Joe Rhodes

Volunteer Clergy Member

The Rev. Canon David Joseph Rhodes, a native of South Carolina, was born in Ridgeland and grew up in the small town of Estill. He attended The Citadel in Charleston and was confirmed in the Episcopal Church Chapel on campus where he served and fell in love with the church's liturgy. After graduating in 1971, Joe married Christine Topp also known as Tina. 

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In 1978, he was ordained as a Deacon and Priest at St. Christopher's Church in Sumter, SC, where he stayed for eight and a half years until accepting a call to Holy Spirit Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1986. Fr. Joe was asked to begin a Mission church on a new plot of land; however, he and the congregation were instead led to farm the land to feed the hungry of Baton Rouge. Thus, the property become known as "Our Father's Garden." 

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After twenty two and a half years at Holy Spirit Church, Fr. Joe took an early retirement in 2008. He and Tina then joined the Missionary Society of SAMS and moved to Honduras where they served under The Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen, Bishop of Honduras. 

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Fr. Joe and Tina now attend Holy Comforter and help where needed as their ministry, WIN-Gs (Where I'm Needed, Go Serve), states. They desire to see all generations from every tribe, nation and tongue come to the knowledge of the Lord's call on their lives -- to go serve Him -- making disciples using their gifts and talents. 

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They also now enjoy time with their five daughters, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandson!