Born and raised in the Mountains of Western North Carolina Pastor Chris Rumfelt was reared in a Christian home full of love and godly discipline. After being saved at 9 years of age he knew right away that he was called to preach God's Word. Chris' parents would take him, his brothers and cousins to revivals to sing & this is where he developed a love for music. Due to his young age and lack of confidence that people would understand his calling he began to make some decisions as a teenager that would take him into the far country of regret.

He graduated from Hayesville High School and then went on to Western Carolina University to play football. In his first year at Cullowhee while on the practice field he felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest. The trainer came over and immediately rushed him to the hospital. Chris was diagnosed with a rare heart abnormality, (wpw syndrom) but after three heart surgeries his physical heart was fixed but his spiritual one grew harder and colder.

Looking for something new Chris transferred to Mars Hill College a Christian school to finish out his college football career. In his final semester he had reached the bottom of the bottom and knew the Holy Spirit was making his last call. In 1998 He went to Tampa, Fl where his mentor Pastor Roger Duncan holds a campmeeting each year and there he rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. When Chris returned to college and back to his run down house he led 50 souls to Christ in his last semester.

Moving to Tampa, Fl soon after graduating college, he traveled to different states and sang and played with "The Duncans", "The Weavers", and every group he could. There was a hunger and a thirst to reach lost souls just as he had as a nine year old boy.

After making his election sure he answered the call to preach on May 2nd 1999 in the emergency lane in front of Wal-Mart in Lenior City, TN and preached his first sermon the next day. Since then Chris married Crystal Douthit of Franklin, NC in 2001. They now have twin boys Braden & Kellen (2003) and a baby girl Calista (2006). He has served as an evangelist in singing and preaching & has been the pastor of two churches and is currently the Senior Pastor at First Free Will Baptist Church in Hayesville, NC.

Crystal is currently finishing her graduate studies in Education Administration at Lincoln Memorial University and will be the administrator of Clay Co. Christian Academy projecting to be started in August 2008.

Influences in Music: Aden Martin, Billy Fields, The Primitive Quartet, The Duncans , The Spencers, The Perrys, The Hinsons and Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver.

Influences in Preaching: Roger Duncan, Paul & Leonard Mayfield, Mike Blanton, Verlon Martin, Bill Jacobs, Maze Jackson & Dr. Carl Nelson.

 

At the age of 12 years old, Randy Hooper was saved in a small country church in Mineral Bluff, GA.  He was taken to church and taught by a Godly mother for the next few years.  During his teenage years, Randy strayed from the biblical teachings of his childhood.  At age 21, he rededicated his life back to Jesus and began dating Missy Caylor.  They were married in May of 1995 and faithfully served God at Salem #2 Baptist Church for the next nine years. 

Randy and Missy began traveling with Copper City Quartet in 1997, witnessing in song and testimony almost every weekend for three years.  In May 2000, the Lord gave Missy the song “Send Me, Lord” based on Isaiah 6:8.  At his altar on the mountain, Randy prayed and asked God to send him.  From that moment, God began to work in his heart and life like never before.  Within a week, the Lord had opened a door and led them out of Copper City and back with the Caylor Family to sing.  In 2002, Randy was ordained as a deacon at Salem #2 Baptist Church.  Then on January 15, 2003 (the day he turned thirty), he surrendered to the call to preach.   

In July 2004, Randy accepted the position as pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church.  He was ordained on October 31, 2004.  For the next five years he was blessed to minister there and saw many souls saved.  He also preached an average of twelve revival meetings a year.  In July 2009, God let him know that his work was finished there and it was time to move elsewhere.  The next service after resigning, the Lord led Randy and his family to Hayesville First Free Will Baptist.  He preached at other churches in the following weeks, but God kept drawing them back to FFWB where Randy was elected Assistant Pastor in October 2009.  

Randy played bass guitar and sang for ten years with the Caylor Family.  Missy continues to sing with the group and is the office manager for Randy’s business, Hooper's Garbage Service, Inc.  They are blessed with three wonderful children; Gracie (1999), Reagan (2005), and Maggie (2006).

Influences in preaching:  Bill Johnson, Roy Clore, Kenneth Mann, Tully Griggs, Chris Rumfelt, Craig Edwards, Steven Dagenhart, Roger Duncan, Paul and Leonard Mayfield

Influences in music:  The Primitive Quartet, the Melody Singers, Benny & TC Picklesimer, The Inspirations (Mike Holcomb), the Caylor Family, Fred and Phillip Thomas.