Our Staff
Our Staff
Scott Shields
Intentional Interim, Association Mission Strategist
On May 5, 2026, Scott Shields was voted in as Intentional Interim. He will serve the Moriah for as long as he is needed in the absence of a permanent AMS. He also serves as Director of Associational Relations with the SC Baptist Convention. There, Scott connects churches, pastors, and leaders to strengthen cooperation, resource sharing, and mission alignment helping every church advance the Great Commission across South Carolina through encouragement, communication, and partnership. In 14 years of working at SCBaptist, he has served with teams focused on church planting, church strengthening, and now Associational Relations. He led churches in North and South Carolina in areas of worship, discipleship, pastoring, missions engagement, leadership development, and equipping pastors for Gospel impact. Scott is an alumni of Mars Hill University and Liberty University. He is married to Laura. They have three children.
Denise Johnston
MBA Office Manager
Denise has served in several local churches over the past 20 years or so. She served on staff at Lancaster Second Baptist Church as the Sunday School/LifeGroup Director for more than 15 years. During her ministry at Second, she also served as Women’s Ministry Director and developed a ministry to help connect visitors and new members to the passion and vision of SBC. She has also served as a Ministry Assistant for Bethlehem Baptist Church and Calvary/Segunda Iglesia.
Denise joined the Moriah Association Staff in March 2021, replacing long time Office Manager Judy Hammond. Denise has been involved with the Moriah Association serving as Clerk and then as Co-Chair of the Discipleship Team. She says, “I am so excited about this opportunity. The Lord is working in the churches of the Association and I want to serve and equip them in every way the Lord allows me to do so. I enjoy working with the Ministry Assistants and Pastors in our churches knowing we are all working in partnership to impact the lostness in and around Lancaster County.”
She recently concluded a 3 year term on the Leadership Team of the South Carolina Baptist Ministry Assistants Association (SCBMAA), serving as the President Elect, President, and then Past President. “I so enjoyed working with a team of talented women from across the state to encourage, inspire, and equip Ministry Assistants in our churches.” Denise and her husband, Kirk, have been married for more than 35 years. Kirk is the Park Manager of Andrew Jackson State Park. They have 2 married (twin) sons, Joshua and Matthew, and two grandsons. Joshua, Darcy, and Theo live in San Francisco and Matthew, Amelia, and Hampton live in Charleston. Denise loves reading, being outside, and learning new things about God’s Word daily. She and Kirk take joy in their rescued cat – “Little Bitty Kitty”, better known as LBK.