Rev. Sonya Marie Lybrand was born and reared in Easton, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from Easton Area High School. She relocated to Columbia, SC in 1987 with her mother and sister.  

 

She has been employed with South Carolina State Government for over 33 years and is employed currently with The Department of Mental Health as a Procurement Manager II.  She is married to Julius E. Lybrand (25 years) and they have three sons. Through her commitment and hard work to complete personal and professional goals, she has received a certificate of completion from Colorado Technical University for Accounting Fundamentals in December 2010. 

 

She is a graduate of Davis Bible College in Johnston, New York, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education in 2017.  She has also earned her Master of Divinity from Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary in May 2020. 

 

On September 30, 2017, she was ordained as an Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was given the opportunity to serve as the Supply Pastor of Rock Hill AME Church.  On September 13, 2020, Sonya was elected to be ordained as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. 

 

Reverend Lybrand is currently the Pastor of Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Winnsboro, SC. And serves as the District Coordinator for the Compassion International Ministry in the Lancaster District.  She also has been elected as the Financial/Stats Secretary for the Seventh Episcopal District Women in Ministry.

 

Her favorite scripture is: “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalm 18:2) This is her constant reminder of where God has brought her from.