Reverend Tommie Means of Greenville serves both the county and his congregation through his two jobs.

As a Child Protective Services investigator for the Butler County Department of Human Resources, Means looks out for the welfare and safety of the county’s children.

He uses his decade of experience as a minister to good use in his work.

&uot;I am a pro-family person; I believe in applying the precepts of the Bible in what I do. After all, the family was put into place before the church was even in existence,&uot; Means says.

The minister has served the congregation of New Bethel Christian Church for seven years, and pastored at Harrison Street Christian Church for three years prior to coming to New Bethel.

Means’ favorite part of being a minister is &uot;witnessing people’s lives being transformed.&uot;

The toughest part, he says, is &uot;reaching the unchurched.&uot;

&uot;It’s tough when you try hard to reach folks and sometimes, you just come up short,&uot; Means says.

The minister recently received his Masters of Arts in Professional Counseling from Southern Christian University’s School of Human Services.

He credits his success in life to his faith in God and his desire to defeat the odds.

&uot;I see myself as a living witness to Proverbs 3:6 – ‘In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.'&uot;

If he could preach one sermon to the entire world, Means says it would be this: &uot;If God allows you to go to it, He will bring you through it.&uot;

Means is also a family man, husband to Katrina and dad to daughter eight-year-old Tomsina, a student at Greenville Elementary.

&uot;We’ve got her uniform and she’s all ready to go back to school,&uot; he says with a smile.

During his free time, Means says he is a &uot;typical southern outdoorsman.&uot;

&uot;I enjoy fishing, hunting – and spending time with my family. I am also a student of history,&uot; he says.

New Bethel Christian Church holds services each Sunday morning with Sunday School at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 11 a.m. Each Wednesday night, Bible study is held at 7 p.m.

&uot;We also want to invite everyone to our homecoming and revival on August 14. We have one of our most popular preachers to ever serve in Greenville, Rev. Dr. John H. Curry, formerly of Saint Paul, coming into town to speak for us,&uot; Means says.