DS Richard Hall
On July 12, 2025, Reverend Richard Hall was elected to be the district superintendent (DS) of the South Carolina District. Since 1994, Rev. Hall has been lead pastor of Eden Wesleyan Church in Chesnee, South Carolina. Prior to his placement at Eden Wesleyan Church, he was a youth pastor at Clearview Wesleyan Church, Martinsville, Virginia. Since being at Eden Wesleyan, he has been an active participant in district leadership.
Seven years ago, the South Carolina District transitioned into a team leadership model, bringing on roles such as director of operations, director of Church Multiplication and director of Church Revitalization. Rev. Hall was instrumental in this shift and served as a team member. In 2023, he became assistant district superintendent.
Rev. Hall will continue to serve as Eden Wesleyan’s lead pastor and South Carolina’s DS for the foreseeable future. Between Eden Wesleyan’s teaching team and their great and flexible leaders, he will have the capacity to continue serving in both roles.
Prior to his formal election this summer, Rev. Hall has been serving as South Carolina’s interim DS since May 2024. For much of that time, he said his goal for the district was just survival. God blessed the efforts and leadership of Rev. Hall and the South Carolina District. “The district has not been in a standstill, and we have grown through this process,” said Rev. Hall. Overall, 2024 attendance has increased, and the district has planted churches.
Looking forward, Rev. Hall desires to bring a greater focus to church planting. “We realized that we cannot plant churches fast enough.” He sees the geographical areas that are ideal for planting: “Most of our churches are in the upstate portion of South Carolina, and we have some in the low country. We have to reach the midlands also.”
Rev. Hall also wants to see churches get healthier. “We have an equal focus on church revitalization.” For churches that are willing and able to get healthier, funds have been set aside to help them get to the next level. “Healthy churches reproduce,” said Rev. Hall. “We want to see other churches get healthier so they can continue the multiplication process.”
Coming out of COVID, many have recognized there has been a loss of deep community among pastors, with many feeling isolated. As DS, Rev. Hall wants to build unity and community within the district. His motto is “One Team, One Movement,” which he believes can help establish the idea that all pastors and churches are working together within the state and district. He seeks to see an increase in the district’s collaboration and sharing of resources with one another. One colleague’s idea Rev. Hall believes encapsulates his goals of community and unity is: “If it happens in your church, it happened in my church.” With this new mindset, he looks forward to and anticipates the future of the South Carolina District and what God is going to do through them.
Rev. Hall is grateful for his part to play but is quick to emphasize his team: “Yes, we have a DS, and the DS role is important, but we lean heavy into the team leadership of the district. I believe that as a team we make better decisions.”
Rev. Jacob Gibson is the senior pastor at LifeSpring Wesleyan Church, Richmond, Indiana, and graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana.
