STAC Stories
Real Testimonies from Real Members
This summer, we will be hearing how the Lord has worked in the lives of “ordinary” St. Thomas’ parishioners. These people will be sharing their testimonies on the Lord’s goodness, power, and love. These are the stories that make up the heart of our Church. Please don’t miss them!
About Our Storytellers
Click on a name below to view a photo and brief biography of each week’s storyteller.
Karen was born and raised in upstate NY where she also attended college graduating in 1987 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. She relocated to the Lowcountry in 1988 and, except for 1 year in the Chicago area and 4 years in southwest Louisiana, has been here ever since.
Mark and his wife, Fletcher have been STAC members for about 3 years after years of trying and failing to find a church home. They and their two daughters, Margaret (21) and Anna (18), have lived in the Charleston area since 2010, although Fletcher is a South Carolinian having grown up in the upstate. Mark and Fletcher are involved in one of the STAC Small Groups, which they cherish and was of the things that led them to membership.
Melissa grew up in Goldsboro, a small town in eastern North Carolina known for its famous barbeque. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Business Administration in 1996, and her first career was in Risk Management with Wachovia Bank in Raleigh. She married Ben Gaddy in 1999. They fell in love with the Lowcountry visiting the Isle of Palms and running the Cooper River Bridge Run, so they made Mt Pleasant their home in 2001.
Mona Stuhr, 57, was born in Charleston and has remained here where she raised her two children, Creighton and Ryan. She is proud to be the grandmother of 5, collectively. After attending USC, Mona discovered a passion for sales marketing and is a technical sales representative in commercial roofing industry covering a large territory. Raised in the Lutheran Church, she later discovered the ALPHA program at St. Andrews Church where she was a group leader for 20 years. She also served in the mission’s program and taught 3rd grade Sunday School. Mona transferred her membership to St. Thomas’ 4 years ago where she continues to grow in her faith.
Dan is a husband, father of two children ages 6 & 3, and has worked in education for the past 16 years. Dan currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Lucy Beckham High School in Mt. Pleasant.
Nell was born and raised in SC, graduating from Winyah High School in Georgetown and Coker College. She later earned a Master’s in Library Science from USC. In July of 1971 Nell married Ken Daniels. After living in SC for a couple of years, they spent several years in the Midwest and 17 years in the Dallas, TX area. They have 2 sons, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren, all of whom live in Texas. Nell was always willing to go wherever Ken’s work took them, with the promise that someday they would return to the SC Lowcountry. They were able to return in 1999, and have lived in Awendaw since then. Nell and Ken have been a part of the STAC family for 5 years; Nell serves on the Vestry as Senior Warden and with the Prayer Ministry.
Born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Kathy Pyle felt the call to teach at the young age of three as evidenced by her parents memories of her lining her stuffed animals up as her first class. As she grew up watching her mother teach Sunday school the pull towards teaching became greater and she was thrilled to have a lifelong student when her younger sister, Alice joined the family. Kathy and Alice continued to grow in the church through family ministries in Birmingham and in North Augusta, SC when their family was relocated. It was what she learned about God’s love for her through family ministries that has driven her passion to serve in this arena.