saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and the primacy of God’s Word in the Bible. I love to share the Good News of Christ.”
Hobbies include a love of genealogy, all History, and exercising as often as I can. I’m a Mayflower Descendent, a Son of the American Revolution, and hold lifetime memberships in the VFW, Association of the U.S. Army, American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans.
Len is married to Patti. They have Four Children and 10 grandchildren.
Alice Cochran
Alice is our Church Office Administrator. She moved here from Charlotte, NC to North Litchfield in 2014. Alice is originally from Shelby, NC. She went to Kings College, Charlotte, NC and after finishing started working in the Clerk of Court’s office in Shelby for 5 years as an Assistant Clerk of Court. She moved to Charlotte and worked for Moore and Van Allen, as a Legal Secretary.
She has two grown boys, Jonathan and Matthew, and one granddaughter Sadie, which she thinks is adorable. Alice loves sports, especially football and baseball.
She is thankful for the opportunity working here at St. Paul’s Waccamaw Methodist Church and is looking forward to all the growth that is happening here at our church.
David Streeter
Dave is our Church Treasurer and electronic giving (e-Giving) Administrator. Dave also leads our livestream ministry.
Dave was born on December 14, 1954, in Oelwein, Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University in 1977. He and his wife, Carol, live in Pawleys Island, SC.
Dave is a 24-year veteran of Lockheed Martin Corporation. In his last assignment, Dave served as the Program Management Director for a large mission critical Operations and Maintenance contract in Northern Virginia. His previous assignments included Director, Washington DC Special Programs and Deputy Program Director, P431 and several other management and technical leadership roles.
Dave’s experience includes significant test and integration of new software and hardware baselines delivered to operations. He spent nearly three years working 24×7 mission critical operations. He was also a Senior Operations Director for 2 years in support of numerous mission critical activities.
Dave is a Lockheed Martin certified program manager with over 13 years of applied program management. Dave graduated from the LM Program Managers Development Program Course in March 1997. During the 11 years he served as the Director / Deputy Program Director his program received award fee scores exceeding 98%, with several 100% ratings.
Dave has been very active in manager and employee mentoring programs. Over a period of 10 years, he organized and facilitated numerous roundtable mentor groups with total participation exceeding 75 high potential future leaders.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Dave served nearly nine years as an officer in the U. S. Navy. He served in combat systems officer roles that included operational deployments to the Middle East, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Additionally, Dave was an instructor at the Surface Warfare Officer Schools Command, Newport, R.I.
Following retirement from Lockheed Martin in 2010, Dave and Carol moved to Pawley’s Island, SC. Dave is active in the church and his community. He is an avid golfer with a single digit handicap.
Olivia Powell Huggins
Olivia Powell Huggins is our Director of Music, as well as our organist and pianist.
She grew up in the edge of her church yard in Greenwood, SC. She has been a church pianist since age thirteen and was choir director/ organist at Georgetown Presbyterian from for ten years before joining the music staff at St. Paul’s Waccamaw as accompanist in 2003. In 1980 she received the Lander Academic Award in Music and has degrees from Lander University and the University of South Carolina.
For thirty nine years she taught choral and general music at all levels in Georgetown County School District. As director of the BEACH Singers, Georgetown County School’s auditioned chorus for middle and high school, she coordinated weekly rehearsals and a summer training program for twenty nine years. Under her direction, the program received national recognition for her sight singing/solfege curriculum and choral techniques and was selected to perform at the White House in Christmas 1998 . In addition to numerous state and regional performances, the singers were headliners in San Diego in 2001 sharing a session with James Earl Jones at the National School Board Association Conference.
As a member of professional organizations, she has performed with festival choirs here and in Europe, attended workshops with notable conductors and accompanists , and observed some of the world’s finest choirs. Her favorite vacations include organ study in NYC with David Enlow of Julliard, attending concerts featuring the Saint Olaf Christmas Festival, or participating in worship on musical pilgrimages throughout London, Rome, Florence, Salzburg, Vienna , Venice and Paris. In 2007, she received the Indigo Choral Society Distinguished Artist Award.
Scott Lewis
Modern Worship, Technology & Outreach Director
Scott Lewis serves as the Modern Worship, Technology & Outreach Director at St. Paul’s Waccamaw Methodist Church, where he is passionate about helping people encounter Jesus through authentic worship, meaningful relationships, and intentional outreach. His ministry combines creative worship leadership, innovative technology, and community engagement to help people connect with Christ and grow as disciples.
With more than 30 years of ministry experience, Scott has served in worship leadership, creative arts, church technology, and discipleship. He leads the church’s contemporary worship ministry while overseeing audio, video, livestream production, and digital communications. His vision is to create engaging environments where people can experience the presence of God.
Scott is an Ordained Deacon in the Global Methodist Churchand is currently pursuing ordination as a Full Elder. He is continuing his theological education while faithfully serving the congregation at St. Paul’s. His calling is centered on making disciples, equipping leaders, and helping people discover and live out God’s purpose for their lives.
Scott’s greatest ministry partner is his wife, Susan, whose unwavering faith, encouragement, and servant’s heart have been a constant source of strength throughout their years of ministry. Together they are passionate about welcoming people into the life of the church, building genuine relationships, and helping others experience the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
Scott considers it a privilege to serve the St. Paul’s Waccamaw family and is excited to see how God continues to work through worship, outreach, and discipleship to impact the community for Christ. His prayer is that every person who walks through the doors of St. Paul’s—or joins online—will encounter the hope, grace, and life-changing love of Jesus.
Sarah Welch
Kidzone Director
Sarah Welch serves as the Kidzone and Communications Director at St. Paul’s. A Grand Strand native, she attended Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach and Horry Georgetown Technical College. Sarah has always had a heart for serving children and families, bringing years of experience as a nanny and a passion for serving children and families.
Before joining the staff, Sarah faithfully served in St. Paul’s children’s ministry as a volunteer. She is grateful for the opportunity to lead and grow the Kidzone ministry while also using her creativity and communication skills to support the church.
Sarah and her husband live in Murrells Inlet and have been attending St. Paul’s for several years. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, boating, spending time with family, and keeping up with their energetic Boston Terrier. She is excited to see how God continues to work through the children and families of St. Paul’s.
