Intentional Equipping Network Director

Pastor Ben Winn serves as the Lead Pastor of City Hope Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Planted in 2023, City Hope exists to see a city transformed by the hope of the gospel, one life at a time, by cultivating a disciple-making movement in York County and beyond.

Ben earned his undergraduate degree from Winthrop University and a Master’s degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. For the past 18 years, he has served in a bivocational capacity, working as a national accounts sales representative for a multinational forest products company. His work in the marketplace has strengthened his ability to build relationships and connect with people, a gifting that carries over into his pastoral ministry.

Throughout his ministry, Ben has been passionate about equipping and connecting leaders. In addition to his roles as pastor and business professional, Ben serves as a chaplain with Pathways Community Center, a facilitator with Disciple SC, a church planting assessor for the SC Baptist Convention, and a board member for a Hand Up Ministries.

Ben and his wife, Kara, have been married for 21 years and are the proud parents of Silas (18) and Lydia (14).

Steering Council Member

Brad is a graduate of both North Greenville Univeristy and Charleston Southern University. He is also the former Vice President of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He and Carrie have had the joy of serving Hillcrest for over 10 years. Hillcrest is where they began expanding their family with the addition of our two children, Ivey & Titus. They are passionate about reaching community in the name and grace of Jesus and consider it a joy to have served Western York County this many years through Hillcrest!

Steering Council Member

Pastor Nicholas Colt Vinesett, currently serving as Lead Pastor at Eastside Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has a rich background rooted in his South Carolina upbringing. Graduating from Indian Land High School in 2004, Nick initially pursued a career with Starr Electric in Charlotte, North Carolina. His spiritual journey took a pivotal turn during a Sunday evening service at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail on March 19, 2006, where he experienced a profound realization about his faith.

In 2007, Nick enrolled at Victory Baptist College and felt a calling to preach during a Greg Lentz Youth Conference in Ashboro, North Carolina, though he initially hesitated due to perceived educational limitations. Transitioning to serve as a Deputy with the Lancaster Sheriff’s Office from 2009 to 2019, following in the footsteps of his father and brother in law enforcement, Nick ultimately pursued his calling further, graduating from Fruitland Baptist College in September 2020.

During this period, Eastside Baptist Church invited Nick to preach while searching for a permanent pastor, leading to his appointment as Lead Pastor in July 2020. Alongside his professional journey, Nick married Jessie Shaw in 2011 and cherishes their three children, Annaleigh (8), Lilly Kate (5), and Syris (5). Passionate about the outdoors, Nick enjoys hunting and fishing, complemented by his scholarly pursuits in history and theology.

Nick’s guiding Bible verse, Galatians 2:20, reflects his deep faith and commitment to his calling: "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." His true passion lies in guiding both seasoned Christians and newcomers alike toward a deeper understanding of the Bible and fostering spiritual growth at Eastside Baptist Church, where he envisions lives transformed through encountering Jesus.

Steering Council Member

From coast to coast and sea to shining sea!!! That has been the journey for me (and my family). Born in California and raised in Washington state, we have now completed the cycle of living on both coasts including a stint in the middle. Though there are not many Christians in the Northwest, I surrendered my life to the Lord while attending college at Central Washington University. Conveniently, I not only met Jesus in college, but I met my wife there too (June 23, 1990)!! We graduated from CWU in 1991 and moved to Vancouver, WA where I began a brief career as an Elementary School teacher.

As the Lord continued to move in our lives we followed His leading to move most of the way across the country to Nashville, TN in 1996. Complete with two of our kids Jessep (1992) and Bryant (1995), Branda began work for Lifeway Christian Resources as a wellness consultant, trainer, and author. Early in our move to Nashville, the Lord pulled a fast one on us and called me to vocational ministry. Over the next 5 and half years, we worked, volunteered at Long Hollow Baptist Church, and raised kids while completing a seminary degree. Upon completing that degree in 2003 we followed the call to Memphis, TN to serve on a church staff in two separate churches over the next 6 years. In the process, the Lord surprised us with two more awesome boys, Landry (2003) and Finley (2006). Yes, that is two families in one marriage, what a crew we are!!!

The Lord continued the pilgrimage of the Polks in 2009 when we moved back to the Nashville area serve Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN. We were there just long enough for Jessep to graduate from high school. He continued his education and baseball career at North Greenville University graduating with a degree in Accounting. While at NGU he also met our fantastic daughter-in-law, Tori Freedman Polk. They married in 2017 and now reside in Kings Mountain, NC.

The coast to coast journey is now complete as we join the FBC Rock Hill family in serving as the Associate Pastor of Spiritual Growth and Assimilation since July of 2011. We are very excited about what God is doing in our lives as well as the FBC family and look forward to serving with you for a very long time. Branda is actively involved in her work as a Personal Fitness Trainer. Bryant is a 2013 graduate of Northwestern High School and a graduate of York Technical College. Bryant now works in the commercial building systems industry in Charlotte. Landry and Finley continue to keep us young.

Branda and I are deeply committed to fitness doing CrossFit almost every morning and in my spare time, I enjoy coaching my boys in football, reading, and visiting the beach whenever possible.

Steering Council Member

After serving in a variety of roles on church staffs, Phillip followed God’s leading to plant Grace Collective Church in 2014.  He and his wife Anita were married in 1999 and are the proud parents of four children; Savannah Grace, Rylee, Mac, and Declan. The McCart family has called Rock Hill home since 2010.