Meet Our Staff

Milton Harrington, Senior Pastor

Pastor Milton was called to First Baptist in December 2022. He and his wife Kelly moved to Charleston from Tallahassee, FL. The two have been married over 30 years and are ecstatic to be new grandparents. Kelly and Milton met volunteering with youth at Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee in 1991 while he attended The Florida State University, and they have been serving the Lord together ever since.

He is a 96’ alum of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and has pastored in Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida. His favorite verse of scripture is Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

“I love preaching God’s word and mentoring new believers, helping them awaken to the wonderful truths God has for them.”

When not spending time with Kelly or at the church office you will find him next door at the Brew Jay, the local coffee shop.

Kyle Johnson, Youth Pastor

Kyle has served at First Charleston as youth minister for six years. He describes himself as “a Bible toting, Christ Following, born again believer! I am a Father of three amazing kids, and a husband to one Awesome wife. I thank the Lord every day for all my blessings!” He received his Associates of Arts Degree from Williams Baptist University in 2005, his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts in 2018, and a Masters in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University in 2020.

Kyle is also the Jobs for America Graduate teacher at Charleston High School. “I have been blessed by the Lord to be in both of these positions to help lead our community’s young people to a better knowledge of who Christ was, IS, and will always be!” In his free time Kyle enjoys watching professional wrestling, watching Sci-fi movies, Comic Cons, Traveling

His favorite bible verse is Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Lenzi Householder, Minister to Children

Lenzi has attended First Baptist for her entire life, and began her role at First Baptist in October 2024. Before holding an official role she volunteered in the children’s ministry Wednesday night services and with Vacation Bible Schools. She also teaches the 4-6th grade Sunday School class. Lenzi is married to her husband, Ian, and they have two sons, Bingham and Asa.

Lenzi is a graduate of Lindenwood University where she gained her Bachelor’s in Business Administration as well as her MBA with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. Lenzi is a teacher at Charleston High School where she teaches multiple business classes.

Lenzi’s favorite scripture verse is Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Kathy Garrard, Secretary

Kathy Garrard has been a lifelong resident of Charleston and First Baptist Church. She began working part-time as the Church’s secretary in 2019. She and her husband, Mike, met through a blind date set up by her uncle, and have been married for 42 years. They have a wonderful son and daughter-in-law, who have blessed them with two adorable granddaughters. Kathy enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her dog, and friends. She likes to read, travel, and piddle in the yard.

Psalm 121 is one of her favorite scriptures, I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your protector; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time and forever.”

“I love the Lord and am blessed to have such a wonderful church family!”

Harold Winston, Church Custodian

Harold is a lifelong resident of Charleston. He has been Custodian at First since 2014. “The thing I like best about my job is the interaction I have with the people of the church.”

His hobbies are reading and walking. His favorite bible verse is Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,”