Ministerial Staff

Minister Cheryle Safford

A servant of the Most High God, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior

at an early age. It was not until 1991 that I surrendered my life to Christ and

the guidance of His Holy Spirit.

Now married to my high school sweetheart, Arthur L. Safford, I was born and

raised in Augusta under the instruction of godly parents, Eugene and Ethel Robinson. I am the 8th of nine children. I have two daughters, Janai and Raquel, one grandson, Jaden, and a great-niece, Asia, who thinks she’s my daughter. I have been blessed abundantly with 51 nieces and nephews, family and friends.

I recently joined my husband in service at Historic First Ebenezer Baptist Church under the direction of Reverend Moses Anderson. In 1993, while serving at Beulah Grove Baptist Church, I was called by the Holy Spirit to teach the children in Sunday School and Bible Study, and help develop the Children's Added Member Orientation. Seeking a better way to teach the children, in 2003 I began attending Bible Study Fellowship, an internationally-known non-denominational organization that teaches the Word of God through a 7-year study. While learning more about His Word, I was invited to teach in the Children's Program. I also coordinated several of Beulah Grove's Annual Marriage Retreats (1994-1998), and provided Christian Counseling for young adults during my time of service (1991-2005). From 2006-2009, I assisted Bishop Kenneth T. Clay of New Creation Christian Church with organizing his ministry. There I served as an Elder, the Senior Director of Leadership, and Youth Minister.

I am a graduate of Lucy Laney and I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. I received my Master’s in Social Work in 2003 from the University of South Carolina. I have been employed at the VA Medical Center since 1991 and the Lord has expanded my territory. I am currently developing a new program at the VA called the Medical Foster Home Program, an out-patient program designed to provide an alternative to nursing home and assisted living.

Jesus Christ is the head of my life. Every day I ask Him to teach me how to live a life that is pleasing to God. My desire is to maintain a Christ-centered lifestyle by practicing the presence of God daily so that lives will be changed and God will be glorified. I enjoy teaching, encouraging, and influencing people to discover the Truth about Jesus. My life is not my own, I have been bought for a very high price. My mission statement comes from Luke 4:18,19: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me and I have been called to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. To God be the glory."

Minister Juditha Beard

First and foremost, Minister Juditha F. Beard is a child of God, to whom He has

given a vision love and purpose to do His will. She is the daughter of the house of

the Historic First Ebenezer Baptist Church (HFEBC), Hephzibah, Georgia, where

Reverend Moses D. Anderson is her Pastor.

A dynamic woman of God, Minister Beard accepted the call to preach God’s

word in February 2001. Sunday, September 30, 2001, at the Historic First Ebenezer Baptist Church, she preached her licensing sermon, proclaiming the good news with boldness, knowledge, and clarity.

Minister Beard serves as Sunday School, Bible Study, and Vacation Bibles School Teacher. She is an immense part of the Prison and the Food Bank Ministries, which is designed to meet the immediate needs of people/families in the community. Minister Beard is the Single Ministry and Young Women’s Advisor, Education Ministry Director, and Coordinator of the HFEBC Out-Reach Ministry. She also serves on the Historical Ministry, the Adult Praise Team, and the Sanctuary Choir. Minister Beard works for the Department of the Army, Fort Gordon Office Staff Judge Advocate and is also involved in other civic activities within the community. She is a graduate of Liberty University with a BS in Psychology and also in Biblical Studies.

For over 28 years, God has blessed Minister Beard to be married to Minister Clarence Beard. From this blessed union the Beards are the parents of Jilleane and Clarence II; and grandparents to two granddaughters, Jayla and Janay.

Leading a life that say she loves Jesus, telling other about Him, and pleasing Him is what Minister Beard desires to do with her life. Minister Beard stands on God’s word by making a joyful noise unto, she serves Him with gladness, comes into His presence with singing and she knows that the LORD, He is God. She enters into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, she is thankful unto Him, and blesses Hi name, for she know that the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His trust endureth to all generations.

Favorite passage of scripture is Ephesians 2:4-8: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Minister Bobby Lacey

Minister Bobby Lacy. Minister Lacy is the 4th child of 8 borne to Elizabeth and

Nathaniel Lacy. He is a Kountze, Texas native and a post year Military

man. He is the husband to Sister Wendolyn (Mayo) Lacy, and is the father of Bobby, Jr.,

Brayla, and Brimyia.

Minister Lacy grew up in and attended the school districts of Kountze. He joined the US

Army and spent 10 years stationed all over the world. He attended college at the University

of Maryland and majored in General Studies, specializing in Dental.

Minister Lacy gave his life to Christ at the age of 28, and committed himself to Christian and Biblical studies forthright. He is also the Pianist at Spring Grove Baptist Church, and plays there on the first and third Sundays. He guest speaks at several churches at every opportunity called, and his motivational scripture is Philipians 4:13, because of his fervent belief that all things can be accomplished through Christ, because it is HE that gives us the strength we need.

Minister Lacy is HFEBC’s early morning service musician; one of Rev. Anderson’s Sons of the House Ministers and is the Youth Minister, as well as the Male Chorus director. He received his musical training in the Church, verifying his belief that if GOD gives a vision, HE will also give a provision. Minister Lacy encourages the youth of today (and adults) to always believe in themselves and to follow their dreams.

Other interests that hold Minister Lacy’s attention are an Outreach Youth group he’s involved with called TAG (Teens In Action with Goals), coaching basketball, travelling, and participating in all kinds of sports. His theme to living a Godly life is striving to serve GOD in whatever capacity HE wants.

Minister Lacy and his family have been in the Hephzibah, Georgia area for 19 years and he has been a member of the HFEBC family for 7 years. He always has a kind word, a warm hug, and a loving, inviting smile that draws all new comers in, making sure they feel welcomed and glad to be a part of this new family GOD has led them to, as well as offering the same to those established Christians he has known for years and years.

"because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:14-16