Dr. Heather Kilbourne
Dr. Heather Kilbourne is the director of Faith in Rural Communities. She grew up surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Marion. She previously pastored United Methodist churches in rural towns and communities including Hamptonville, Morganton, and Statesville. Prior to becoming a minister, she worked as a nonprofit administrator for Family Services Center and Teach For America.
Dr. Kilbourne has always felt a calling to serve marginalized families and communities. She assisted in starting three Circles communities, a program to help families out of poverty by building relationships across class barriers and increasing individual social capital. She is a former Bridges Out of Poverty trainer.
She holds her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina-Asheville, a master’s of divinity, and a doctorate in ministry from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Dr. Darren Crotts
After 12 years of full-time, pastoral ministry, Darren has most recently transitioned to the NC Rural Center as the senior program manager of Faith in Rural Communities. A graduate of REDI 29 and a participant in FIRC in 2018, his passion is found in community building in the name of Christ.
He has a wonderful wife and four beautiful children. His oldest, Lyndsay, is a registered ICU nurse. His second-youngest daughter, Payton, is currently enrolled at Western Carolina University and is seeking her elementary education degree so she can one day become a kindergarten teacher. His son, Nathan, is in 11th grade at Davie County High School. His youngest, 2-year-old Sophie, has recently started preschool.
Darren has been a full-time clergy member of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church since 2010 and was ordained as an elder in full connection in 2016. He has a degree in manufacturing engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a master’s of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and a doctorate of ministry from Duke Divinity School with an emphasis on rural church ministries. He is so thankful for the opportunities to serve God in rural North Carolina.
Additional Leaders & Speakers
Rev. Elizabeth Whitmer, Bear Grass Presbyterian Church
Ruling Elder Ms. Faye Williams, Calvary Presbyterian Church
Ruling Elder Ms. Lesley Stanford, Bethlehem Presbyterian Church
Rev. Michelle Lewis, Roanoke Island Presbyterian
Rev. Maurice Barnes, Calvary Presbyterian Church
Ms. Christy Hinson, First Presbyterian in Edenton
Ms. Becky Yeckel, Cann Memorial Presbyterian Church
Planning Team
Rev. Betty Berghaus, Honorably Retired, member of Commission on Ministry
Rev. Savannah Demuynck
Rev. Katie Cashwell, Associate Presbyter for Small Churches