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About SMAA
Jesus First, Jesus Always
We are followers of Jesus Christ. All things find their true meaning in and through him. Jesus teaches us who God is and who we are meant to be. We believe the most important thing we can do is worship Jesus and invite others into friendship with him. (Colossians 1:15-20; Revelation 5:12-13; Acts 17:28)
Friendship with Jesus is what we were created for. Jesus reaches out to us in friendship through his life death, resurrection, ascension, and second coming. Developing a friendship with Jesus means spending time with him and that means praying. We pray in all things and every decision we make has its foundation in prayer. (Romans 14:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Jesus reveals himself to us in the Bible. The Bible is God’s perfect infallible word where we find guidance for how to live our lives. The Bible is the foundation for all of our teaching and preaching. The words of the bible are the lamp that lights our path. (Psalm 119:130; 2 Timothy 3:16)
Eucharist (Holy Communion) is our primary act of worship. When we gather for worship God takes the humble bread and wine we offer and turns them into Jesus’ body and blood, soul and divinity. When we receive communion, we receive the Body of Christ and are transformed into the Body of Christ. (John 6)
When Jesus teaches us to pray, he tells us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth just like it is in heaven. That means reaching out to others to meet them and their needs just where they are like Jesus did for us. The Church does not exist just to serve its members—the Church exists to bring Jesus’ love into the world. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4; Romans 15:7-13)
Our Team
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Fr. Charles Smith
Vicar
Fr. Charles Smith is dedicated to guiding others on their path to sainthood, believing every Christian’s mission is to reach heaven and bring others along. He is married to Chrissy and they have a dog, Daisy, known as "the Daily Office Dog." Fr. Charles would love to connect about baseball, guitars, outdoor living, or faith.
Carol Beis
Christian Formation Director
Carol Beis is a retired elementary teacher who has been a member of St. Michael and All Angels since 1996. She has served in various roles, including Sunday School teacher, Praise Choir member, and Vestry member, before becoming the Director of Christian Enrichment. Carol works closely with the Early Learning Center, leading weekly Children’s Chapel and Story Time, and delivering Children’s Messages during Sunday services. In her spare time, she participates in Community Theatre.
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Ayush Joshi
Music Director
Ayush Joshi serves as the Music Minister and Office Manager at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church. A skilled jazz pianist and organist, he is active in the local music scene and serves as a music director for various theater productions, primarily with Trustus Theatre. Ayush began his ministry at St. Michael in the Fall of 2020 after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Computer Science from The College of William and Mary.
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Powers Burnette
Office Manager
Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Powers Burnette is the newest addition to the St. Michael’s community. A classically trained pianist, Powers graduated from Furman University in 2016, where he majored in Piano Performance with specialized training abroad in Arezzo, Italy, at the Accademia dell’Arte.
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Eriana Neiblum-Lamkin
Early Learning Center Director
Eriana is passionate about working with children and fostering their growth. Originally from Santa Cruz, CA, she earned a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Spanish from UC Davis. After working in rehabilitation and caregiving, she moved to South Carolina, where she discovered her calling in childcare. She earned her master’s in early childhood education from the University of South Carolina in December 2024. Now living in Columbia with her two dogs, Harley and Layla, and her cat, Harold, she enjoys being part of the St. Michael's and All Angels community and looks forward to the years ahead.
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