Paul Clark
InstructorPaul moved to in Greenville from the Northeast while in high school and graduated from Bob Jones University in 1986. He is a business owner and leadership developer, trying to speak the truth in love in his business and personal relationships. Having served as a pastor, elder and teacher in the local church, he wants to see the Body of Christ strengthened, church leaders encouraged, and the Gospel advanced into the community. He loves shooting pictures, cooking breakfast, writing creatively, and traveling to distant places. He also enjoys a quiet drive in the country with Lisa, his best friend of 35 years, or admiring their 2 adult kids offering up an impromptu duet on a single guitar.
Paul has been an active board member of The River since its inception in 2013. He loves the way Jesus uses the members of His Body to minister to each other. Paul takes great delight in watching the the truth of God’s Word being communicated in a classroom setting, and seeing the Spirit bring light into the eyes and into the lives of the hearers. This has been a primary driver for his involvement with The River. An active member of Summit Church (Cherrydale campus), Paul has the opportunity to use his teaching giftedness. Paul also serves in a teaching capacity for The River.
Ben Daniel
Ben hails from Athens, Georgia. Although he grew up in religious home, it wasn’t until he attended an FCA camp as a Wofford College student that the gospel captured his heart. Soon after, Ben felt called to serve as a youth leader at a local church and as a YoungLife leader.
After college, Ben moved to Charleston, SC, to pursue a dental degree. During those years, he was involved in his local church, YoungLife, and medical missions. It was during dental school Ben and Milly were married. Upon completion of dental school, the couple moved to Greenville, SC, where they became involved in youth ministry in their local church. Ben worked as an associate dentist for three years and started his own practice in 2004. They have 3 kids: Will, Drew and Molly Grace.
In 2007, Ben and Brian Onken began to meet regularly to discuss scripture and shared life in Jesus. Since then, they’ve been reading scripture together every week! Ben has been blessed by the The River Upstate since its inception and greatly appreciates the opportunity to serve on the board. The Daniels love the community of faith at Freedom Church in Mauldin, SC, where Ben serves on the teaching team. He also enjoys dating Milly, being present in the lives of his kids, golfing, bird hunting, fly fishing and mentoring young dentists.
Jeanie Deimer
Jeanie grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. Although not raised in a Christian home, she heard the gospel at a young age and responded to Jesus’ invitation to know him. God led her to a church in her neighborhood where she faithfully attended without her family from the age of ten until she moved away as an adult.
Jeanie was married in 1985 and graduated from Florida State University in 1987 with a degree in Education. She and her husband Paul moved to Gainesville, Florida where he pursued a degree, and she taught elementary students in at-risk programs. Eventually they moved to Tallahassee with their three children. Jeanie homeschooled and taught in a private Christian school until they relocated to Greenville in 2014. Paul and Jeanie are licensed foster parents, and Jeanie has been deeply impacted by her family’s involvement with children and families in need in the Upstate.
Jeanie was introduced to The River by a neighbor who also offered to care for her three-year-old foster daughter, so she could attend classes. She soon realized the magnitude of this gift. The classes reintroduced Jeanie to the life-changing accessibility of the Word of God. Serving on the board is a joy and a privilege and increases her longing for others to know Jesus through the Scriptures.
Juli Jordan
Juli was raised in the extremes of the United States, from Anchorage, Alaska, to West Palm Beach, Florida, with a few other places scattered in-between. With those moves and changes, she learned to love adventure and to explore many different aspects of God’s creation. She learned about her need for a Savior while a very young girl. That understanding has since grown into a desire to know and love the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in greater and greater ways. Juli graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in south Florida, married in 1984, and has raised and educated 4 children here in the Upstate. God directed Juli to found and direct H.O.P.E. Homeschool Co-op, which she led for 12 years and through which she enjoyed many logistical, administrative and creative aspects. Today, she is the proud “Gigi” to two beautiful granddaughters.
Juli’s journey with The River started several years ago. As the “I get it” moments kept occurring for her in The River classes she attended, the desire for others to read Scripture well and get to know God deeper for themselves continued to grow. She has served on the board since May, 2018.
Kevin Kinzie
Kevin was raised in Christiansburg, VA and was taught to love God by his parents at a young age. Kevin and his wife, Susan, met and grew in their love for the Bible, the Church, and parachurch ministries while serving together in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at NC State. Over the years, Kevin’s love for learning and teaching the Bible have grown as he served for nearly 20 years in Bible Study Fellowship in various roles including Children’s Supervisor, Group Leader, Teaching Leader, and Area Team Advisor. He has 3 grown boys who are all following Christ and are his best friends.
Kevin has an undergraduate degree in Aerospace engineering from NC State and advanced degrees from Penn State University. He is a rocket scientist who has led various international teams at NASA and private industry with a front row seat to experience and witness the depth and intricacies of God’s handiwork as the author of science, physics, and human ingenuity.
Since Kevin discovered The River, it has been a source of strength, refreshment, and equipping in every aspect of his life. He is excited to serve on the Board for the purpose of helping others learn the truth of God’s Word in ways that draw them closer to their Creator and to navigate life with increasing measures of peace, joy, and worship.
Lisa Mallory
Lisa was born and raised in a loving, Christian home in Sharon, Pennsylvania. She was saved as a young girl and began learning to enjoy life with Jesus from her parents and in church youth groups. After graduating from Penn State University, she moved to Orlando, Florida, where she had great joy working with special needs children at United Cerebral Palsy. She later was delighted to work with adults with life altering injuries at Florida Hospital Rehabilitation Center as their community reentry specialist and aquatic therapist.
Lisa met her husband, Duane, on a blind date set up by friends. They have been married for 23 years and enjoy their 3 adult children. The Lord graciously led her family to the Upstate in 2004. Lisa has treasured being a stay at home wife and mom while volunteering for Bible studies, church small groups and caring for neighbors as God leads. She loves movies, hiking and enjoying the lake with friends and family.
Her passion for God’s word continues to grow as she is learning and serving on the board of The River Upstate.
Irene Pizzimenti
Irene is a native of Michigan and has lived in south east and south central Michigan for most of her life. It wasn’t until 1984 that the Lord called her and she gave her life away for the sake of the gospel. She met her husband, John, in church choir and they got married in 1986. After their first daughter was born, Irene became a stay at home mom, and shortly there after became a homeschooling mom to their three daughters. Over the years, the Lord has open doors for her to serve as a teacher, choir director, theater director, and even as the manager of a nonprofit restaurant.
Irene and John relocated to Hendersonville, NC, in 2022, where Irene will continue to serve as a Biblical Counselor through Healing Hearts Ministries International. Her time spent in online classes with The River has opened her eyes to the accessibility and importance of reading Biblical texts well, for herself and for others.
Bob Stouffer
Bob Stouffer loves reading, studying, praying over, meditating upon, memorizing, and applying biblical truth. He embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior at 36 years of age after he studied the Bible for the first time in his life. He and Cheryl have been married for over 40 years. God blessed them with 2 daughters (Molly and Hannah) and 5 grandchildren (Gracelynn, Lily, Norah, Sawyer, and Jude).
Bob and Cheryl are active members of Eastside Presbyterian (formerly Shannon Forest), where Bob serves as an Elder and adult Bible fellowship teacher and where Cheryl serves in women’s ministry. Cheryl also serves the SWITCH anti-trafficking ministry, and Bob enjoys his involvement as a member of the Greenville Colson Fellows Program leadership team and as a Religious Volunteer at The Greenville Detention Center.
Bob was a career educator of 43 years as an English teacher, athletic coach, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. He earned B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in education. He currently serves as a part-time adjunct for Columbia International University and Bob Jones University.