He’s a family man who’s passionate about people, charities, the military and law enforcement. Friends say he’s someone who can deal with cold numbers on an accounting ledger as well as matters of the human heart.

For nearly three years, Seth Brown has been the business administrator at St. Luke United Methodist Church and St. Luke School. He has financial oversight of the downtown campus’ eight buildings, and he controls a $377,000 monthly payroll.

One of two candidates to lead the new Office of Crime Prevention, Brown told the Ledger-Enquirer he didn’t feel comfortable granting interviews until the person is named.

Brown is married with two children. His wife, Beth Brown, works for Columbus Regional Healthcare as a geneticist. “He says, ‘I married up,’ ” said the Rev. Cindy Garrard, minister of program at St. Luke.

The couple’s children attend public schools in Columbus. Garrard said the couple strongly support public education.

Seth Brown, a Columbus native, is a 1999 graduate of Columbus State University. His degree is in business administration, with a major in finance. Brown’s birthday is Tax Day — April 15; and he turns 40 next month.

Around St. Luke, Brown is known for diving in wherever needed.

“His attitude is, every job here is his job,” Garrard said. “He might be talking to bankers and trustees one minute or mending the wallpaper the next.”

In his spare time, Brown coaches youth football, which his son plays.

He also has a daughter. At St. Luke, Seth and Beth Brown are part of a couples’ Sunday school class called the 2x2s. Andy Hidle is a member of the class, and also serves on the St. Luke Church board.

“The main thing that drives Seth is he cares about people,” said Hidle, the chief operating officer of Bytewise Development Corporation in Columbus.

Hidle said Brown has taken part in sporting events for charity, and rallied St. Luke members for support when tragedy hit an employee’s family.

“He can see things in black and white when he has to, as far as the numbers go,” Hidle said, referring to the financial side to Brown’s job, “but he also really cares about people.”

“He’s most cooperative and easy to get along with,” said Brown’s boss, the Rev. Hal Brady, senior pastor at St. Luke. Brady noted that Brown often shows up at promotion ceremonies for police officers. “I’ve noticed he has a passion for the law,” Brady said.

Fortson resident Lisa Powers, a friend of the Browns, went to him more than a year ago for advice in a personal struggle. “He was extremely compassionate, and he took a lot of time with me. He’s especially compassionate with widows and children.

He has a real good head on his shoulders. ... I can’t imagine that anyone who knows Seth would have an unkind word to say about him.”

A U.S. Army veteran, Brown was awarded the Command Sergeant Majors recognition award for outstanding service during Operation Desert Storm.

He’s been the chairman of Crime Stoppers since 2006, and he’s an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police. “Seth’s military background reflects who he is,” Garrard said.

Brown is a regular volunteer at December First Saturday — the annual food and clothing giveaway at St. Luke — as well as its monthly “Operation Appreciation” event for soldiers.

“He’s committed to families and he is a great dad and husband,” said Garrard, who coordinates the First December program. “He considers himself the luckiest man in the world.”

Allison Kennedy, 706-576-6237