Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center Leadership

DIVISION OF CARE  LEADERSHIP
Dr. Raymond F. Culpepper
First Assistant General Overseer/
International Executive Committee Liaison

​Dr. Raymond F. Culpepper is first assistant general overseer and ministerial advocate of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) and former general overseer (2008-2012).

Before his election to the denominational leadership in 2004, he was the founder and pastor of the Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham, Alabama, for 24 years. He and his wife, Peggy, have three children and six grandchildren.

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EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR

​Rev. Sandra Melcher completed the Ministerial Programs of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee. She received the Ministerial Exhorters License Certificate in August 2005 and the Ordained Licensed Minister Certificate in August 2007. While living in Mississippi, Rev. Melcher served as a full-time Student Pastor. 

Rev. Melcher and her husband, Mike, moved to Newport, Tennessee from Mississippi in February 2010 to serve as the Student Pastor at the Newport Church of God. While serving in this ministry position, her husband, Mike Melcher, went to be with the Lord at the early age of 48. He served as the maintenance director
at the Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center (formerly known as the Widows Ministry Center) in Sevierville, Tennessee. 
Rev. Melcher continued in ministry at the Newport Church, and in January 2012 was asked to serve as the Administrative Pastor.

During the summer of 2013, Rev. Melcher was ask to serve as interim at the Indian Creek Church and then was voted in and appointed as Lead Pastor. In the fall of 2014, Rev. Melcher served as the Administrative Assistant under the executive leadership of Bishop Timothy and Sharon Nuckles at the Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center. In August 2016, Rev. Melcher became the Executive Coordinator of the Center under the leadership of the Division of Care Executive Administrator and Executive Director, Dr. Donnie Smith. In August 2018, Rev. Melcher was reappointed as the Executive Coordinator under the leadership of Bishop Mitchell E. Corder. 

Rev. Melcher has two children: Rev. Michael Melcher, Jr. (wife, Kristi) and Sheena Hogan (husband, Christopher) and five grandchildren: Carson, Reiley, Ann Lynn Holcomb; Krista Deberal and Kaylee Naomi Hogan.

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