Brian Sandifer
Lead Pastor
Office: 301-743-5444
E-Mail:
Website: www.briansandifer.com
Facebook: brian.sandifer
Twitter: @bksandifer
I was born in London, England. My dad was a career United States Air Force man so I traveled all over the United States and parts of Europe. When my dad was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, we attended Calvary Baptist Church. It was there at this church, under the leadership of Pastor Thorne, that God saved me.
My father continued his Air Force career, and we continued to move. He retired in Sumter, South Carolina, and it was there that I joined Grace Baptist Church. I met and married my wife, Mary, while living in Sumter, and all four of our children are South Carolinians . . . Go Gamecocks!
While living in Sumter, I taught in the public schools for a number of years, and then became a school administrator. It was during this time that I went on my first international mission trip to Romania. This awakened in my heart a desire to serve God in greater ways.
After returning from this mission trip, my wife and I felt the leading of the Lord to enter full time vocational Christian ministry. We have served churches in Germany, South Carolina, North Carolina, and now in Maryland.
I received my bachelors degree from Bowling Green State University (1988) in Ohio. My masters degree in teaching came from the University of South Carolina (1991). My ministry schooling came from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where I received both my Masters of Divinity (2004) and my Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology (2010).
I've been the lead pastor of Potomac Heights Baptist Church since January 1, 2012.
Sheila Astacio
Administrative Assistant
Office: 301-743-5444
E-Mail:
It is a pleasure to be with PHBC! I have joined the church staff 10+ years ago after working for 12 years at Catholic University.
I have been born again for 20+ years, given a new life in Christ after leaving the Jehovah's Witness cult I was born and raised in.
My husband (also an ex-Jehovah's Witness) and I have two children and both enjoy raising them in the knowledge and love of the true Jesus.
Andrew Johnson
Pastoral Assistant
E-Mail:
I grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. My Bachelors and Master of Divinity degrees were earned from Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. I am married to my sweet wife, Ruth, and we have three daughters, Lucy, Moriah, and Zoe.