Chris was appointed to our church in June 2018. He is a lifelong United Methodist who was raised at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (BA) and Duke Divinity School (MDiv). There were many events, opportunities and life experiences that contributed to Chris' call to ministry: involvement in the youth and college ministry at Church Street where he would serve as the college ministry coordinator from 2001-2005, serving as a counselor at Camp Wesley Woods, and multiple short term mission opportunities to Brazil, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
Chris was ordained an elder in full connection at the 2010 Holston Annual Conference. His previous appointments include: Narrows First United Methodist Church in Narrows, Virginia (2008-2012) and Wheeler United Methodist Church in Blountville, Tennessee (2012-2018). Chris and his wife have two children.
Margaret joined the ministry team as Director of Youth Ministry in July 2019. She moved into the role of Director of Christian Education and Family Ministry in 2022. Her favorite part of ministry is crafting spaces during vacation bible school, mission experiences, bible study, fun events, or retreats for youth, children, and adults to engage in thoughtful conversation about who God is and how God is calling us to live together. She is a lifelong United Methodist and originally from the South Georgia Conference. She received her MTS from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, where she met her husband Caleb, who is an ordained elder in the Holston Conference. Currently, she is a candidate for the Order of Deaconess and Home Missioner, a consecrated and commissioned order for laity in the UMC. [Follow this link to learn more, www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/dhm.] She is a graduate of LaGrange College and served as a US-2, UMC young adult missionary, in Fargo, ND and in Baldwin, LA at UMCOR Sager Brown. Margaret and her husband have two children.
Fun Fact: When Margaret was 8 years old, she told anyone who asked that she wanted to be an archaeologist. In 2010, she graduated from the University of Bristol, Bristol, England with a MA in Historical Archaeology of the Modern World.
Joshua began his ministry with CHUMC in May 2021. Joshua is a cradle United Methodist and a pastor's kid. He has been in the Holston Conference his whole life. He began his music career as a saxophone player in the 6th grade. He always wanted to learn to play the piano, but never had the opportunity to take lessons. He taught himself how to read the bass clef and the basics of playing the piano. Between his sophomore and junior years of high school, he moved to Johnson City where his dad served First UMC. That’s when he learned the organ. (Ask for the full story later!) He then went onto college at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY where he obtained a BA in music. While at Asbury, he served on many different student committees, was in multiple ensembles, and was the building/stage manager for the music department.
After his graduation, he went on to obtain a Masters of Music in Music and Worship. During that time he served as a youth volunteer, youth handbell director at First UMC Cleveland, and then 6 years as organist at Fountain City UMC in Knoxville, TN. During his free time, he loves to play golf, only when he hits it straight, bike riding, hunting and fishing, listening to books, and doing puzzles. Joshua is a Dog dad of a precious boy yellow lab named Lucien.
I was blessed to be called to CHUMC in February of 2020. I have been involved in church music since the young age of 10, when I began playing piano at the church where my father was pastor. I have played piano or sang in a church choir ever since. I have so many fond memories of traveling to different churches with my parents and sharing the talents God blessed me with.
I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Music from East Tennessee State University and my Masters Degree in Education from Cumberland University. I have taught elementary music/ chorus for 23 years.
I have a family full of musicians. My husband is a high school choir director and both of our boys are in band, play the piano and sing. When we are not in school, we enjoy riding bikes and being outside. I also enjoy cooking and watching cooking shows.
One of my earliest memories of learning scripture was memorizing the 23rd Psalm with my great aunt. I was adopted at a young age and God showed me many times that I was not alone, even when the world’s perspective might have looked less than ideal. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
God led me to CHUMC for this time, right now. I pray that His hand is in all we do as we lead the congregation in worship.
Kaela has been the Preschool Director since August of 2020. She has always known she wanted to work in Early Childhood Education. Prior to working at C.H.U.M.P.S. Kaela graduated from ETSU, worked for Sullivan County Schools in their Special Education Department at Rock Springs Elementary School, was a Site Coordinator for the YMCA’s after school program, worked in retail management at Pier 1 imports for 8 years, and taught at a Pre-K in Bristol. In her spare time Kaela loves to be outdoors. She and her husband enjoy hiking, biking, camping, and kayaking to enjoy God’s creation. Kaela considers the preschool at Colonial Heights United Methodist Church to be a ministry that she has been called to serve.
Kathy has worked in the financial office at Colonial Heights United Methodist Church since May 2002. Prior to that she worked for four different businesses where she became interested and gained knowledge in bookkeeping. She loves working at the church and the interaction she has with the church staff, members of the church, and preschool students, staff, and parents. She and her husband are very active in their home church. In her spare time, she likes to travel and make scrapbooks of the places she has been. She also loves spending time with her three siblings and their families.
One of her favorite scriptures is Romans 12:21, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good". She has found that when she is having a bad day or dealing with unpleasant people, her response will determine her attitude for the rest of the day. Her desire is to reflect the goodness of God. Another scripture that she likes and is along that same line, is Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good." God always knows what is 'for our good' even when we don't.
