Who are the Whitcrofts?

Rev. Richard and Nancy Whitcroft

US Navy Veteran

Graduate, Dayspring Bible Training Center

Ordained through GCMI

30 years practicing RN

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing

Nancy, Provisionally certified Montessori teacher

Married 42 years.

2 adult children

An outdoorsman

A gardener

A general class amatuer radio operator

Troubleshooter / problem solver

Training

Our Christian and ministry training began in 1983 while living in Okinawa Japan while servicing in the US Navy. Cutting our spiritual teeth in a place where you only have to look outside to see that “you are not home” was indispensable. We got our first taste of discipleship and body ministry while attending Victory In Jesus Fellowship. We were witnesses to the willingness of God to move among His children. One quote that has stuck with us since those early days in our christian walk was “know what you know and why you know it”.

Rich attended the former Dayspring Bible Training Center and graduated from there in 1995.

Nancy completed her training and was certified by the American Montessori Society in 1995. 

Rich completed his nursing training in 1990 and has worked in multiple hospitals. Rich received his BSN in 2010 and his MSN in 2016. 

Ministry 

The first mission trip Rich took was in 1996 to the city of Chon Buri Thailand where he served, witnessed and ministered the gospel with Pastor Tony Perkins. 

Rich also participated in food distribution and community feeding programs after his graduation.

Both Rich and Nancy were worship team members at the South West Pittsburgh Vineyard church prior to moving to Charleston. 

In 2002 our entire Whitcroft family moved to Charleston SC. and while living in South Carolina my wife and I organized a church-based food ministry that fed 30-40 families on a weekly basis.

Missions 

We were exposed to missions and missionaries in various ways. First from living in a foreign country to traveling to foreign countries to serve. As stated earlier, my first mission endeavor was to the country of Thailand in 1996. 

While we were members of the Vineyard church in Pittsburgh we led a short term mission team of adults and teens to work in a homeless shelter in Spartanburg SC. 

Post Katrina New Orleans 

Nancy took her first mission trip and was part of a team from Christ Community Fellowship This team went to New Orleans to help with clean up after Hurricane Katrina in 2007. She and the team helped in gutting homes damaged by the storm. 

In 2008 I traveled to New Orleans and joined with others who had traveled there to assist in the ongoing recovery effort. While I was in New Orleans I was tasked with the job of sorting, cleaning and sanitizing multiple pallets of donated “drinks” that had been delivered. At the completion of this trip, with a number of youth volunteers, thousands of individual drinks were sorted, washed, sanitized and placed in storage. These drinks were to be used as refreshments for teams that would be coming during the rest of the year. 

In 2009 we led a team of 4 adults back to New Orleans where we focused on helping a local homeowner who could not get help after the storm. While many could get help, those who had criminal records or who were in jail at the time of the storm, could not get government assistance. During this week we cleared debris and helped close up his house so that others could no longer use it as a place to do drugs. While this mercy mission was progressing we took the time to share the love of Christ with him. 

Being an Imitator of Christ

In a world where you can get imitation leather, imitation flavors and even imitation flowers, these things are usually of poorer quality than the real items.  So then,  one may look at imitating Christ in a poor light.  But the apostle Paul tells us to, “imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). 

Paul also said, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil 4:8-9)

Paul, while writing to the church in Ephesus, said “therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Eph 5:1)

“We know that God not only loves you but has selected you for a special purpose. For we remember how our Gospel came to you not as mere words, but as a message with power behind it—the effectual power, in fact, of the Holy Spirit. You know how we lived among you. You remember how you set yourselves to copy us, and through us, Christ himself. You remember how, although accepting the message meant bitter persecution, yet you experienced the joy of the Holy Spirit. You thus became examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thes 1:4-8 JBP)

We have been given a “pattern” to follow and it shows us how to live Godly lives. But unlike what the world offers as “easy”, being a child of God is not easy. 

Current Assignment

In the beginning of 2022, we battled a diagnosis of CV19 pneumonia in our home. It was during this time that God revealed areas that needed to be addressed. Out of these events and changes God brought the vision for Fellowship of Christ Ministries. 

FOC is in its beginning stages as we look to establish a local core group. We are a full gospel ministry that focuses on bringing biblical orthodoxy and fellowship life back to the church.  

Isaiah 43:19 (Amp) says, “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert”.

“We are simple everyday people sharing the message of Jesus wherever we go 

and we have room for you.”