Meet our Congregational Council
Congregational Council is composed of the Pastor, 4 Officers and twelve individuals elected by the Church congregation.
These council members can serve as chairs and members of the committees set up to oversee all the interests of the church. The officers are elected by elected Council.
The Congregational Council meets every second Sunday of the month.
These council members can serve as chairs and members of the committees set up to oversee all the interests of the church. The officers are elected by elected Council.
The Congregational Council meets every second Sunday of the month.
Council Officers
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Jim Buell Jim has been a member of Holy Comforter since moving to Belmont in 2013. A retired executive, Jim sings tenor in Holy Comforter’s choir and often serves as lector during worship. Jim enjoys God’s amazing world when hiking the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and traveling. Jim has two grown sons living in Louisville and Charlotte. Favorite bible verse: Micah 6:8 
COUNCIL SECRETARY &
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Jill Cassel, Chair Jill Cassel has been a member of Holy Comforter since 2014. Currently Jill is the chair for Christian Education and co-chair for Youth & Fellowship, and Worship & Music. She is also an active Sunday School and Children’s church teacher. Jill is a member Altar Guild and is a communion assistance. Jill loves NC State Wolfpack and other sports. She is the mom of two child Erin, 10, and Tyler, 7. Jill’s favorite scripture is My help comes from the Lord. He is the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 |
COUNCIL VICE-PRESIDENT
PASTOR Micah Kearney Pastor Micah has served at Holy Comforter since July of 2014. He continues to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in his life primarily through the people in it. As such, he has seen Holy Comforter as a community in which the Holy Spirit has been at work as he has come to love the people of the church. Pastor Micah believes we have a God of resurrection, of new life, who calls us to join in that work in order to make the Kingdom of God known to one another and to the world. We live into that call through our worship, our shared lives together, and through our service to others. 
CHURCH TREASURER
Warren Heller Warren joined Holy Comforter in 2003 and moved to Gastonia in 2004 when he and Faye were married. Both of them commuted to Washington, DC until he retired from the FDIC in 2007. He has three grown daughters, five grandchildren and has been blessed with careers as an engineering physicist, financial analyst and entrepreneur. Favorite Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30. |
Council
PROPERTY
Tom Nance, Chair Thomas has been a member of Holy Comforter since he and his wife Rianna moved to Mount Holly in 2015. He works as a full-time professional real estate investor and entrepreneur. He has three children – Callum, Declan, and Finn. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as traveling. He also enjoys a good round of golf in his free time. At Holy Comforter, he has found a wonderful community of support and friendships that have continued to grow his faith and commitment to Christ. His favorite scripture is Luke 8:11-15 
FINANCE
Tim Baker, Chair Tim has been member of Holy Comforter for over 35 Years. He has served the Church is almost every capacity including Council President, Treasurer, Council Member, Sunday School Teacher, Webmaster and Sound & Video Technician for our live services. He and his wife, Debbie, have 4 Children, Jonathan, Katie, Winston & Preston. He is a Master of most things technological and is the CEO of a technology company in Charlotte. He plays the guitar, ukulele, tuba, loves photography, watching movies, and construction. His favorite scripture is Psalm 118:24. 
EVANGELISM & OUTREACH
Brittany Lewis, Chair Brittany Lewis has been a member of Holy Comforter since 2019. She is the chair for the Outreach and Evangelism Committee and enjoys planning outreach events for the church. Brittany is married to Riley Lewis and they have two kids, Raylan, 10 and Amelia, 1. Brittany works for the Gaston County Health Department as a Community Health Educator. She received her Master in Divinity from Gardner-Webb University and has a passion for both Public Health and Missions. In her free time, she loves to go hiking. Her favorite verse is: 2 Corinthians 3:17. 
EVANGELISM & OUTREACH STEWARDSHIP
Susan Clark, Co-Chair Susan Clark has been a member of Holy Comforter since 2014. She and her husband Gary are retired and now are able to become more active at Holy Comforter. At her past church she was on the preschool committee, council, building committee, mutual ministry, stewardship and call committee. She is excited to see how Holy Comforter can use her time and talents. She has two grown children and two grandchildren. She and her husband love to visit with family and friends. In her spare time she loves sewing and quilting as well as gardening. Her favorite bible verse is Micah 6:8. 
STEWARDSHIP
Karen Hinkley, Chair Karen Hinkley moved to Belmont from Charlotte in 2021 and started attending Holy Comforter shortly thereafter. She loves living in Belmont with her dog Lily and enjoys hiking, yoga, and attending live performances. She is an attorney with a local civil litigation practice focused on serving clients in Western North Carolina. Her favorite verse is Micah 6:8. |
YOUTH & FELLOWSHIP
Mary Yavelak, Chair Mary became an official member of Holy Comforter in 2019, after years of visiting with family when she was home from college. She currently chairs the Youth and Recreation committee and is a member of the Christian Education and Evangelism and Outreach committees. Mary is a graduate of and current staff member at NC State University and has a passion for public health communication. Favorite scripture: John 16:33 
WORSHIP & MUSIC
Greg Byrum, Co-chair After being invited to sing in a new Chamber Choir by Mark Yount and Greg Cline, Greg started singing with Holy Comforter in the fall of 2000. He then joined the church in 2007 and has served six years on the Church Council, served on the Pastor Search Committee and also taught Adult Sunday School. At a very early age he was taught and have never forgotten one of his favorite Bible verses: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee”. Psalm 56:3 
WORSHIP & MUSIC
Julia Gunter, Chair Julia has been a member of Holy Comforter for 30+ years. She has served on most committees through the years, taught Sunday school and VBS and enjoys singing in the choir, ringing hand bells and playing flute. One of her favorite scriptures is “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 
SOCIAL MINISTRY
Leslie Christ, Chair Leslie is a 1977 graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College with a degree in music education and a 1994 graduate of Winthrop University with a Master of Music in vocal performance degree. She has been a choir director for 25 years at Oakhill Methodist Church, Morganton, NC; Old St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Newton NC and Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Mt. Holly NC. She taught music appreciation at CPCC for 15 years. HCLC; Director of Hanging of the Green Service for the last 12 years. She currently serves on church council where she chairs the Social Ministry Committee, and is also a member of the Church Choir and Chamber Choir. 
MUTUAL MINISTRY
FINANCE Mark Yount, Co-Chair Mark has been a lifelong member of Holy Comforter and has been in the Choir 30 plus years. He has served on Council several times serving as Council President and Chairing various committees over the years. Additionally, he has taught Sunday School and participated in mission trips. He is a graduate of Belmont Abbey College and works at Belmont Savings Bank as President/CEO. He is married to Rebecca, and they have two sons, Luke and Alec. His favorite verse is: John 3:16. |
