Engage Your Church

He was adopted by Billy and Mary Nicholson, a maintenance worker and school teacher, who took him home to 401 West Richardson Circle in Hartsville, South Carolina. He grew up in a Christian elementary school and developed a love for the game of basketball. While training for basketball in high school, he found his God-given talent for running and joined the high school Track and Field team in the spring of 1978. He ran 4:28 in the mile during the State Championship meet in 1979 which earned him an athletic scholarship at Charleston Southern University. He graduated from CSU in 1984 with a major in Communications and minor in Religion.

From 1984 until 2017 (33 years), Danny served in University Advancement for eight different institutions of Higher Education, including, Medical University of South Carolina, Coker College, and Carson Newman University, to name a few. To download Danny’s full bio, click here.

Jay began his career in Christian non-profit fundraising in 2011. Since then, he has worked for various ministries in Alabama, Illinois, and Florida, helping and leading team efforts to raise over $75M.

Jay joined the team at Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries in August 2020 and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Engagement. In this role, he works closely with the President and Executive Leadership team to ensure execution of the organization’s 10-year strategic plan. Jay and the team he leads help oversee the following efforts: Annual giving, marketing, church engagement, volunteer engagement, events leading to alternative revenue & database growth, foster parent recruitment within churches, and more.

Jay holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Brock School of Business at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. He also earned a Master of Arts in Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He completed his undergraduate degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Samford University. Jay earned his Credentialed Certified Nonprofit Leader (CCNL) certification from Christian Leadership Alliance in 2016.

Jay and his wife Lauren have been married since 2008 and live in Greenwood, SC with their two children, Brayden and Isabella. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, traveling, and creating experiences that produce meaningful connections with family and close friends.

Mike’s career began in music evangelism, traveling predominantly throughout the Southeast with his wife, Kim, to play music at conferences, events, and revival services. In 1996, Mike opened his first recording studio, writing songs for ministries like Upward Sports and producing mostly Christian music.

Through that role, he was invited to be a worship pastor at Milestones Church, which transitioned him into pastoral ministry. He later became a worship pastor at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail in North Carolina, and he returned to South Carolina to serve as worship pastor and later as executive pastor at Lifesong Church in Spartanburg.

A lifelong songwriter and worship leader, Mike has a deep love for the Church and a heart for vulnerable children and families. Prior to Connie Maxwell, he served as  Christian Adoption Services’ Director of Development for South Carolina.

He and his wife Kim have been married since 1990 and have three children. Mike is deeply committed to building lasting relationships, encouraging the body of Christ, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those he serves.