a Deacon in the ELCA called by the South Carolina Synod as a full-time consultant with GSB Fundraising helping nonprofits and churches tell their story in ways that increase engagement. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) specializing in strategic planning, annual fund, planned giving, and CAGA Model Storytelling training and coaching. She has more than 15 years of experience in non-profit executive leadership and fund-raising for organizations including Epworth Children’s Home in Columbia, SC, the ELCA Foundation, and NovusWay.

One of her specialties is helping non-profit organizations implement systematic, best practice approaches that shift toxic institutional cultures to healthy, thriving ministries. The focus is on transparency, human resource management, communication, and accountability. She utilizes these strategies to strengthen relationships among staff, the board, and constituents. Healthy organizations raise more money.

She also specializes in growing passion, engagement, and giving to non-profits. In her first 3 years at Epworth, she implemented a system she designed and titled “CAGA Storytelling.” The annual fund grew from $1.4 million to $2.6 million. At NovusWay, using the same system, she grew giving 68% over 12 months. In her last two years at the ELCA Foundation, she helped congregation members take the necessary steps to create charitable estate plans that will gift more than $24 million to churches, church-related non-profits, and other charities.

She served a term on the SC Synod Council and has served on the Bishop’s Mutual Ministry Committee for 10 years. Mitzie is an avid quilter, writing her own patterns in Prosperity, SC where she lives with her husband, Pastor Jason, and two high school-aged children, Ella and Micah.

The Reverend Andrea Rice was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up at Briarlake Baptist Church in Decatur, GA. She felt called to ministry from a young age and spent her growing up years discerning that call, as she served as a youth intern, traveled on mission tours, and worked with the children of the church. After she graduated from Shorter College in Rome, GA in 2000, she joined St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA. Andrea later attended seminary at LTSS in Columbia, SC and was ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in 2005. Andrea and her husband, Reverend Nathan Rice, have had the privilege of serving as a clergy couple at The Nittany Valley/Sugar Valley Lutheran Parish in the Upper Susquehanna Synod, and at St. James Lutheran Church in Lexington SC. They currently serve at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Summerville, SC. While in the Upper Susquehanna Synod, Andrea served on the Lay Ministry Institute Board. While in the South Carolina Synod, she has served on the Nominating Committee and has also served two terms on the South Carolina Synod Council. She and Nathan have three daughters.

Rev. Nathan Rice was born and raised in SC. He has especially fond memories of being formed in the faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville SC. He graduated from seminary at LTSS, and was ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in 2005. He and Rev. Andrea Rice have been married for 21 years. They have had the privilege of serving previously together at The Nittany Valley/Sugar Valley Lutheran parish in the Upper Susquehanna synod, and at St. James Lutheran Church in Lexington SC. They currently serve at St. Luke’s Lutheran church in Summerville, SC. Nathan has served the SC synod as the facilitator for the synod Outreach Network and Public Education task force. He is currently the dean of the SC Coastal Conference. He and Andrea have three daughters who help keep them busy.

The Rev. David Coffman is the Campus Pastor at Newberry College. Rev. Coffman is a 1997 graduate of Newberry, 2001 graduate of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. He was ordained in 2001, served St. John’s Walhalla, and vast healthcare roles for Agape/AgapeCare Hospice and SCHouse Calls. He and his family live in Irmo where they encourage their college age daughters and a middle school son in their various activities. When not supply preaching across the southeast, or helping in their family pageant/prom/MOB dress store, you’ll find them spending time in Maggie Valley, NC.

Justin is a native of Charleston, SC. He graduated from St. Andrews High School and attended the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University as well as private studies in piano, organ and conducting with Emily Remington, Thomas White and Doug Ludlam. Justin moved to New York City in 2006 to pursue his passions of church music (organist) and Broadway (rehearsal pianist/conductor) and returned to Charleston in 2008 to teach music and performing arts for Charleston County School District as well as Bishop England and First Baptist high schools. He has been an Artist in Residence at the College of Charleston where he served as musical director for their mainstage productions and after serving as Associate Director of Music for over 20 years at John Wesley United Methodist Church, Justin joined the staff of Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran in 2020 as Cantor/Director of Music and Organist. Justin is also owner of JW Weddings and Events, a floral and decor company located in Charleston.