Bishop Thomas Johnston ("TJ") was born in Tuscaloosa, AL and graduated from high school in Spartanburg, SC. After graduating from law school, he and his wife, Rees, moved to Charleston, where TJ practiced law as a trial attorney.
In 1987, TJ took a leave of absence from the practice of law and with Rees, and their children (Atlee and Welden), moved to Haiti. TJ worked as a Volunteer for Mission with the Episcopal Church in Haiti where he coordinated partnerships between churches and schools in Haiti and churches and schools in the United States with a focus on rural education and health issues.
In 1991 TJ followed God's leading to seminary and along a path to ordained ministry. After being ordained he served Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC, as an assistant priest for eighteen months. In 1996 he became an assistant to Bishop Chuck Murphy at All Saints Church, Pawley’s Island, SC.
In January of 1998 TJ and his family left Pawleys Island and moved to Little Rock, AR to start a new Church (St. Andrew’s - www.saintandrews-lr.org). In April of 1998 the Right Rev. Edward Salmon (Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina) transferred his Letters Dimissory (license) to the Right Rev. John Rucyahana of the Diocese of Shyira, Rwanda. With this occurrence the seed was planted that would eventually give birth to the missionary movement that is now called the Anglican Mission in the Americas (www.theamia.org).
From the earliest days of the Anglican Mission TJ has been involved in resourcing and starting new churches and the development of emerging leadership for the Mission. In June of 2001 he was consecrated as a Bishop of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda for the purpose of overseeing the churches in and the development of the Anglican Mission in the Americas. He also served on the Board of Trustees at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA (www.tesm.edu).
TJ is committed to leading and growing St. Peter’s Church into a vibrant community of faith where all ages can come to explore, grow and stretch in their faith. His heart is that individual lives, along with our community, will be transformed by the love God in ways that will stand for an eternity.
Rees is an agent with Carolina One Real Estate, Welden lives in South Carolina, and Atlee lives in Texas.
Mike has been engaged in the ministry of prayer and healing for nearly twenty years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area. He and his wife Sydney previously served at St. Andrew’s Church in Little Rock where they helped start and develop that church.
Mike has been deeply involved in the mission of the church by serving on boards and traveling extensively through Latin America and Africa. In addition, he has served on the South American Missionary Society board since 1989 and served as its chairman from 1992-2002. In 2006 Mike became the Chairman of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, an organization focused on aiding work in the Provinces of the Anglican Communion located in the Global South.
In October 2007 Mike was installed as Canon Missioner for the Anglican Mission by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini in a service held at the Cathedral Church in Kigali, Rwanda.
Before entering full-time ministry, Mike led various companies in the oil and gas and land and timber industry in Arkansas and Colorado. Sydney is an interior designer and supports Mike’s ministry. They have two sons; Michael who lives in New Orleans, and Wade who lives in Houston.
Andy is originally from London, England and moved with his wife Judy to South Carolina in September 2006 at the invitation of Bishop TJ to help develop the worship at St. Peter’s Church.
He was previously on the staff at Holy Trinity Brompton in London for 15 years working with Bishop Sandy Millar and Rev. Nicky Gumbel
In addition to spending many years touring and recording as a lead singer and songwriter with a professional rock band he has also produced records for Delirious, Matt Redman and Rita Springer
Andy and Judy have three daughters, Ellen, Holly and Laura.
Judy Piercy is married to Andy and they have three wonderful daughters, Ellie, Holly and Laura, as well as a recently acquired son-in-law, Oscar.
Before moving to Mt. Pleasant they lived in Notting Hill, London, where they attended Holy Trinity Brompton for 25 years (home of the Alpha Course) and participated in running Alpha as it grew from a local church outreach tool to a global ministry. Judy now brings her knowledge and enthusiasm for the course to St. Peter’s, where it is already proving to be an excellent way for people to explore the questions of life and to develop their understanding of Christianity. Her role with St Peters is to encourage and coordinate Alpha in our church.
Judy’s career has involved many exciting and unusual directions, all revolving around her 31 year marriage to her musician husband! She is a trained teacher of History and Politics but has also used her talents in occupations as diverse as running a market stall selling hand-made clothes, to a novelty cake business.
Before coming to America in 2007 she was also Head of Lower School at a central London school for 11 to 18 year old girls.
Kari was born and raised in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Kari has always found children and teaching one of her greatest passions. She attended Converse College and soon found herself working with the youth of a large church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was in this time that Kari realized her love for teaching others about Christ and all that a life growing and seeking to know more about him could be.
However she also realized that two things she held of great importance were missing. The first was her love for home and need to get close to the familiar waters of the Lowcountry and the other was her love and passion to work with young children. She moved back to Pawleys Island and worked with children in a Montessori school for three years. She loved every minute of it!
However, God had a different call for her life. In 2006 she was contacted by St. Peter’s Church to help plant a new church. This was an amazing opportunity, working for a church that had a passion to reach young families with children and all so close to home. St. Peter’s church is committed to the growth of its children and family ministries and it is our desire to reach all children with the Good news of God’s love.
Brittany spent the first 18 years of her life in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina until she moved to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee. During her four years there, Brittany was involved in ministry positions of all shapes. She served as Chaplain for Pan-Hellenic Council, was a worship leader with The Cross Ministry, and made annual trips to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts.
Each summer throughout college, Brittany embraced her love of travel with a new experience in a foreign city. She interned for a summer in Chicago, studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, and last summer she served on a dude ranch in Colorado. With a desire to continue her adventures, a return to Charleston after graduation in May of 2009 seemed unlikely.
At different points in her college career, influential people suggested that she pursue youth ministry. Last year she served as a mentor to students at the University School of the Lowcountry here in Mount Pleasant. While mentoring, the school principal encouraged her to find a career that could use her love for kids. Although she did not foresee a life in Charleston or a job within a church, God was at work orchestrating the perfect opportunity here at St. Peter’s. Brittany is excited about combining her passion for ministry with her spirit for youth.
Turner was born in Dalton, Georgia and grew up very active in his church and youth group. His grandfather, a Presbyterian minister, told him that God had a plan for him, though Turner never imagined that plan would lead him to working for the church. Turner’s grandfather was right, and with the support of his friends and family, he has accepted a call to St. Peter’s to be the Worship Leader. He is passionate and excited about Christ, and he is committed to building a vibrant community of faith here at St. Peter’s.
Turner graduated from The University of Georgia in 2003 and has sold carpet, pursued a music career in Nashville TN, and has worked for East Cooper Community Outreach. He is an Eagle Scout and is very passionate about sports and the great outdoors. He also has a love for music. He sings, plays guitar, and mandolin.
Turner’s wife, Margaret, is the Director of Operations for The LAMB Institute, a ministry that includes a children’s home, school, and missionary training facility in Honduras. She is currently The LAMB Institute’s only stateside employee. They are both so thankful that the Lord has called them into these two complementary lines of work.
Turner and Margaret live in Mount Pleasant with their yellow lab, Bridger.
Millie is originally from Spartanburg, SC and grew up in the Episcopal Church. From early on she has had involvement in the church through missions, student leadership as well as volunteering as a youth group leader. She obtained a BFA in Interior Design from Converse College and upon graduation moved to Hilton Head Island to start her design career. In 2003 she took a design job in Charleston and has been there ever since.
While finding success in the design field, there was always something tugging at Millie’s heart…the desire to help the less fortunate. The Lord planted this seed in high school when she went on her very first mission trip to South Dakota. In the last few years, mission work has taken her across the globe from Central America to Africa building relationships with those in need. After considering living abroad, Millie settled back in Mt. Pleasant and is assisting St. Peters with their mission program. She is excited to start a new venture focusing full time on mission work and the local community.
Margaret grew up the oldest of three in Mobile, Alabama. As part of a close family who encouraged her in her faith, community and relationships have always been a huge part of her life.
Charleston has always been the place she wanted to live, even as a young child. In 2001 she moved to here to attend the College of Charleston. She became an active leader with Young Life and WyldLife during college and beyond. After graduating in 2005, she moved to Nashville, TN where she nannied for families and worked as Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Midtown Fellowship Church. Being surrounded by families and people deeply invested in community encouraged her desire to have an impact on those around her.
In 2007, Margaret decided to pursue her love of art and hopes of combining that with her heart for ministry to families. She moved back to Charleston to continue Studio Art classes, and began working at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, where she taught art classes and programs for almost two years. This past May, Margaret completed graduate school for Art Education through Savannah College of Art and Design.
As she continues to seek God’s direction for her life, she desires to be in a place where relationships have been formed. As a resident of Mount Pleasant, and integrated into a community of people who live out their faith, she stepped into the position of Office Administrator at St. Peter’s Church. She is excited to be able to once again be on staff at a church and be a part of the work God is doing through the community of St. Peters Church!