Our Staff
Senior Pastors
Tim and Karen Holt
Tim and Karen have lived along the Grand Strand for most of their lives. Tim played in beach bands, and surfed the east coast in contests during the 60's and 70's. After attending UNC-Charlotte they returned to Myrtle Beach, planning on taking his father's construction business over. However, after meeting Christ at a surfing contest in 1971, they became very involved in leading small groups of young people, and sharing Christ on the streets in Myrtle Beach. As the years went by, they have owned their own business, and served as youth pastors, worship leader, and associate pastor in Assembly of God and Evangel Fellowship churches. In 1997 they began the Seacoast Vineyard Church and serve as senior pastors. Tim is also the SC & NC Church Planting Coordinator for the Vineyard.
Lead Pastor
Tim Holt
Born in Miami, FL
Married to Karen for almost 2/3 of my life! 2 sons and a daughter; 2 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.
Education: Graduated from H-G Technical College, A.S. Civil Engineering Technology; attended UNC-Charlotte School of Engineering; Degree in Theology from CLST; various theology courses from Trinity Seminary and the Christian Counseling Institute; Pastor for 30 years; founding pastor of Seacoast Vineyard Church; Church Planting Coordinator for SC & NC for Association of Vineyard Churches (Assessments & Coaching)
Favorite hobby: Surfing, reading
Favorite book: “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer
Favorite quote: “You don’t know ‘till you go.” (Surf slang for not hesitating to take a wave)
Assistant Pastor & Office Manager
Karen Holt
Born in Conway, SC
Married to Tim since 1971. 2 sons and a daughter; 2 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.
Education: Bookkeeping from Horry-Georgetown Technical College; a multitude of conferences and training times throughout the years.
Favorite hobby: Reading, long walks, time with the family, sitting on the beach while Tim surfs
Favorite book: “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers
Favorite quote: “My husband is hot!” Well, maybe not…
Worship Pastor
Nori Kelley
Nori Kelley has been a professional musician since he was a teenager, and a Vineyard worship leader since 1985, serving in churches in Alabama, Colorado and Japan. He and his wife, Barbie, have led worship and performed together as “WIND” since 1993, recording eight CD’s together - their most recent being “Storm” in 2008. As a producer & engineer, Nori has produced over 30 albums. He has also written a number of worship songs that are being used in churches in both the U.S. and Canada. Nori & Barbie, along with their daughters, Lizzie and Cynthea, have been heavily involved in missions since 1995, and lived in Japan as missionaries for two years before relocating to Myrtle Beach in the spring of 2011.
Family Life Pastor
Chris Ward was born in Chicago before moving to Northern Kentucky just outside Cincinnati. After High School he moved to Myrtle Beach, SC and attended Coastal Carolina University receiving a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a double major in Marketing and Management. After college he expanded his father’s rental business, Eagle Resorts, Inc., to include a full service Real Estate division called Eagle Realty. He has owned and operated Eagle Realty & Eagle Resorts, Inc with his family since 2003.
In 2003, he started volunteering in the youth and children’s ministry at Lakeside Baptist in Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach. He was put on staff P/T as the Director of Youth and Children Ministries in late 2003 where he stayed till 2010.
In 2010 Chris was married to his beautiful wife, Emily along with starting seminary at Liberty University Theological Seminary. He is scheduled to graduate in May 2012 with a Master’s in Discipleship Ministries.
Currently Chris and Emily, with their children Julian and Addison, reside in North Myrtle Beach. He enjoys surfing, playing guitar, worship leading, and snow skiing (not locally of course).
Small Group Coordinator
Rick & Susan Harrell
Rick calls North Myrtle Beach home but has lived many places over the past years. He grew up on his dad’s fishing pier and loves the beach and fishing. He graduated from college with a degree in Journalism and later finished a Master’s degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He has worked for about 25 years in Evangelism, Missions and Discipleship. Recently he and Susan served with Operation Mobilization in Torre Pellice, Italy (2008-2010) as Discipleship Trainers.
Susan is from Atlanta, GA. Like Rick, she has lived many places. Her heart is working with Internationals especially helping them to acclimate into American culture. She lived in Santiago, Chile teaching school and currently teaches College Composition as an online Instructor. Susan and Rick have 3 children - Joe, Becca and Rachael. Family is a big part of their lives and they are thrilled when they get to spend time with them. When he and Susan aren’t working in Discipleship, they enjoy watching old movies, hiking and Zoomba.
Rick’s current position at Seacoast is organizing and developing the Small Group ministry as well as the Discipleship and Training Ministry. He can be reached via email at smallgroups@seacoastvineyard.com
Administrative Assistant
Tracey Walleck
Born in Scotland
Tracey has two grown sons who live in New Jersey.
Education: Tracey graduated from Sussex County Vocational-Technical School in New Jersey. She attended some college before going to work for Crum & Forster, which she did for 25 years. Tracey is also a licensed Real Estate agent.
Favorite hobby: Walking on the beach
Favorite movie: “Seems Like Old Times”
Favorite book(s): Dictionary/Thesaurus/Encyclopedia
Favorite quote: “One day at a time.”