|
|
Meet Our Staff
 Brian Taylor, Senior Pastor
Significant Others: Wife, Patricia; daughters Brittany (20), Carrie (12); son Zachary (18)
How I relax and have fun: golf and fish
Favorite music: Jazz
Favorite food or restaurant: Italian, or southern bar-b-que; pineapple upside down cake
Ideal vacation: Fish in the morning and golf in the afternoon
Biblical character I most identify with: Peter
What I like best about Munsey: commitment to missions; diversity and openness to people of all walks of life.
 Nancy Ellen Eastridge, Minister of Adult Discipleship
Significant others: My husband is Michael Andrew Eastridge. Mike works as an attorney at Hunter Smith and Davis here in the Tri-Cities. His passion in life is to make peace in the world. My daughter, Hannah, is a student at Carson-Newman College where she loves her English major. My son, Ben, is a student at Science Hill High School and he can be found participating in all the Munsey Youth activities.
How I relax and have fun: I love to read and I love to travel. Picnics are high on my list as well .
Favorite music: Vivaldi
Favorite food or restaurant: My favorite restaurant is in Atlanta, Rosa Mexicana .
Ideal vacation: I love to travel to Europe and hope my next trip will be to Scotland.
Biblical character I most identify with: I love the Apostle Paul, despite his controversial stands, he is “sold out” to the Crucified Christ and I want his boldness.
What I like best about Munsey: The PEOPLE! What a blessing to serve with people who love the Lord and who are committed to loving their neighbors.
The Usual Stuff: I went to school – too much. I practiced health care law before going to seminary and like to say that I have been delivered from law to grace. My Master of Divinity degree is from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and I love my alma mater. I came to Munsey in June 2007.
 Doug Grove-DeJarnett, Minister of Music and Congregational Life
Significant others: wife, Susan (teaches music in the Munsey Pre-school/Kindergarten); Daughters: Hannah, resides in Washington, DC and Gretchen, a senior at Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC
How I relax and have fun: walking, love baseball and football, movies.
Favorite music: from the classics to country western.
Favorite food or restaurant: I love Italian food, but there is nothing better than a good bowl of chocolate ice cream!
Ideal vacation: The beach or visiting Wales and Ireland
Biblical character I most identify with: David, the singer of psalms, and Barnabas, a helper
What I like best about Munsey: the rich tradition and the talented people
The Usual Stuff: native of Marietta, GA. Graduate of Western Carolina University, with seminary training at the Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. I come from a family of musicians – father was a church musician, mother a pianist; three brothers, all of whom have musical backgrounds.
 Michael Lester, Minister of Congregational Care and Counseling
Significant others: Nancy (wife), married since 2004; daughter, Laura, and son, Torrey; two step daughters, Allison and Ashley.
How I relax and have fun: work in the yard; home repair projects; walk; day trips with my wife; read murder mysteries (Stuart Woods & James Patterson); rocking chair on the front porch.
Favorite music: Blues and jazz.
Favorite food or restaurant: A heart healthy diet
Ideal vacation: every year at Hilton Head Island; New York City
What I like best about Munsey: loving and affirming people
The Usual Stuff: grew up in Johnson City; former Baptist minister; theological education from Southern Seminary, Louisville, and Dallas Seminary; Board Certified Pastoral Counselor; have been on staff at Munsey since 2005.
 Christina DowlingSoka, Minister of Children's Discipleship
Significant others: Joe-d, spouse; Ryan (age 17); Joel (age 21); Calico Kitty, Miracle Kitty and Kitty Kitty
How I relax and have fun: Travel, reading, playing games like “Pass the Pigs” with family
Favorite music: VBS Children’s songs!
Favorite food or restaurant: Mint chocolate chip ice cream
Ideal vacation: Sitting on the beach, listening to the waves and letting the wind blow the tiredness away
Biblical character I most identify with: Mary, Mary and Martha
What I like best about Munsey: Children! Joyful worship! Mission! Fun!
The Usual Stuff: I have the great joy of being the Minister of Children’s Discipleship here at Munsey. Came to Munsey two years ago after directing Buffalo Mountain Camp for 14 years. Prior to that I co-pastored churches in Iowa, Ohio and England along with my husband Joe-d who is also a United Methodist Pastor. Graduated with B.A. in religion from Florida Southern College and M.Div from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Elder in Holston Conference.
 Priscilla Estes Sarvadi, Director of Singles and Christian Life CenterSignificant Others: I have an absolutely wonderful daughter, Brittany. She and her husband, Douglas Fronzaglia, live in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Brittany is a registered dietitian; Douglas, an internal medicine physician.
How I relax and have fun: Being in the great out-of-doors is delightful—mowing, gardening, hiking; FUN is dancing—ballroom, line, Texas 2-steppin’.
Favorite Music: A Welsh artist, NIA—her perky pop gospel and praise-orientated ballads.
Favorite Food or Restaurant: The down-home cookin’ of the Ole Farmhouse Restaurant/Greenville; beef (Sauerbraten), potato dumpling, and red cabbage at Gasthaus Edelweiss in Weber City, Va.
Ideal Vacation: Always, from one visit to the next, I look forward to seeing my daughter, and site-seeing in the Amish country.
Biblical Character I most identify with: For sure in name, Priscilla and Priscilla…a “stick to it” attitude. “Called”, and committed to the call.
What I like best about Munsey: The multiple opportunities to be involved in missions locally and globally. The diversity of programming for all ages of Munsey members as well as the greater community.
The usual stuff: I grew up in the local rural community of Washington College, living in same home till completion of my undergraduate and graduate degrees at ETSU. I was on the faculty of ETSU for twenty-four years, teaching dance (contemporary & ballroom), and multiple other courses in the Department of Physical Education. Continuing to teach, I came on staff at Munsey in 1989.
 Beth Witt, Director of Worship Arts in Journey and Melting PotSignificant others: I am married to Rick who works at Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, We have a son, Robert, who is a Junior at Clemson University where he is majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in music, and a daughter, Rachel, who is a Junior at Dobyns- Bennett High School and a wild dog, Snickers.
How I relax and have fun: Reading, taking long walks, playing in my flower garden, watching old movies, and spending time with my family.
Favorite music: I love all kinds of music, particularly Contemporary Christian music
Favorite food or restaurant: Ice Cream
Ideal vacation: Trips with my family
Biblical character I most identify with: Barnabas, the encourager, because I enjoy encouraging others
What I like best about Munsey: The way people at Munsey accept others from all walks of life, just they way they are, and help them find a place in ministry at Munsey.
The Usual Stuff: I was born in Johnson City, grew up in Kingsport and lived my middle school and high school years in New Jersey. I graduated from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina with a degree in Music Education and have worked in church music for over 25 years. The last 4 ½ years I have been in ministry at Munsey.
 Dianna Cantler, Director of Connections Ministries
Significant others: married to Bob, mother to daughter, Palmer, a freshman at Science Hill and son, Quentin, a 6 th grader at Indian Trail.
How I relax and have fun: I am a confirmed shop-a-holic! And there’s nothing better than hearing the phrase “It’s football time in Tennessee!”
Favorite music: Our radio dial has to be the most diverse – pop, broadway, contemporary Christian, 70’s and 80’s with an occasional country thrown in.
Favorite food or restaurant: I like the locals – Brumley’s, Red Pig and Café Lola
Ideal vacation: Sitting on the beach with a good book
Biblical character I most identify with: I am a Martha through and through!!
What I like best about Munsey: The fact that we have this wonderful history, but aren’t afraid to do something new to reach out to people.
The Usual Stuff: I graduated from ETSU and have lived in several major Southern cities before we came back “home” to Johnson City. I consider it a personal challenge to learn the name and something about each person who visits with us - I'm looking forward to meeting YOU!
 Amanda Onks, Director of Youth Ministries
Significant others: My husband, Jason Onks, & 2 dogs named Jack & Callie; Jack eats everything he’s not meant to eat, such as dishcloths, & looks much like a dingo, & Callie’s quite the laid-back, lazy lab & is afraid of the ceiling fan & the rain.
How I relax and have fun: exercise, read, spend time with my husband & with good friends
Favorite music: mostly country, especially Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, & Brad Paisley
Favorite food or restaurant: Silver Spoon Café in Knoxville, The Cheesecake Factory anywhere, seafood, sushi, Asian food, & the list goes on…
Ideal vacation: anywhere with a beach & no cell phones
Biblical character I most identify with: Martha first comes to mind because she got so caught up in the busyness of life.
What I like best about Munsey: the energy & excitement for ministry
The Usual Stuff: I grew up in Seymour, TN & am a graduate of Emory & Henry College. I have been the Director of Youth Ministries at Munsey since August 2005.
 Doug Miller, Director of Missions and Media
Significant others: Wife Beth, 2 growing boys, Chris and Mike, 2 old dogs, Belle and Genie.
How I relax and have fun: Discovery and History Channel programming, fly fishing, wood working, and Boy Scout leadership.
Favorite music: Bluegrass, country, and classical (don’t say it).
Favorite food or restaurant: Most of them.
Ideal vacation: Go somewhere where I can do nothing, by my definition.
Biblical character I most identify with: Job, he perseveres.
What I like best about Munsey: The people. I work with and serve - the best people in Northeast Tennessee
|
|
