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About Our Pastor

MINISTERIAL BIOGRAPHY OF 
PASTOR REV. DR. ROBERT CHARLES

Pastor Rev. Dr. Robert Charles, has dedicated his entire life to Christian Ministry & Service. Pastor Charles acknowledged God’s calling on his life at a very early age. Pastor Charles is a native of the Fairfield County Area. During his earlier years he attended church and was baptized at the Haskell Heights Baptist Church of Blue Ridge Terrace (under the pastorate of Joseph H. Hollis) and Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of Jenkinsville, SC (under the pastorate of Benny L. Colley). 

During his childhood he attended McCrorey Liston Elementary School (where we graduated as Valedictorian of his class) and Fairfield Central High School (where he was voted Best All Around, Most Likely to Succeed, and graduated within the Top 10 of his class). In 2005, he received a full-ride to The University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) on the Thomas L. Stepp Scholarship where he majored in Broadcast Journalism. 2 Years later he decided to change his major to Business Administration and Accounting and moved to Florence, SC to attend Francis Marion University (Florence, SC). Today, he has been blessed to earn the following degrees: An Associate in Arts from Midlands Technical College (Columbia, SC), An Associate in Arts from Florence-Darlington Technical College (Florence, SC), A Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting from Francis Marion University (Florence, SC), A Masters in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting from Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC), and A Juris Doctorate Degree in Law from The Charlotte School of Law (Charlotte, NC). [A.A., A.A., B.B.A., M.B.A., J.D.]


During his professional career he became the 1st African American CPA to ever be hired at the WebsterRogers CPA Firm, LLP (a multi-million dollar accounting firm and the second largest regional firm headquartered in South Carolina). He went on to join the professional teams at Greer Walker CPAs, LLP (Charlotte, NC), and Grant-Thornton CPA Firm, LLP (Charlotte, NC, a nationally recognized accounting firm). After his tenure in multi-million dollar professional accounting firms he went on to become the VP/Director of Finance and Controller for the Babcock Healthcare Center of West Columbia, SC ($30-40 Million in Revenue, with 2,000 Employees), the (CFO) Chief Financial Officer of The Columbia Urban League, Inc. (Columbia, SC, serving over 800 Foster Care Children Statewide, funded $2-4 Million Dollar Budget Annually). Today serves as the (CBO) VP/Chief Business Officer of the Northeastern Technical College, Inc. (Cheraw, SC, $8-10 Million Dollar Budget). 


He also serves as the principal and founder of The Robert Charles, CPA, P.A. Firm (his personal accounting advisory and consulting firm for high-net-worth individuals, families, and business). In addition, today is frequently called upon conference and keynote speaker for The NC Association of CPAS (Raleigh, NC), The SC Association of CPAS (Columbia, SC), etc. In his spare time he serve as an adjunct accounting professor for Johnson C. Smith University, Inc. (Charlotte, NC), The University of North Carolina Charlotte, Inc. (Charlotte, NC), and Midlands Technical College, Inc. (Columbia, SC). After enjoying a very fulfilling career as a church musician and minister of music, Pastor Charles accepted God’s Call on his life for the preaching and pastoral ministry. On Sunday June 12th, 2011, 
he preached his initial sermon at The Zion Hopewell Baptist Church where we went on to serve as the Asst. Pastor and Church Administrator under his father in the ministry Pastor Rev. Gene Liles. On, Sunday June 23rd, 2012, he received his preaching ordination after successfully completing a formal catechism process from the Gethsemane Baptist Association under the leadership of Rev. Algerron Williams (2012 Moderator of the GBA). 

During the Summer of 2013, he was elected the Senior Pastor of The Rock Hill Independent Church, in Jenkinsville SC just a mile from where he grew up as a child. On, November 24th, 2013, he was officially installed as the Senior Pastor with local clergy from the Fairfield and surrounding areas in attendance. By 2017, the church had experienced so much growth that it seemed more appropriate to rename the church. Pastor Charles officially renamed the church from “The Rock Hill Independent Church, Inc.” to “The Rock Church, Inc.” which was completed by the SC Secretary of State’s Office on January 1st, 2018. Today, The Rock Church, Inc. is known in the Fairfield Area as being a highly energized and popular church for young adults and young people. 

By god’s grace his leadership has helped the church grow tremendously under his pastorate. As general overseer of THE ROCK CHURCH he is leading the church as its first pastor since their re-organization as an independent church. Since his tenure began there, he has led the church to the installation of an IT/media ministry, building a praise and worship team, improving its accounting and financial reporting performance, and outreach ministries. Pastor Charles has served as a guest speaker for numerous church events, services, and conferences. Because of his high level of energy and passion for young people he has often been called “Jeremiah” or the “Pastor of the Next Generation.” 
His favorite scriptures are Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” 


AND 1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him.”
 

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Rev. Dr. Robert C. Charles

OUR PASTOR'S MENTORS

Pastor Charles believes strongly in the value and impartation of mentor-ship. He is honored to call the following clergy and renowned men of God his mentors and close confidants.

Pastor, Rev. Gene T. Liles, 
Zion Hopewell Baptist Church
of Blair South Carolina
<Pastor Charles's Father in the Preaching Min
and Installed him as Pastor of The Rock Church>

Pastor, Rev. Benny L. Colley
Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church 
of Winnsboro, South Carolina
<Baptized Pastor Charles as Young Man
and Served as a Spiritual Father during much of his Childhood at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church>

Pastor, Rev. Algerron Williams
New Dimensions & Zion Chapel Baptist Church
of Columbia, South Carolina
<Former Moderator for the Gethsemane Baptist Association, Ordained Pastor Charles>

Pastor Emeritus, The Honorable
Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Harper
Former Senior Pastor of
Zion Pilgrim Baptist Church
of Columbia, South Carolina
<Provided tremendous counsel to Pastor Charles during his first year as Sr. Pastor>

OUR PASTOR'S INITIATIVES

  • Working to ensure that our church completes the following capital projects as quickly as possible

    • New Metal Roofing for Entire Sanctuary ​

    • New Modernized Baptism Pool

    • New Doors for Front of Building 

    • Re-Painted Exterior

    • New Storage Facility 
       

  • Working to ensure consistency and excellence in the following ministry areas

    • Kids Korner Children's Ministry ​

    • Worship & Arts Ministry 

    • Outreach Ministry

    • Fellowship & We Care Ministry

    • Conference Ministry

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