Shepherds' Biographical Information

At Brooks Avenue, we are blessed to be served by an eldership of men, supported by their wives and families who diligently work to shepherd the congregation.

Lancelot Bailey Member Page

Lancelot, Myrna and Lancelot Jr. were all baptized at the Portmore Chruch of Christ in Independence City, St. Catherine Jamaica. Matthew was baptized at the Ewarton Church of Christ in Jamaica, Delsie-Anne at Garner Church of Christ (NC) and Desiree here at Brooks Avenue Church of Christ.

We believe that God brought us to the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ, and we are determined to glorify Him alone, through our lives.

John Greenwood Member Page

Born in Raleigh in 1952 on Oberlin Road, just a block up from Daniels Middle School, I attended public schools and private schools, finishing high school at Broughton. Raleigh was a relatively sleepy southern city in my growing up years before the Research Triangle boom. After graduating high school I enlisted in the US Army, just missed Vietnam, and ended up in the Army National Guard for several years.

On August 26, 1972 I was baptized by Al Bergeron at the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ and was thus “born again” into Jesus Christ, having my sins forgiven and given His indwelling Holy Spirit. In the fall of 1973, the National Guard transferred me to Minnesota where I attended Bethel University and in 1974 God put Marina Hamren into my life knowing who was best for me. It truly was love at first sight, and I even admitted it at the time. Raised a Lutheran, Marina was baptized into Christ also by Al Bergeron in Raleigh during a summer visit back to my home.

In 1975 Marina and I transferred to NC State and became active in the campus ministry until 1978 when we were married at Brooks and left Raleigh for me to take the campus minister position at the Friendly Avenue church and reaching out primarily to UNC-G and NC A&T State University. God blessed that ministry with conversions off those campuses. 1982 brought our first daughter, Emily Christina.

In 1983 we stepped out of the ministry and bought a small, struggling printing and copy shop. That enterprise grew. During that time our second daughter, Julia Marina, was born in 1986 and we also put the business into the hands of a manager and I took an associates position with the Northview church in Charlotte, NC along with several other staff members. In 1990 our third daughter, Ariel Elena, was born and we moved back to Greensboro to build the business and sold it in February 1995, the same month that my father suddenly died and I also took a position as evangelist with the Greenbelt church in Maryland. After only 19 months in Maryland we felt compelled to move back to Vance County in NC to help my mother who had suffered greatly in all areas since my father’s passing. I started a little health and life insurance business to provide some income.

My heart was ministry and I hoped this would only be a stop-gap measure. A wonderful house church group and later the Cole Mill Road church in Durham were our church homes until we came “home” to Brooks Avenue in early 2002. In 2003 I was added to staff on a part-time basis as outreach minister with hopes that position would become fulltime. That role ended along with most other minister positions and eldership roles at Brooks Avenue during a transition time of 2003 and 2004. October of 2005 brought the marriage of our oldest daughter Emily, to Vadim Kochetkov, a very godly Christian man. Both are now in graduate school at Abilene University. The last several years God has blessed our family with all our daughters becoming Christians and He has grown us powerfully by pruning and shaping our characters which, although not always pleasant, it is always necessary and always best for us and to His glory.

My 88-year old mother, Eula Greenwood, a member of Brooks, lives with us, but is unable to attend church any longer. My hobbies and interests are: Volvo 240 restoration and repairs (I have four), fishing in general (newest interest is fly fishing), reading political thrillers, and building the Community Watch and Crimestoppers efforts in my area. We also have a menagerie of pets here with us which include two horses, two dogs, six cats (don't ask), a turtle (9 years old), eight hermit crabs. There is always plenty to do.

David Mills Member Page

David Mills, age 66, has worked and worshipped with the Brooks Avenue congregation since arriving in Raleigh in 1970. He has served at Brooks Avenue as an elder, deacon, song director, Bible class teacher for all ages, pulpit speaker, coordinator of the education program, coordinator of the campus ministry, chair of a minister search committee, and member of several annual evangelism seminar committees. David was baptized into Christ at the age of 12.

He and his wife Sandra are from Huntsville, Alabama; both graduated from Madison County Bible School (now Madison Academy). Sandra has taught nursery, preschool, elementary, middle grades, and adult women classes at Brooks Avenue. She was instrumental in initiating the Bears Ministry and the Women’s Prayer Ministry. She and David are the parents of Barrett (wife Dana), Laura Clougherty (husband Tim), and George Parrish. Barrett, Dana, Laura and Tim attend Brooks Avenue. They are the grandparents of Amanda Marie & Kate Elizabeth Mills and of Grace Mills, John William (Jack) & Sarah June Clougherty.

David attended Auburn University. His undergraduate study was speech-language pathology and education; his master’s degree work was in speech-language pathology and audiology. Before moving to North Carolina, he worked as a speech-language pathologist and coordinator of exceptional child education with the Marshall County Alabama School System, and as a teacher of the hearing impaired and director of speech-language pathology and adult basic education services with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

For over 35 years, David was employed with the NC Department of Public Instruction in various capacities in the area of exceptional child education: consultant for speech-language and hearing services, section chief for curriculum and instruction for children and youth with disabilities and those with academic-intellectual gifts, and coordinator of the Governor’s School of North Carolina. Since 1987, he has served as adjunct instructor in the College of Education at NC State University. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member with the School of Education at NC Central University. He currently teaches one course in exceptional children education at both institutions.

Jerry Smiley Member Page

Jerry and Shela Smiley, along with their daughter Shenena, have lived in the Raleigh area for over 19 yrs. and attended the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ. Jerry began as a christian at an early age and attended schools of higher learning in Jacksonville Fl. He has over 30 years with IBM and currently holds the position as Program Manager, Federal Sector.

Jerry's favorite scripture "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matt. 16:13-16

Bill Stuart Member Page

I desire to serve God in any capacity is His desire. I was taught as a new disciple by my mentor to prepare to serve the Lord by growing spiritually and God would use me in accordance with His will. I have asked God to lead me in the way He wants me to go. I yield to His will.

I'm what is called an "army brat" growing up mostly on Fort Bragg military base near Fayetteville. I could see God's presence watching over me looking during those early days.

I was a student at NCSU in my junior year, majoring in Chemistry. I was a searcher - looking for God but not knowing where to look. Rick Holt, a invited me to a dorm Bible study called a "Soul Talk." After many trials and a study of the Gospel, I was baptized committing my life to the Lord on December 2nd, 1976.

I worked as a research scientist at Burroughs Wellcome then GlaxoWellcome then GlaxoSmithKline in the Research Triangle Park. My job is to prepare the compounds for the discovery of new medicines.
I worked there 26 years before I was "retired."

I have now been a member here for over 31 years. I was converted here. I met my wife Janice and we married here. We raised the three children God sent our way here - Tamara, Thomas, and Tim. They are adults now - Tamara & Thomas are married and live in the area. This church through the Word taught me and my children the values and beliefs we now hold.

I have served in the Good Samaritan Ministry. I learned compassion for the needy and how to be effective in helping someone. Later, as a deacon coordinating the Good Samaritan Ministry, I learned discernment, financial responsibility, and how to work with a group of men and women for a common goal in the service of God. I served in this area for many years.

I believed God wanted me to grow in other areas -- so asked the elders if I could serve with the Missions ministry under Jim Ogburn. I helped coordinate the Cuba work the first years I served then served as deacon in charge of Missions. I have assisted and taught one-on-one and group Bible Studies for college and adults. I have also had the privilege of teaching classes from 2nd grade through 6th grade in the Children's program and teach or co-teach adult classes.

I have coordinated the Foreign Evangelism Ministry 4 years. This has given me the opportunity to see the church in international settings such as Cuba. I have learned much in this service such as how we can be different yet united in Christ. Edward Constantine has agreed to take over coordinating the Foreign Evangelism Ministry - this was an answer to one of the "fleece prayers" I made to God. He answered those prayers.

I believe God prepared me for this service. I believe God calls us to help wherever there is need - from preaching to wiping little bottoms.

EVERYTHING is because of the LOVE OF CHRIST. Praise His name.

Ed Woodhouse Member Page

Betty Ann and I arrived in Raleigh in August of 1960 with our young son, Eddie. We visited Brooks Avenue at that time and placed membership in late 1961.

In 1962, I was selected as a deacon and served until becoming a shepherd.

In 1963, Betty Ann and I were asked to assist with planting a church in Henderson, North Carolina, and spent the next year or so traveling to Henderson on Sundays where I taught classes and preached for the wonderful people there. At Brooks, both of us taught classes, helped with Vacation Bible School at Brooks and Waller Place (now known as South Central church of Christ) and enjoyed participating in all aspects of the life of the congregation.

I have served on the Board of Directors of Carolina Bible Camp, and helped in securing the sixty-seven acres of land for the first permanent CBC site. I also participated in raising funds for construction of several of the cabins.

It was also my privilege to serve on the board of Christians In Action to help provide scholarships for Christian young people.

For twenty plus years, I served as an elder at Brooks Avenue. During that time, God provided the wisdom and the funds for us to grow spiritually and numerically, and to build the facility in which we now worship. As a Christian, I have taught, preached, held one on one Bible studies, served on the Evangelism Seminar Committee and the Evangelism Committee, participated in the beginning of the Special Needs classes and programs, and helped with missions and benevolence programs.

The Lord has truly blessed our family during our time at Brooks. Christian friends have helped Betty Ann and me rear our children for which we are most grateful. Eddie, Barry and our daughter, Anna, became Christians while here at Brooks and now three of our grandchildren, John, Will and Morgan have become Christians as well. Our entire family loves the body here and we are thankful to the good Lord for His mercy, grace and kindness to us and to the wonderful brothers and sisters at Brooks. To God be the glory.

Bios provided as a part of the 2004 and 2007 elder selection process - (updated 11/2007)

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