"And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty."  Acts 6:2-3​

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Deacons

We believe the bible teaches that deacons are the lead servants within the congregation. Those who serve must meet the character qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Their service is essential to our holistic ministry, ensuring that physical needs are met, and guarding the unity of our church (Acts 6:1-7).

John Burt
Lead Deacon/ Church Clerk

John has been a member of Friendship Baptist Church since 1976. He is married to his wife Ann and together they have a son and a daughter. He has previous experience being a deacon and also as a Sunday school director. He is now retired from Charleston county school district and the S.C. National Guard. John's life mission is to bring praise to God thru service and he seeks to live his life by Micah 6:6-8,
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

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Damian Espino
​Deacon

Damian and his family came to Friendship in 2018.  He is married to his wife Melisa and together they have two daughters. Damian works as a Medical Spanish Interpreter and is a deacon at Friendship.. He aspires to live his life by Mark 12: 30-31, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind..."

Manuel Cabrera
Deacon

Manuel has been a member of Friendship Baptist since 2016.  He has previous ministry experience from working with Dios de Agua Vida in Venezuela. He is married to his wife Rosa Maria and together they have two daughters and a son. He has his career in engineering and agriculture. Manuel's ministry passion is counseling his life mission is to help others come to know about Christ. Manuel seeks to live his life by John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.."

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Jason McAnany
​Deacon

Jason and his family came to Friendship in September 2016.  Jason is married to his wife Denise and they have one daughter and one son. Jason works as an IT professional and he became a deacon at Friendship in 2020. He seeks to live his life by Matthew 8:13, And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.