Vern Kinard is a South Carolina native. In 2013, he received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Newberry College. During his senior year of college and in the time before beginning seminary, Vern taught in the Newberry County School District. One of his favorite experiences while working in education was the half year experience he had teaching kindergarten. Vern began seminary through Lenoir-Rhyne University at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) in Columbia, SC in the summer of 2014. During the 2016/2017 school year, Vern completed his internship as Vicar here at Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he met his future wife, Mandy. He received his Masters of Divinity from LTSS in 2018. Vern was ordained June 15th, 2018 at Grace Chapel on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
After being ordained, Vern served as Pastor at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Tyro, North Carolina from 2018-2020. While in Tyro, he served the community as a volunteer firefighter and as the announcer for Varsity Baseball at West Davidson High School. Vern was called in November of 2020 to serve as Associate Pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mooresville, NC. While in Mooresville, he was the voice of Blue Devil baseball at Mooresville High School. In June of 2024, Vern was called "home" to serve here as Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Vern is married to Mandy, a two-time graduate from Lenoir-Rhyne University and occupational therapist in the greater Hickory area. Vern & Mandy live in Hickory. They have a one-year-old son, and a Labrador Retriever mix, named Chloe.
What brings Vern joy in life is cheering on South Carolina Gamecock athletics, hunting, visiting craft breweries (especially one with a good hazy IPA), cooking, and spending time with his family!
