MEET OUR STAFF

803-772-1761 Ext. 143

Rev. Jana Creighton

Senior Pastor

Jana Light Creighton grew up right here in Columbia, South Carolina. A child of die-hard Gamecock fans, she spent her childhood years singing the Carolina fight song. However after graduating from Richland Northeast High School, she discovered that her true colors ran orange. In 1999 she graduated as a Clemson University Tiger with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing.

As a Registered Nurse, she lived in Savannah, Georgia for two years caring for patients at Memorial Health Hospital serving in both the Oncology and Step Down units. In 2001 she married her college beau, Rusty Creighton and they moved to Denver, Colorado. Two years later, Jana found herself drawn back to Columbia to be near her grandparents and further her nursing experience at Providence Hospital serving in critical care for six years.

Jana and Rusty are proud parents of two sons, Finnegan born in 2005 and Sawyer born in 2007. Jana has a love for her family, prayer, and pursues justice for God’s people. She has a passion for music, exercise, and a deep belief in lifelong education. She spends her time away from work sharing Sawyer’s love for sports and reading, Finn’s interest in science and math, and gardening and cooking with Rusty and friends.

In 2007, Jana received a call to pursue ministry and attended Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte where she received her Masters of Divinity. Jana remained busy throughout seminary serving as a steering team member, ruling elder, parish nurse and part time youth director at New Kirk Presbyterian Church as well as a parish associate at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

In 2014, Jana was blessed to lead at Saluda Presbyterian Church where she served four years preaching and striving to building bonds between the different denominations and ethnic groups within the community. The opportunities and the support of the people of Saluda Presbyterian provided the growth and experience that have led her to her current role as here at Seven Oaks Presbyterian where she was installed February of 2018.

Jana is dedicated to the mission of the PC(USA). She maintains an active role with Trinity Presbytery. She is currently serving as the moderator for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry in Trinity Presbytery where she leads a team guiding seminary students who desire ordination into formal ministry in the church. Jana has a love for mission and personal relationships expressed in her sermons and ministry as she strives to live into the Shema; ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

While also striving to embody the gospel of Matthew, The second great commandment is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’

803-772-1761

Reverend Dr. J. Barry Shatzer

Volunteer Parish Associate

Barry was born and raised in Charleston. He graduated from Presbyterian College where he earned his BA in religion/philosophy in 1972. Later he earned a Master of Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia in 1978 and was ordained that year by the PCUS.

He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky in 1986. He later went back to school to earn an MBA from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 1999.

Barry served pastorates, primarily in Virginia, for 20 years. During that time, he spent time as a volunteer with the American Red Cross and taught white water canoeing, First Aid and CPR for the Red Cross for several years.

He was also very active in International Human Rights, working in the Middle East and the Caribbean. He spent four years as a part time adjunct instructor in religion and history at two universities.

Barry then entered a second career working in accounting primarily in the hospitality industry. During this time, he stayed active in the church, supply preaching and serving as a volunteer Parish Associate for five years in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Barry had to take early retirement because of an auto accident. When he recovered, he returned to South Carolina where he chose to live in Columbia because it was between Charleston and his beloved Alma Mater, Presbyterian College.

He has one son and one granddaughter.

Dr. Lloyd R. Pilkington

Director of Music Ministry

Lloyd and his family joined Seven Oaks in December 1998. In August 2011 he became our Director of Music Ministry. His education includes a Bachelor of Sacred Music from Nyack College, an M.Ed. in Community Counseling from Winthrop University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. In addition to his work at Seven Oaks, he is currently a full-time Instructor in Psychology at Midlands Technical College. He has worked in private practice as a Counseling Psychologist, and has provided counseling services in both university and hospital settings.

Dr. Pilkington and his wife are also the founders of Words-4-Life, a ministry dedicated to bringing God’s Word to God’s people through weekly email devotionals. Lloyd is married to Tina and they have two children, Mark and Nicole.

“It is a joy and privilege to serve as a worship leader with the dedicated and loving people of Seven Oaks. Together we ring and sing for joy!”