Leadership

Pastor Ben Whitmire was born and reared in a small farming community outside of Monroe, N.C. Pastor Ben accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 15. After answering the call to ministry, he graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible College with an associate degree, Sparrow Springs Bible College and Seminary with a bachelor’s degree, and Carolina University with a Master’s in Leadership. He is currently working on his PhD in Leadership at Anderson University. Pastor Ben served as a youth pastor and lead pastor of several churches in the Charlotte metropolitan area before spending 14 years in Western North Carolina. He served at Maplewood Baptist Church in Paris, TN before coming to Holly Springs. Ben married his wife, Jenifer, in 1999, and they have two children: Timothy, who passed away in 2018, and Gracie, who recently graduated from Anderson University. He enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, running, playing golf, refereeing basketball, riding his motorcycle, and cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers and the North Carolina Tar Heels. 

David serves as our Associate Pastor and oversees all Student Ministries with his wife Shannon.  Together, they have two boys: Max and Sam. Max lives in Charleston and Sam loves playing on his high school football team.  A graduate of Furman University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he has served several churches and as a missionary with NAMB in New Hampshire and Atlanta. 

Patman Lester began serving as our Minister of Music and Media in October of 2024.  God called Patman to church music ministry while he was studying to be a scholastic choral conductor.  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory from Furman University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Florida State University.  Since answering the call to ministry, he has served churches in Florida, Georgia, and Virginia (and Georgia again) before answering God’s call to Holly Springs. Patman met his wife Susan during his first ministry position near Florida State and they were married in 1996. They have one son, Nathanael, who was born in 2007. The Lesters enjoy singing, vacationing in the mountains, and singing together on their way to the mountains.

Kay serves as part-time Director of Children’s Ministries. She has been an active member of Holly Springs since early 2000. She has taught Sunday School for children and middle schoolers and has served in VBS, Children’s Church, AWANA, and Good News Club. She and her husband Jim served in churches since 1971. Jim passed away from ALS in 2022 and Kay is continuing to serve as he would have wanted.  Kay has two daughters and 6 grandchildren, and is anxious to welcome her first great-grandchild. Her greatest desire is to guide children and their families to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and learn to serve Him with all their hearts.

Rebecca has been on staff at HSBC since 2018 and actively involved in church ministry for over 25 years. She manages our office with a warmth and passion for helping others. Rebecca and her husband, Joe, enjoy country living in the upstate, and they have two adult children. Her favorite Bible verse is Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."