Rev. Rodney David Porter was appointed by Bishop Michael Watson to be the pastor of the Hazlehurst First United Methodist Church  in June of 2006.

Rodney was born October 16, 1965 in Demorest, Ga. and he graduated high school in 1983 from Jones County High School in Gray, Ga.  He began his undergraduate work at Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia and then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from LaGrange College in 1987.  Rodney also attended Emory University's Candler School of Theology where he received a Master of Divinity in 1992.

Rodney has previously served churches in Whigham, Plains ,Woodland, Statesboro, Jeffersonville and Macon, Ga.

Rodney is a third generation United Methodist minister.  He is the son of Rev. Freeman Porter,  who also serves in the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, and he is the grandson of Rev. Luther Porter,  who served in both North and South Georgia Conferences of the UMC before his death. 

Rodney has a passion for working in the local Church.  He truly has a heart for serving God's people of all ages.

Rodney married the former Kimberly Ann Weller on August 8, 1987.  Rodney and Kim have 2 sons, David and Benjamin.