Pastor Robert F. Dodd, a native of Chesnee, South Carolina, was born to Mr. Clinton L. Baxter and Mr. Rudolph & Mrs. Mildred A. McKinney.  He is a graduate of Chesnee High School. After graduation, he worked in textiles and industrials. He later joined the United States Army where he served for seven years. He was a Fire Support Specialist, Judge Advocate General Legal Sergeant, and the Army’s Special Forces Qualification Course [Q Course] at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School which is located in Fort. Bragg, North Carolina as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant [18 E].

While in the Army, Pastor Dodd gave his life to the Lord on March 5th 1997. Pastor Dodd was attending Brooklyn C.M.E. church where the preaching of Pastor Tony Scott was heard. Later Pastor Dodd fell ill to Endocarditis. He underwent eight hours of open heart surgery and after numerous hospitals stays, he later underwent brain surgery at Duke University.

After witnessing the miraculous hand of God upon his life he answered the call to ministry by coming back home to Chesnee. Pastor Dodd was under the discipleship teaching of Bishop Ernest W. Jones, of True Vine World Outreach Fellowship.
Pastor Dodd helped Pastor Daniel Jeter build Brooklyn C.M.E. Church, by serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 416. He later served under the Pastoral leadership of Pastors Bob Childers and Joe Henderson.

Pastor Dodd has studied at the University of Maryland, Spartanburg Technical College, and Hallmark Baptist Institute.Pastor Dodd was ordained in October of 2008 and became the Pastor of New Covenant Baptist church.
In a continued effort to propagate the great commission, Pastor Dodd is outreaching to the Upstate of South Carolina – in community wide outreach. He is involved in the effort to continue to show the love of Christ to the nation of Haiti where his mother fostered a ministry before her brief death.

His vision is to carry out the Great Commission by building lives, relationships, and communities by telling the Gospel message and thriough ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To bring this vision into fruition, he has completed the first phase which includes a 120 seat sanctuary that serves as the conduit for outreach efforts for the remaining six acres. Pastor Dodd would like to expand the vision to a 2500 seat auditorium.

Pastor Dodd is a passionate outdoors man. He loves the sport of hunting wild game through out the southeast.

He and his wife, Paledie Pearl Dodd, reside in Simpsonville, South Carolina with their two children.



Lavar Washington was born on February 17, 1982  in Raleigh North Carolina to Sylvester and Jacqueline Washington. His Father has worked in the Health Care field for over 20 years. His Mother has done everything from counseling, teaching, social work, child care, and now owns and operates her own business. Lavar also has two living grandparents. His grandfather was very active in the Civil Rights movement and attended the March on Washington. He also served as Pastor for over 30 years in Raleigh North Carolina.His grandmother worked in Education, and was a high school English teacher. Lavar Washington received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Shaw University in Raleigh North Carolina and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree from Clemson University. Lavar has his Real Estate License and intends to open his own cafe. Lavar was saved at a young age while watching Billy Graham with his mother on television. Lavar recalls that "when Billy Graham gave the altar call, I just wished I was on television so that I could come forth and be saved". His mother kindly explained to him that he could be saved from right where he was sitting. He then went into his room, repented of his sins, and asked Jesus to be his Savior. Lavar has been committed to the work of the ministry since June 2, 2008.