Brief bios of our church staff members are featured below. Also listed are our many lay leaders and committee volunteers. If you are new to our church, feel free to call or e-mail any of our staff members to introduce yourself, or just to ask a question.
The Rev. Leon A. Rawl
Pastor of St. Peter's
Pastor Leon Rawl grew up in Lexington, S.C. He is a cum laude graduate of Newberry College with a bachelor’s degree in English. He graduated Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., with a Master of Divinity degree in 1977. Pastor Rawl served congregations in Little Mountain and Summerville before coming to St. Peter’s in 1994. He is currently completing work on a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
Pastor Rawl is married to the former Susan Long of Lexington, and they are the parents of an adult daughter, Jennifer. His free time is spent gardening and landscaping his yard.
Tina McGready
Music Director and Organist
Tina was born and raised in Columbia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Winthrop University in 1987 and has been active in church music ministry for more than 20 years. At St. Peter’s, Tina directs the Chancel Choir, Matins Choir, Handbell Choir, Junior Choir and Cherub Choir, serves as organist, and plans and oversees all other music programs including Summer Music Camp. She has also been a piano teacher for more than 20 years.
Tina holds memberships in the Association of Lutheran Musicians, American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Director’s Association.
She lives in Irmo with her husband, Bill, and their two daughters, Grace and Madeline. When not busy with musical activities, Tina enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Travis McLeod
Youth Director
Travis was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C. He first learned of Christ’s personal love for each of us in middle school, when he and his family started attending church. He became a very active member of his youth group. Travis graduated from Columbia International University in 2008 with degrees in both Bible ministry and youth ministry. He worked for three years as the youth intern at Willow Ridge Church in Lexington, S.C., before joining the staff of St. Peter’s.
Joyce Bixler
Administrative Assistant
Joyce was born in Asheboro, N.C., and moved to West Columbia at a very young age. She graduated from Brookland Cayce High School and has attended Emmanual Lutheran Church in West Columbia for more than 20 years. She has two sons and four grandchildren, and lives in Lexington with her beloved companion, Pepper.
Joyce began working at St. Peter’s in October 2000 and oversees the general daily operation of the church office, including managing all membership records and contributions, and compiling bulletins, newsletters and other publications as needed.
One of Joyce’s favorite quotations is “Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, “Oh no, she’s awake!”
Ricky Leaphart
Intern
Ricky Leaphart is a cum laude graduate from Southern Wesleyan University with a degree in Business Administration. He also attended Newberry College for a semester in 2007. Ricky is a third-year seminary student from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and is currently serving as Vicar at St. Peter's. He lives in Batesburg with his wife, Cricket, and has two daughters, Samantha and Rebecca. Ricky enjoys deer and turkey hunting, as well as saltwater fishing when time allows.
