Now the long-time law enforcement officer with the Halifax County Sheriff's Office is stepping down to start a second church in Charlotte after beginning his Consuming Fire Global Ministries on Aurelian Springs Road in 2006.

“I've always felt there's no difference between being a cop and a minister. It fits together,” said Whitaker, currently the lieutenant of the civil division at the sheriff's office, a position he will step down from on December 31.

His career in law enforcement began in 1999 and he has been a road deputy, narcotics agent and tax deputy.

Whitaker and Tripp.

Whitaker said starting a Consuming Fire church in Charlotte was something he just couldn't do trying to juggle his first church and his duties within the civil division of the sheriffs office. “To me, God is very important in my life. I just feel like I have to lead by example. The homeless population in Charlotte is really big. I hope to help in that.”

The sheriff's office, Whitaker said, has always been supportive of his ministry that has included tent revivals and food and gas giveaways.

“I'm going to miss him tremendously,” said Sheriff Wes Tripp, who in January will present Whitaker his badge and service weapon at the county commissioners meeting and will also hold his law enforcement certification. “I was his lieutenant when he first came on. You knew he always felt the call of God. His actions spoke well of his service to God.”

Tripp said Chris Scott will become the leader of the civil division, which handles the sex offender registry, concealed carry permits and vehicle tax enforcement. “It's a very active division. It's a lot of responsibility and Fred has been very successful in running the division.”

Major Scott Hall said he will miss working with Whitaker. “I've worked with Fred since I began my law enforcement career. He's been dedicated to the civil division. He's led its growth with positive changes.”

Leaving, Whitaker said, was not an easy decision. “I have to trust God.”

Whitaker and the civil division team of, from left, Leesa Stewart, Stanly Rodwell, Christopher Scott and Jessica Sampson.

In preparing for the next phase of his ministry, Whitaker has not only become certified as a grief counselor but has been taking steps to become a motivational speaker.

“It teaches you to be a heart with ears,” he said of the grief counseling. “I can't understand what you're feeling. It's better to say you're here.”

The death of his father and the shootings in Weldon helped fuel his interest in helping others deal with their grief.

He compares not being able to cope with grief like painting a wall with a saw. “Grief counseling gives you the proper tools. It changes the way you think.”

Whitaker had wanted to leave law enforcement since starting the first Consuming Fire church on Aurelian Springs Road.

Now certified as a grief counselor and learning the art of motivational speaking from Mark Given, he is ready to open another church. “I was three years behind in school. In spite of that I always knew I had something great in me. It was speaking. I teach civil process at the community community college. I like teaching because it's speaking.”

His goal in life has been to better himself. “There are so many bad things,” he said. “I want to be good. I want to help people reach their full potential. If you change the way people think, I think it can change their behavior.”