Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Rainwater.
Hi Christie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Servant leader. As I campaigned for my mayoral race, you would find those words on my sign, not as a slogan, but as a commitment. I never intended to become a political leader, but one thing I have always been intentional about from a young age was serving others. I remember being 6 years old and going into my grandma’s bedroom in our house on Long Island, NY. She had brain cancer and required much help. As a young girl, I couldn’t do too much, but I did what I could. I would sit with her and rub her feet. Looking back, it is obvious that God put a desire in my heart to serve others, and I did it with joy.
Thankfully, I was smart and quick. In my middle and high school years, I went to a small Christian school. Most days, I would finish my work early, and you would find me helping in the younger grades or doing office work with the secretary. By the time I could drive, I started leading the Girls’ Club at my church. To this day, I feel very strongly about having a mentor a step ahead of me in life and also being a mentor to someone a step behind me. From soup kitchens to international mission trips, I continued to serve.
And as I grew, the leadership aspect began to blossom in both church and the corporate world. My first degree is from the State University of New York in Business Administration, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. After a short time as a buying assistant for Fortunoff, I began working for Computer Associates. Within months, I was promoted to management. After several years there, I became a stay-at-home mom with the birth of my first-born son, Caleb. Just months after having him, I found my world falling apart. My husband had been unfaithful in our marriage, and after months of trying to keep my family together, I found myself as a single mom, without a job, moving back into my parents’ home feeling worthless and unloved.
While I wouldn’t wish that situation on my worst enemy, looking back, I can see how God used every bit of it. I became resilient and driven. I reexamined who I was and who I wanted to be. I went back to college at Long Island University, CW Post Campus, and majored in Elementary Education. I took 21 credit hours on a Tuesday/Thursday schedule to minimize time away from my son. I graduated magna cum laude and walked across the stage to receive my diploma with my son in my arms.
After teaching for a short time in NY, I moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina, and taught 5th grade at Mt Gallant Elementary school. During that time, I met my husband Mark who was living in Hanahan, South Carolina. The Air Force brought him to Hanahan over 25 years ago. He served five years on active duty and eighteen years in the Air Force Reserves. We married and I moved to Hanahan. At that time, I had no clue what the future would hold, but it was easy to see what a special community Hanahan was.
Mark and I have since had three beautiful children. Zachary is now 7, Haley is 10, Daniel is 11, and Caleb is 18 and a freshman at The Citadel. My children are the joy of my life. I had the honor of working part-time for many years and being in the home to raise them. I truly believe so much of what I walk out in my life right now I learned as a mom to them. During those years, my leadership in my community began to grow through church opportunities, PTA, and serving. I also began to build my business with The Pampered Chef. I grew my sales and my team. I became a director and achieved being in the top 1% of the company in the nation. As I continued raising our children, growing a Pampered Chef business, and serving in my community, others began to recognize my leadership and my service. It was suggested to me to run for City Council. Honestly, I blew it off for several years. One leader, in particular, continued to suggest it. After hearing it enough, I finally said I would pray about it. After praying a little here and there, one morning I committed to a time of prayer specifically for wisdom on this. After a time of getting on my face before the Lord in my office and praying, I got up to sit at my desk. Each morning I would flip over my daily John Maxwell leadership calendar that I received as a gift many years ago. As I flipped over to Dec 5th, there was a scripture about leaders being appointed in the city. At that point, I felt that I heard the Lord loud and clear that I was to run in the upcoming election for City Council. After raising funds, knocking on hundreds and hundreds of doors, and campaigning for months, I won the special election for the City Council seat in March of 2017. I quickly learned that there was much to learn. I got to work. I continue to work and serve and listen.
Just months after becoming a City Councilmember, residents began to suggest I run for Mayor. As I did with the first suggestions for running for office, I said no thank you. But when it keeps coming up over and over and over, you begin to wonder if God is trying to get your attention… again. In the Spring, the former Mayor of Hanahan shared that I should run. Five days later, the current Mayor, who had already decided not to run for another term, also said I needed to be the next Mayor. What are the odds that they would both come to be the very same week? It still took some time and encouragement, but by late summer 2018, I made the decision that I would run. Again, more fundraising, more door knocking, and lots of campaigning, and I then won the 2018 election for Mayor of Hanahan, SC. Campaigning is so much work and culminates in an election. The moment you win, you feel like you crossed the finish line of a race, but the truth is that it is just the beginning. So, it was time to get to work.
During my time as Mayor, we have battled a worldwide pandemic, started to build a road that has taken over 20 years to get started, broke ground on a new 53-acre park, welcomed many new businesses to Hanahan, and started a food truck park, and so much more. Our Council team and staff have built upon the vision and work of many who have gone before us. We will continue to make strides to keep Hanahan an amazing place to live, work, and play. But my greatest accomplishment as Mayor will never be something I fix or build. It will be empowering the people that I lead to their own personal greatness. Each member of our community has been given special talents and abilities. My goal is to encourage each of them to use those talents not only to create an amazing life for themselves and their families but to give back and be a #differencemaker to others around them. While I can accomplish much, imagine what we can accomplish as a community when we all give back. It has been amazing to see the passion in our community shared. It already is making such an incredible difference, and it is multiplying. I will continue to lead through service and serve with all my heart.
In addition to serving as Mayor, I am also a Realtor®. I find true success in the thought of families making memories in their home after an experience with me I am also a Coach to the leadership of Women’s Ministry at Seacoast church where I serve with my husband serve as Elders. For the past decade, my husband and I have also led a small group and served in other capacities at Seacoast church. In the past, we have done foster care and cared for 5 children who have lived short-term or long-term in our home. I have also been on two short-term mission trips, once as a teen and another time as a single mom bringing my son Caleb with me. I am so grateful for all God has done in my life and am blessed to be a blessing to others.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Oh, so many struggles! Life is defined by our responses. It’s one of the only things we can control. And our responses can define our future.
My first marriage was one of the hardest things I faced. Just months after having my firstborn, I discovered my husband was cheating on me. Another challenge was moving from NY to SC as a single mom. Then comes parenting. I like to joke that Murphy (as in Murphy’s Law) is my best friend. Parenting and marriage can be hard, but aren’t the good things in life always hard but worth it? More recently, leading a city during a worldwide pandemic has been a challenge. However, by the grace of God and with a great team, we have not only survived but thrived. In fact. the City of Hanahan has won two awards in regards to our response to COVID-19. The true reward is the lives that have been saved. Our numbers have remained some of the lowest in the state.
I truly believe that obstacles are opportunities. In fact, I recently had a coaster made that said, “Failure is a success when we learn from it.” When I find myself walking that out, it is not fun or easy, but look to what I have faced and it serves as a reminder that the future will be bright.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the Mayor of Hanahan, South Carolina. I specialize in serving others, listening to them, and representing them. My focus is on empowering others to use their God-given talents and abilities to be #differencemakers in the community around them. One thing that I believe sets me apart is using common sense, being easily accessible, and listening to represent well. I try to be real and follow the golden rule to do unto others as you would want them to do to you. I am also a hard worker. I like to get things done and am willing to do what it takes to achieve that.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
I think risks have to be weighed… not only for the risk you are taking but for whatever you are giving up by not taking a risk. I think many people fear failure and avoid risk because of that. However, in our home, we try to welcome failure because it means we tried something. We don’t just stop there. We learn from it. On the other hand, sometimes people take risks that are not worth the cost. I would consider myself a risk-taker. Moving to SC as a single Mom was a huge risk for me. I left my family, my support system, and everything I knew. However, I have also learned that I would rather be in God’s willing taking risks that in my own comfort zone being safe.
Contact Info:
- Email: heartofcourage@yahoo.com
- Website: www.christierainwater.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofcourage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christie.rainwater1
- Other: http://markandchristierainwater.blogspot.com
