Lowcountry Farewell: Reverend Herrin continues her spiritual journey
The Reverend Christine Herrin, who has served as the pastor of Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton for the past 11 years, recently announced to the congregation that she will be taking on a new role as pastor at Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Dothan, Ala. Reverend Herrin is renowned for her unique ability to help people connect with each other, creating a welcoming community where everyone feels they are needed saying, “We need them serving in the church.”
During an interview Reverend Herrin, often called “Chris,” emphasized the importance of her pastoral work, stating her goal was, “Helping people find their gifts and helping them put them to work in the church.” This effort not only includes engaging members within the church but also includes involving them in the broader community and highlighting the elders’ crucial roles in the church. She said, “In the Presbyterian denomination, elders are basically responsible for the whole ministry of the church.”
In her heartfelt letter to the members, she shared her own spiritual guidance, “I encouraged us all to listen to dreams and nudges, looking for the light of Christ to travel new roads this year as led by the Holy Spirit. Well, the Spirit is leading me down a new road to take a call at Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Dothan, Alabama. I had discerned that God might have work for me in another congregation before I hang up my stoles, and it is to this church I feel led.”
Reverend Herrin’s journey began in Germany, where she spent her early years due to her father’s service in the army, moving later to Mississippi, Tennessee and Scotland. It was during her time in Scotland, from second to sixth grade, that she learned “there are other nice people in the world.” This early exposure to diverse cultures nurtured her innate ability to see the good in people. Eventually, her family settled in Jamestown, N.C., which she warmly refers to as home.
Her academic path led her to Furman University in Greenville, S.C., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business. This degree paved the way for a position as a trust officer at a bank in Atlanta. It was there that an associate pastor of the church she was attending suggested she help with their youth group. Despite having no prior experience in this area, she accepted the challenge and discovered a passion for it, remarking, “I loved working with the kids.” Her involvement deepened as she got involved in Young Life, which is an outreach ministry to teens. “So, it got to be where if I was not working, I was either doing youth ministry at the church or outreach,” she said
As she grew more enthusiastic about ministry and less about her banking job, she began wondering what she should do and was encouraged by a colleague who informed her of the need for a youth director. After interviewing for the position, she discerned that’s where God was calling her. She held this position for several years, during which she realized a need to deepen her scriptural knowledge and gather more tools for ministry.
Encouraged by her peers who recognized her potential, she contemplated higher theological education. “Have you thought about the seminary, and I hadn’t, but I started to. So, then that felt like that’s where God wanted me to go.” This reflection led her to pursue a Master of Divinity at Princeton University. Upon completing her degree, she moved back to the Southeast, finding the Northern winters too cold and wishing to be nearer to her family.
Her post-seminary career began with an associate role at a large church, Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., where she initiated and led programs for young adults and small groups, akin to her previous youth ministry but on a larger scale. She was able to use skills she developed in youth ministry and enjoyed creating her own programs. She served there for 11 years. After gaining substantial experience in Charlotte, she felt called to serve as a solo pastor at Limestone Presbyterian in Gaffney, S.C., where she served for five years. This all led to her moving on to a role as pastor of Lowcountry Presbyterian, where she has thoroughly enjoyed her pastoral duties.
Associate Pastor Dave Johnson of Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, often referred to as LPC, praised her dedication, saying, “Her love for this church and the larger church are evident in the time and energy she has given to both large and small tasks. Her attention to detail makes sure we do everything to the best of our ability.”
He added, “Chris has a solid theological foundation that undergirds her ministry which has kept LPC focused on the gospel of Jesus to care for the most vulnerable members of our community in every circumstance. Chris will be missed yet knows she that he has prepared this church to move more confidently into the future with new leadership.”
Elder Jan Alper also spoke highly of her impact, stating, “For more than eleven years, Senior Pastor Chris Herrin has built a loving community at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church which follows in the footsteps of Jesus. Our generous congregation has spread joy across Bluffton and Jasper County with many local mission projects and programs we support.”
Rev. Herrin accomplished all this while, along with her husband, Dan, raised two children, Jake who lives in Miami, and Lucy who is at Valdosta State. Reflecting on the transition to her new pastoral role in Alabama, Reverend Herrin shared her optimism about the future, “I trust that just as change is good for me and for the congregation I’ll serve, change will be good for LPC, and the spirit will lead someone different who will have different gifts.”
Reverend Herrin’s story is one of faithful service, “guided by the Holy Spirit,” and marked by a deep commitment to fostering community and nurturing the spiritual growth of those she serves. As she prepares to begin her new journey in Alabama, her legacy at Low Country Presbyterian Church remains a testament to her profound influence and dedication.
