Dr. W. Charles Lewis

Senior Pastor

Dr. W. Charles Lewis is the founding pastor of Dothan Community Church. A native of Ashford, Alabama, he was saved during Bible camp at the age of twelve. In his pursuit of spiritual growth Dr. Lewis experienced first-hand the racial divisions and inequality evidenced in the churches of that era.

God’s call to ministry right after college was a call to church plant—to pastor a Bible-teaching church like he longed for during his early years as a believer. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM ’85, Dmin ’00), and moved to Dothan in 1987 to initiate what was soon to become Dothan Community Church.

Dr. Lewis met his wife Geraldine while at college. They have five children (Doron, Makario, Charita, Timia and Timan).

Ric Hamic

Children's Ministry Coordinator

Ric Hamic was a member of DCC prior to joining the staff as Children’s Ministry Coordinator in November, 2009. Prior to DCC he served as a children’s minister for four years and had been active in his home church’s children’s ministry. He’s had extensive experience with backyard Bible clubs, children’s evangelism and discipleship.

A graduate of The Baptist College of Florida (B.A. Christian Studies, minor in Bible) Ric is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

As Children’s Ministry Coordinator Ric oversees preschool and children’s ministries, and is directly involved with elementary-aged kids. His computer/administrative skills are a big help in the church office, and Ric is involved in the thematic/artistic design for His Place (children’s center addition).

Chester McFarland

Church Administrator

Chester McFarland has been ministering at Dothan Community Church since its inception. During his years at seminary in the early 1980s his heart had been to serve the Lord in a cross-cultural / multi-cultural context. Though initial ministry plans looked toward overseas ministry, the Lord clearly guided to Dothan, Alabama and DCC.

Growing up on farms in Illinois and Wisconsin, Chester attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. Two years later the Lord called him into ministry and he attended Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating with a ThM degree in Christian Education.

Primary ministry responsibilities at DCC are office and facilities administration. He is a church elder and leads a project team that supervises new construction on the church campus. He is married to his wife Dawn and they have one grade-school son, Ian.

Jesse Nelson

Pastor of Teens

Jesse L. Nelson joined the DCC staff in November, 2009. He was saved at an early age and believed God called him into the ministry as a young teenager. He has always had a heart for young people and routinely found opportunities for ministry to this age group. Ministry credentials include serving as a youth minister, speaking/leading various youth forums, panels and retreats, and youth mentoring.

Jesse has earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Bible and Pastoral Ministry. A native of southeast Alabama Jesse married his wife Catesha in 2007 and they have one daughter, Jacey.