About us
Statement of Faith
We believe there is only one God, a triune person who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three Persons and yet only one God.
We believe Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God; He is truly God and truly man; in His virgin birth, spotless humanity, substitutionary sacrifice (death), bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, present advocacy as interceding High Priest on behalf of the saints; and in His personal, imminent, bodily, visible, return for His Church, the establishment of His kingdom, and the judgment of the quick and the dead.
We believe the Scriptures declare the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit who indwells, gives life, sanctifies, empowers, and comforts all believers.
We believe in the divine inspiration, divine revelation, and divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, including both the Old and New Testaments by the Holy Spirit in the original languages
We believe the Church is an elect company of believers baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body; that the Holy Spirit regenerates with divine life and personally indwells the believer; the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved; in the responsibility of each believer, motivated by the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to witness for Christ and to proclaim the Gospel in all the world; that the church will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air when He appears to set up His kingdom.
We believe all men in their natural state are lost, alienated from God, spiritually dead; Salvation is a free gift of God, separate and apart from works; that every person who receives salvation through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; Those receiving Christ by faith have their sins forgiven; that a soul once saved can never be lost; in the unending life of the saved with the Lord, and the unending punishment of the unsaved.
No poverty
Best education
Clean water
Good health
Nutrition
Simon's Branch History
In the summer of 2002, Dr. Shirley Fitz-Ritson led her second mission team to South Africa. While there, the team worked with a group of local pastors to identify ways to serve their communities.
As the team interacted with the pastors, two thought provoking questions arose. ‘Why weren’t more people of color coming to help?’ ‘Did they not come because they did not care? These questions led Dr. Fitz-Ritson and five members of the team to investigate the void in the number of people of color serving in international missions. They decided ‘something had to change.’
In response to this need for change, Dr. Fitz-Ritson, Cynthia Clavon, Lewis & Lois Eikner, Jeremiah & Gloria Knight, Tammy A. Phillips, and Dr. Michele Rojas met upon their return to the United States. After intense discussion, research, and reflection, they found an answer. Why not create an organization designed to get competent and committed people of color involved in missions’ leadership and service? As a result, the organization Simon’s Branch was established.
For the past 19 years, Simon’s Branch has taken people of color to serve in hospitals, schools, and churches in Africa and Jamaica. Services involved: feeding and clothing programs; providing home healthcare services; and conducting pastoral and leadership training. In addition, Simon’s Branch has supported the building of two school kitchens and a church community center. Thousands of pounds of clothing, food, medical resources, library books and school supplies were donated and delivered. Scholarships to children caught up in the Liberian civil war have been provided. Prisoners have been helped, songs have been sung, puppets have danced, and children have cheered during Vacation Bible School.
Simon’s Branch remains engaged with the communities it serves. This includes supporting current/future projects and three full-time pastors in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica.
For more information on how you can join us in this effort of supporting communities and effecting change, please reach out to:
Dr. Shirley Fitz-Ritson – shfitz2@bellsouth.net
Phyllis Smith – prbyrdsmith@netscape.net
Rodney Smith – rodney_smith@bellsouth.net
We would love to talk with you about your interest in becoming involved in international missions in Africa and Jamaica!
BOARD MEMBERS
Rodney Smith, MS (Chairman)
Director Information Security
Canton, Georgia
Ronnie Stanley, D.Min. (Vice Chairman)
Pastor, Mount Olive Baptist Church.
Professor of Theology and Bible
Washington Bible College.
Vice President, Central Union Mission.
Washington, District of Columbia.
Johnnie Waller, Sr. (Member)
Retired
Calhoun Falls, South Carolina
Hallieque Lamb, MA
Retired
Columbia, SC
Adah Carter, MS (Member)
Dean of Student, Carver Bible College
Atlanta, Georgia
STAFF
Shirley Fitz-Ritson, Ph.D.
Assistant Executive Director
Shirley serves on the Sunday School teaching staff at her home church, Emmanuel Community Church in Conyers, Georgia. She teaches a weekly Bible Study “Parenting in the Senior Years” in partnership with The Southeast White House, located in Washington, DC. She has been involved in ministry as a conference speaker and Bible teacher. She worked in Human Services for thirty-plus years in the public and private sector. Her passion is to see people of African descent fulfill the Great Commission first in their Jerusalem, their Judea, and in the uttermost parts of the earth.
Tammy A. Phillips
Training Director
Tammy A. Phillips, a founding member of Simon’s Branch, holds key responsibilities in mission training, guiding teams for short-term trips and training long-term missionaries. Having spent over four years as a full-time missionary in Jamaica and engaged in various short-term missions to South Africa, she possesses a wealth of experience. Tammy currently serves as the Director at the Southeast White House in Washington, DC. Her impactful association with Prison Fellowship spans thirty years, during which she managed volunteer programs, coordinated conferences, conducted seminars and Bible studies for inmates, and organized workshops for volunteers.
Phyllis R. Smith MT(ASCP), CHT(ABHI)
Executive Director
Phyllis is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan with a B.S. in Medical Technology. She recently retired after 38 years in the laboratory, specializing in the areas of Microbiology, Histocompatibility, and Flow Cytometry. In her final years at Emory University Hospital, she was involved with the restructuring of the Med Tech internship program and employee training program. Phyllis Smith is a founding member of Hudson Community Church in Lilburn, Georgia. She strives to be a lifelong student of the Bible, dedicated to sharing ideas and knowledge. Her calling to Missions has taken her to South Africa, Israel, the West Indies, Mexico, and all around the United States. Phyllis is the mother of 3, grandmother of 7, a daughter of the King, and describes herself as ‘a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ’.
Gary Favors
Director of Pastoral Engagement
Pastor Favors is married to Vanessa Favors, and they have two children. He and his wife live in Stockbridge, Georgia, USA. He currently serves as the Teaching Pastor at Emmanuel Community Church located in Conyers, Georgia. A seasoned biblical scholar and preacher, he has shared his gifts and knowledge nationally and internationally. He has served in South Africa, Barbados, Saudi Arabia, and Jamaica where he taught and preached the Word of God. He is currently preparing to begin a teaching program for pastors in South Africa.
Bobbie Waller
Director of Women’s Ministry
Bobbie Waller has been a devoted professional in Early Childhood Education and Home Health Care for over two decades. Bobbie is happily married to Johnnie Waller, and they share the joy of two children and five grandchildren. Since 2010, she has passionately served as a short-term missionary with Simon’s Branch, dedicating her time to countries like Jamaica, Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Bobbie’s impactful ministry involves teaching Vacation Bible School, addressing Women’s Conferences, and providing essential aid to communities in need. Currently, she leads the Women’s Ministry in Botha’s Hills and Swamane, South Africa.
LouAnn Hannah M.Ed.
Director of Children’s Ministry
LouAnn has recently retired after serving as an educator for over 30 years.
Her career includes working with students in grades K-12. In addition, she
has served in Short Term Missions to various countries for over 20 years. She
uses her creative arts skills to minister, teach and share the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Ms. Hannah’s main outreach is ministering to children and
adolescents.
Rebecca Hunt, RN
Assignment: Project Hope
Ms. Hunt is a Registered Nurse with over 32 years of experience in home health services as a manager and direct service provider. Ms. Hunt serves as a Project Manager in Botha’s Hill, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. Ms. Hunt provides oversight for the Project Hope home healthcare service. She is responsible for personnel matters, coordination of staff and assignment of duties. Ms. Hunt will provide coordination for service delivery between patients, their families, physicians, and medical facilities.