Lake Junaluska’s annual Independence Day Celebration features music, barbecue and fun — from concerts to fireworks to floating wish lanterns.
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The Darren Nicholson Band and Unspoken Tradition take the stage at Lake Junaluska’s historic Stuart Auditorium for an Independence Day Celebration concert on Sunday, July 2, at 7 p.m.
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Colorful displays of fireworks will cast reflections on the lake on Monday, July 3, at approximately 9:30 p.m. as part of Lake Junaluska’s Independence Day Celebrations.
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A parade will be held as part of Independence Day Celebrations at Lake Junaluska on the Fourth of July at 11 a.m.
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Enjoy food trucks, live music, a family-friendly square dance and more kid-friendly fun at the open-air Nanci Weldon Memorial Gym and adjacent field on the Fourth of July from noon to 2 p.m.
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Jennifer Pagnard is excited to return to Lake Junaluska, having sung with the Junaluska Singers way back in 1991. She grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended Cokesbury United Methodist Church. While earning her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, she was a scholarship singer at Church Street United Methodist Church, singing with the Youth and Adult Choirs. After graduation, she taught elementary school music for one year in Prince Georges County, Maryland. In 1992, she won an alto vocalist position with The United States Air Force Singing Sergeants. During her Air Force career, she performed as a soloist and in ensembles, and as a concert announcer, for military and civilian events, including 32 national concert tours throughout 48 states, as well as 28 recording projects. While in the Air Force, she also completed a Master of Arts in Music from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. After retiring from the Air Force in 2015, Jennifer continued to perform as an actor, singer and concert emcee in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. In 2022, her husband, Christian, also retired from The U.S. Air Force Band after winning the position of principal trumpet with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. This past August, Jennifer and her family relocated to her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Recently, they transferred their membership from Burke United Methodist in Burke, Virginia, to Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville where she and her daughter, Corinna, regularly volunteer for the Children’s Ministry.
In 1956, The U.S. Army Chorus was established as the vocal counterpart of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” From its inception, The U.S. Army Chorus has established and maintained a reputation of musical excellence. Beyond the traditional military music and patriotic standards, the repertoire of the Army Chorus covers a broad spectrum which includes pop, Broadway, folk, and classical music. The Army Chorus performs frequently at the White House, the Vice President’s Residence, the U.S. Capitol and the State Department. In 2007, the group was featured at the State Dinner held in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and in 2008 at the State Arrival Ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI held on the south lawn of the White House. When in Washington, DC, foreign dignitaries and military counterparts visiting our nation’s senior leadership are greeted by songs performed in their native tongues, as the Army Chorus has performed in more than 40 languages and dialects. The Army Chorus was personally requested to perform for the private interment services of former President Ronald Wilson Reagan in 2004, and President Gerald R. and Mrs. Betty Ford in early 2007 and 2011, respectively. In late 2018, the Chorus was honored to help the Bush family lay to rest its patriarch and our 41st President, George H.W. Bush in a private interment ceremony in Texas. In 2021, the ensemble celebrated 65 years of service to the U.S. Army, its senior leaders, and the American people.
Linda Clayman Lay grew up in Clayman Valley, a tiny community named after her family outside of Bristol, Tennessee. She grew up surrounded by music in a family that treasured tunes, from old-time and bluegrass to gospel and traditional country. Her father, mandolinist Jack Clayman, formed a family band with Linda and his family, taking them to the places where the local musicians gathered, jammed, and performed. Linda later founded and led Appalachian Trail, an innovative bluegrass band that performed for more than 20 years. In Appalachian Trail, Linda truly found her voice, becoming not just the band’s lead singer but one of the most beloved singers in bluegrass. During her years touring with Appalachian Trail, she met the gifted guitar player and singer—and her future husband—David Lay. David Lay grew up listening to his father sing in quartets and preach, as a Methodist pastor, and was fortunate to be able to attend a lot of the all night singing conventions where he heard some of the greats in Southern Gospel. David played bass for a gospel group when he met Linda. He switched to guitar and after a brief courtship they married and he was performing in front of thousands of listeners. David is a very solid, versatile rhythm player and is able to adapt to the diverse styles of music with ease. David encouraged Linda to venture out to tour with other musicians, and today when she plays he is always beside her.
Jon Foulk is native of Atlanta, Georgia, who spent his formative years in East Tennessee. His debut EP “A New Song,” produced by Grammy-nominated and award-winning producer Travis Wyrick, was released in July of 2021. The record takes listeners on Jon’s personal journey through the struggles of addiction; followed by the hope through Christ presented in recovery. Foulk has released four subsequent (open, honest & organic) singles: I’m Sorry, The Drifter, Gone Too Far, and I Was Wrong. He currently resides just outside of Maryville, Tennessee, where he is a solo artist, session musician and keyboardist for the acclaimed southern rock band The Dirty Gospel.
Justin Terry was born and raised in a musical family. He began his professional singing career in 2006 when he joined a touring gospel quartet, Cross4Crowns. He saw success with the quartet including several nationally charting radio singles, national award nominations, as well as being regarded as one of the top bass singers in gospel music. In 2012, Justin left Cross4Crowns to embark on a solo career. Even with a successful solo career in full swing, Justin made time to tour with some legendary artists, including The Blackwood Quartet, The Stamps Quartet, Aaron Tippin, and Gary Puckett and The Union Gap. Although performing in such venues as Silver Dollar City, Dollywood, and Anderson Music Hall, Justin still finds time to come back to his roots and lead worship at many churches across America. We are grateful to have Justin Terry worshipping with us on this, his second visit to The Lake Junaluska Assembly.
John Overholt is a tenor hailing from Newport, Tennessee. He completed his graduate studies at the prestigious University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and his undergraduate degree at East Tennessee State University. John’s versatility and passion for music have led him to perform in a variety of genres, from gospel to opera. In addition to his opera career, John has sung around the world with several gospel groups and has been a featured soloist in numerous church services across America. He has also performed with the Cincinnati Opera Chorus for several years, showcasing his vocal range and artistry. John gained national attention for his performance as Justice Antonin Scalia in the world premiere of Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg at the Castleton Festival in 2015, which was featured on National Public Radio. His commitment to excellence in his craft has earned him numerous accolades and opportunities to perform throughout the United States and the world.
Michael and Chelsae began performing on guitar and flute together as students of the Bryan College Music Department in 2013. Over a decade later, the Tennessee native duo is married, has two beautiful children, and still enjoys playing music together as often as they can. Michael is the music director at Wayside Presbyterian Church and Chelsae teaches music lessons out of their home on Signal Mountain in East Tennessee. Each has enjoyed the occasional studio project, and they dream of one day recording their own feature album together. Michael and Chelsae are passionate about passing on a love of worship music to the next generation.
Bass, K.C. Armstrong has sung on national and international concert stages as a former member of The U.S. Army Chorus and former member of The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants. He just recently retired from The U.S. Army with over 20 years of collective service. As a member of these ensembles, he had the opportunity to sing for the last four presidents and for the funerals of Presidents Reagan, Ford and Bush. A featured soloist on choir tours throughout the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Netherlands and Romania, he is also a highly sought-after soloist for choral works/oratorios. He worked with teachers Dr. Robert Holquist, Dr. Noelle Woods and Dr. Thomas Jenrette during his studies at Western Carolina University and East Tennessee State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. While in college, K.C. was a Junaluska Singer the summers of ’96, ’97, and ’98! He is currently a freelance musician and sings with professional groups such as Poet Voices, King’s Cadence, Brethren, Voci Virili and many other vocal ensembles. Originally from Mt. Holly, North Carolina, K.C. resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his wife, Chara, daughter Adaline, and sons Brogan and Calvin.
The Rev. Olujimi (Olu) Brown, lead pastor of Impact Church, a young congregation in Metropolitan Atlanta’s East Point community that has grown since its founding in 2007 from a core group of 25 people to more than 5,000 online viewers. Learn more.
The Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker is visiting associate professor of religious education and mission innovation in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and former executive director of global mission connections at the General Board of Global Ministries. Learn more.
The Rev. Magrey deVega has served as senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist in Tampa, Florida, since July 2015 and is former pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Learn more.
The Rev. Dr. James Howell has served as senior pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte since 2003 and is author of 17 books including “Yours are the Hands of Christ,” “Worshipful” and “Weak Enough to Lead.” Learn more.
The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery is dean of Duke Chapel and an associate professor of homiletics at Duke University Divinity School, and former Perry and Georgia Engle Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary. Learn more.
Rev. Dr. Laceye Warner serves as the Royce and Jane Reynolds Associate Professor of the Practice of Evangelism and Methodist Studies and Associate Dean for Wesleyan Engagement at Duke University Divinity School where she has taught for over twenty years. Dr. Warner teaches courses in United Methodist Studies, evangelism, mission, and women’s ministry.
As an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, Dr. Warner also serves the denomination in a number of capacities such as an elected delegate from the Texas Conference to General and Jurisdictional Conference and. She has also served as a previous member of the Council of Bishops’ Ministry Study, University Senate, Council of Bishops’ Task Force on Leadership Formation and Theological Education, as well as the Board of Ordained Ministry in the Texas Conference.
She is the author of several books including:
Saving Women: Retrieving Evangelistic Theology and Practice (Baylor University Press, 2007), which was rated an “Outstanding book” for 2008 by the University Press Books Committee.
Dr. Warner’s The Method of Our Mission: United Methodist Polity and Organization, published by Abingdon Press in 2014, is a widely used and recognized textbook among United Methodist seminary students.
In 2018 she co-authored with her husband From Relief to Empowerment: How Your Church Can Cultivate Sustainable Mission with Foundery Books.
She was also a contributing editor to the Wesley Study Bible
Dr. Warner lives outside Hillsborough, North Carolina, on a small farm with her husband and daughter where they care for a variety of creatures and grow flowers to share with the local community.
Rev. Rob Fuquay was appointed the fifth senior pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in 2011. Rob has led growing congregations in a variety of settings for several decades. Before moving to Indianapolis, Rob was the senior pastor of Williamson’s Chapel UMC in Mooresville, N.C.
Rob graduated from Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University), in 1984, with a B.A. in Religion, and Candler School of Theology, Emory University, in 1987, with a M.Div. degree.
Rob has written The God We Can Know, a 7-week study designed for the entire congregation to explore the “I Am” sayings of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. He has since authored four additional books including “Take the Flag, Following God’s Signals in the Race of Your Life”, “Which Way, Lord? Exploring Your Life’s Purpose in the Journeys of Paul”, “A New Reformation: From Luther’s World to Ours” and most recently “The Passion Play: Living the Story of Christ’s Last Days” inspired by the Oberammergau Passionsspiele.
Rob and his wife, Susan, have three daughters: Julie (son-in-law Christian Delise and son Geronimo Delise), Sarah, and Anna. He loves the mountains, hiking, playing golf, exercising, traveling, and watching college basketball. He is especially enjoying his newest identity as grandpa to their first grandchild.
The Rev. Meredith Martin serves as Vice President of Programs at Crossnore Communities for Children where she leads the agency’s child welfare service lines, compliance, and learning and development initiatives across western North Carolina. During her tenure with Crossnore, Meredith has also been the project manager on the launch of several new service lines for the organization, and has led the implementation of The Sanctuary Model, Crossnore’s trauma-informed model of care. She has past professional experience working for organizations that serve children and families who are involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, who are experiencing domestic violence and/or sexual assault, and who are struggling with mental illness. Meredith is professionally trained as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds master’s degrees from Duke Divinity School and UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work and is an ordained deacon in Western NC Conference of The United Methodist Church. Meredith is married to Rev. Duncan Martin, senior pastor of Hawthorne Lane UMC in Charlotte. The couple has twin 9-year-old daughters.
Photo courtesy Anslee Davidson
Anslee Davidson is a small-town girl from Greensboro, Georgia, who writes songs inspired by life and art. Anslee began playing guitar and writing songs with her dad as a young teen. At 16 she received a Golden Ticket on American Idol before testing positive for COVID and having to leave the show, but this only served to fuel her passion for music. Mixing Classic Country, Americana, Pop and R&B with a voice described by Katy Perry as “Timeless,” Anslee has compiled an impressive catalog of songs she performs throughout the Southeast wowing audiences large and small with her engaging personality and authentic style. Inspired by the legends of country and rock music, she has become a regular artist at the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, and Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, Georgia.
Anslee signed with artist development and label services company, Oconee Music Foundry in 2021, and has been co-writing with some of Nashville’s best and brightest and has shared the stage with her friends Eric Dodd, Chuck Cannon, Rivers Rutherford, Kristian Bush from Sugarland, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Rhett Akins, Restless Road, Deana Carter, and many more. Anslee released her debut single, “I’ll Wait For You,” in September of 2021 which immediately received playlisting by Spotify’s editorial team. Anslee’s songs are regularly on Spotify’s playlists, “New Music Friday Country” and “Fresh Finds Country,” and her song “Trouble With Georgia” was listed on “Fresh Finds Country: Best of 2022.” 2023 is off to an amazing start as her most recent single, “Forget Me Not” landed on Spotify’s “Next From Nashville.” Anslee released her first official music video for “Forget Me Not” in February, which can be found at CMT.com. With new music and shows planned throughout 2023, Anslee Davidson is only getting started and is a name to remember!
The Lake Junaluska landscaping team uses blooms from across the grounds when they create beautiful floral arrangements and bouquets for Lake Junaluska events. Learn more at Lake Junaluska Florals.
Rev. Bill Gattis has over 50 years of service as a minister in the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. He’s served churches in rural settings, small towns, suburbs, and next door to a major university (University UMC, Chapel Hill) for 18 years. In addition to his local church ministry, he has served on the North Carolina Conference staff as conference director of youth & young adult ministry, been a district superintendent for eight years, and concluded 50 years as the Executive Director of the Academy for Leadership Excellence. Rev. Gattis is a Certified Professional Co-active Coach and an associate of the International Coach Federation. In 2017 he was endorsed as a Life/Leadership Coach by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC. Bill and his wife, Irene, have been seasonal residents of Lake Junaluska since 1994.
As Director of Youth Ministry at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, Genevieve Brooks provides vision, oversight, and leadership for youth ministry programs, including Sunday evening programming, retreats, domestic mission trips, and small group ministries. After serving as Director of Middle School Ministry at White Memorial for three years, Genevieve accepted the call to become Director of Youth Ministry. Prior to joining the White Memorial staff, Genevieve had considerable youth experience, including launching a Young Life program in Craven County, working as the Summer Camp Coordinator at United Methodist Camp Don Lee and serving as Associate Youth Director at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh.
Genevieve was baptized, raised and confirmed at Starmount Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. In the fall of 2013, she moved to Raleigh to marry her camp sweetheart, Alex. She loves Jesus, coffee, sailing, games and cat videos.
Rev. Dr. Latricia Edwards Scriven is the Pastor of New Life United Methodist Church in Tallahassee, Florida, and Pastor/Director of the [email protected] Wesley Foundation at Florida A&M University. Pastor Scriven absolutely loves being called to ministry! Latricia is passionate about empowering women, strengthening marriages, and supporting marginalized and vulnerable populations. She has lived into her passion by engaging in social justice advocacy; by serving on the Board of Directors of Wisdom’s Wellspring, a residential community whose mission is “to equip women with wisdom to responsibly transform their lives and community”; and by partnering with her husband to lead Safe Conversations© workshops for couples and small groups. As an educator and leader, Dr. Scriven strives to create spaces that are energetic, interactive, thoughtful and engaging. She is the author of the children’s books, “When Jesus Laughs,” “When Jesus Rests,” and “Laughter Is My Superpower,” and contributing author of Bloom (Vol. 1): “Stories For Women to Nurture Your Growth and Water Your Soul.”
Latricia has an undergraduate degree and Mathematics, as well as Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University in Mathematics Education and Educational Administration, respectively. Dr. Scriven attended Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. She has held faculty positions at Wilberforce University in Ohio, Baton Rouge Community College, Southern University in Louisiana, Brenau University in Georgia, and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Religion at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where she was also an Assistant Professor of Mathematics for several years.
Latricia is married to her phenomenal husband, Dr. Darryl Scriven, and they have three wonderfully talented children, Destini, Faith, and Samuel Scriven. Latricia loves traveling the world, playing Uno and Sorry with her family, sharing life with her students and congregation, and laughing uncontrollably with friends.
Bishop Charlene Payne Kammerer is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church. She was born in Orlando, Florida and grew up in Winter Garden where her home church was First United Methodist. She graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, with a B.A. degree in Religion and philosophy. She continued her preparation for Christian ministry by obtaining the Master of Christian Education and Master of Divinity degrees from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She was ordained deacon and elder in the Florida Conference. She received a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Charlene P. Kammerer was elected to the episcopacy in 1996, and assigned to the Western North Carolina Conference of the Charlotte Area. She served there until 2004, when she was assigned to the Virginia Conference.
Charlene’s service in the church has included equal years in parish ministries and connectional ministries, including service as a campus minister at Duke University and a District Superintendent of the Tallahassee District, Florida Conference. Her long-time interests in ministry include higher education, mission involvement, and the spirituality of administration. She has served as a director of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and as director of the General Board of Global Ministries, including Chairperson of the United Methodist Committee on Relief from 1992-1996. She has received the Outstanding Alumnae Award from both Wesleyan College and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida in 1989. She has led Disciple Bible study groups, retreats and taught in Schools of Mission.
Charlene was married to Leigh Kammerer on August 29, 1970. They have one son, Christopher Hal. Charlene and Leigh have been partners in ministry since being students together at seminary.
The Rev. Billy Michael Honor is a public scholar and community organizer whose progressive and compelling insights have made him a sought-after speaker, social commentator and writer. Currently, he is the founding scholar of Truth on the Loose LLC., a thought leadership company working at the intersection of faith, human rights, intellectual health, politics and civic organizing. Previously, he was the Director of Faith and Civic Organizing for the New Georgia Project. In this position, he organized non-partisan voter mobilization and social justice campaigns that have been widely celebrated and brought thousands of souls to the polls. He also travels extensively speaking in colleges, congregations, conferences and civic gatherings. The Center for American Progress named Billy one of the 15 Faith Leaders to watch in 2020 and the Atlanta Magazine listed him as one of the 500 most powerful people in Atlanta for 2021. He also was the Racial Justice and Religion fellow with Aspen Institute’s Inclusive America Project. His writings and work have been featured and published by numerous media outlets including the Huffington Post, USA Today, The Nation, Mother Jones, NPR and Sojourners.
Abbye West Pates is a worship leader from Memphis, Tennessee. Originally from south Mississippi, she spent her summers at Lake Junaluska with her youth group. She’s excited to be here leading others in worship, with her husband, Jeff. Abbye and Jeff live in community, where they grow their own food, cook lots of meals, and find joy in opening their home for their friends and neighbors. Learn more at abbyewestpates.com.
Known as “the funniest man in youth ministry,” the Rev. Andy Lambert is a native of Pfafftown, NC. He received a B.A. in sociology from Appalachian State University and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. Lambert has proclaimed the Gospel at comedy clubs, churches and colleges, traveling throughout the United States, Mexico, Wales and England. Andy is currently enjoying retirement in Winston-Salem, NC.
Nairobi O. Smith has been a musician all her life. From a very early age, she was harmonizing with the church choir and organ at the church her father pastored. She has spent time performing with The Young Americans, traveling across the World teaching kids about character building and music. Nairobi’s passion for worship ministry grew over her 20 years at Casowasco Camp Conference and Retreat Center planning and leading worship and music programming. When she is not making music professionally, she is doing it for fun in bands and with friends. Nairobi has mastered guitar, drums and vocals and loves collaborating with other musicians. She lives with her wife, Liz, and their dog Charlie in Auburn, NY.
Peacemaker. Clergyman. Entrepreneur. Missional Artist. D’Andre R. Ash serves as a community builder and part-time pastor at two congregations in Western North Carolina.
The Rev. Melissa Cooper is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Prior to serving at St. Luke’s, Melissa served as Program Coordinator for the Life Enrichment Center and Warren Willis Camp. Before receiving her MTS in 2009, Melissa earned a B.A. in English from Middle Tennessee State University. She is originally from Tennessee, but began her full-time ministry in the North Carolina Annual Conference at Camp Don Lee, where she served as the Faith Formation and Retreat Ministries Coordinator. From 2011 to 2017, Melissa built a ground-up program ministry at the Life Enrichment Center, at which she was the first program staff member. Building on her previous experience with intergenerational camps and retreats, she developed LECFamily, the intergenerational program ministry of the LEC. Melissa has spoken at various regional and national gatherings for the UMC, the UCC and the ELCA on the topic of intergenerational ministry and cross-generational communication. Since 2010, she has written youth and children’s curriculum for sparkhouse, an ecumenical publishing house. She also serves as an Associate with Vibrant Faith, an ecumenical organization providing coaching, training and consulting to churches seeking to go deeper with adaptive leadership and intergenerational ministry. In the Florida Conference, Melissa has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, as a Multicultural Resource Facilitator for Cross-Cultural Communication, as a reserve delegate to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, and as co-chair of the Children’s Ministry Table. Melissa is married to Will, and they are the parents to the cutest poodle you’ll ever meet.
Wayne started in full-time music ministry in 1995. For the next 16 years, God allowed Wayne to travel and share His message at roughly 180-200 dates per year, all over the U.S. and abroad. He shares his heart through music and speaking, often with his band, often solo. Wayne has been featured at events like Resurrection with over 12,000 students, Student Life Camps, Youth15 National Event, and many more. Wayne will tell you that some of his favorite events were ones that had 12 kids in attendance. In 2012, Wayne took a 3/4-time position as Worship Pastor of Grace Fellowship UMC in Katy, Tx. For the last three years, he has led there as well as traveled 12 weekends per year, and do 5-6 weeks of summer camps. Wayne and his wife, Kelley, have two little girls and a Husky named Charlie.
Jimmy Atkins has a background in music and leading worship for over two decades. With his love of leading others in song, he strives to show people the Christ that gives him and others the freedom to live a God-centered life.
The Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish (Jim) retired after 43 years of pastoral ministry in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was the founding pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando and served for 22 years as the Senior Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa.
Jim is the author of more than 20 books and Bible studies including “A Disciple’s Path” and “Extraordinary Ministry in Ordinary Time.” His most recent book is “Finding Your Bearings: How Words that Guided Jesus Through Crisis Can Guide Us.” He was a Consulting Editor for “The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible” and a contributor to “The Wesley Study Bible.”
He served on the General Board of Discipleship and the General Commission on General Conference, and as a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences and to World Methodist Conferences in England, Brazil, Kenya and South Africa. He is a facilitator for the Florida Conference Institute of Preaching and a member of the Board of Visitors at Duke Divinity School.
He and his wife, Martha, live in Longwood, Florida. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren in Florida and South Carolina. He blogs at www.jimharnish.org.
The Reverend Dr. Elaine’s vocational journey includes having served as Dean of the Divinity School at Duke University, and the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology. She is a pioneer in new forms of theological education. In that capacity, Heath is co-founder and President of Neighborhood Seminary. The author of 12 books, Heath is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and served in pastoral ministry prior to her academic ministry. She lives with her husband at Spring Forest, an intentional Christian Community and farm in rural North Carolina where she serves as Abbess.
An advocate for older adults, Missy Buchanan is an internationally-recognized author and speaker on issues of aging faithfully, drawing from her personal experience as a caregiver for her own aging parents. She has appeared twice on Good Morning America with co-anchor Robin Roberts who describes Missy as “the rare soul that understands, truly understands, older adults: their fears, struggles and hopes.”
With thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook, Missy provides daily insight and encouragement for the journey of aging. Her first book, Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body, remains a top-seller in addition to nine other titles which are often found on beside tables in senior living communities and in church libraries. Her book Beach Calling: A Devotional Journal for the Middle Years and Beyond was launched in June 2019 and achieved #1 New Release Christian Devotional on Amazon. Missy’s newest book, Dry Bones to Living Hope, released in the fall of 2021 and was endorsed by the Rev. Adam Hamilton of UM Church of the Resurrection.
Missy has been a speaker at hundreds of churches, senior living communities and aging conferences including the National Boomer Ministry Conference, the Festival of Wisdom and Grace, and the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network National Conference. She has delivered messages about caregiving and faithful aging to churches of many denominations, including the largest United Methodist Church in the United States– UM Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS. She has also been a featured speaker aboard cruises for Educational Opportunities Tours.
A resident of Rockwall, Texas, Missy enjoys regular visits to senior living communities in her area to see her older adult friends, being a greeter at her local church and basking in her favorite role of all: grandmother.
The Rev. David McEntire is a native of Atlanta, Ga. and has lived in Europe, the Far East and throughout the United States. David has pastored churches in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church for more than 41 years having graduated from Florida State University and attended seminary at Duke University. He has been a delegate to both South East Jurisdictional and General Conferences. David has served on several Florida Conference Boards and agencies including the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Conference Council on Ministries, the Florida UM Children’s Home (chair), Florida Southern College Board of Trustees, The Florida Conference Board of Trustees (chair), and the Florida Conference Board of Camps and Retreat Ministries (chair). David is married to Nancy. They have three children; Katie, Andy and Molly, and 2 grandchildren, Crosley and Jude. David’s greatest joy is knowing that a person has come to know the love of Christ in a personal way.
Michael and Joy Mays, and their children Jacob, Natalie, Elena, and Caroline. Michael earned his master’s degree in vocal performance from Southwestern Seminary in 2004, and his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1995; Joy graduated from Tennessee Temple University in 1996 with a degree in piano performance. Like their parents, the Mays children have developed into talented singers and songwriters. Kingdom Come’s genre is eclectic in style, employing folk, adult contemporary, praise and worship, traditional hymns, and other styles in their own composed scores and lyrics. They currently reside in Chickamauga, Georgia, with their two younger children, Jonathan and Chloe.
Nathan Prisk, Bass Vocalist, has been a professional singer for over 20 years. He received a full performance scholarship for piano performance at Clayton State University. Nathan teaches voice and piano in the south metro Atlanta area and is the Fine Arts Director at Creekside Christian Academy, McDonough, Georgia. He wants to build singers and performers, worship leaders and worshipers. Nathan toured extensively for 15 years as a professional vocalist with many ensembles, including Poet Voices! He now travels as a soloist, vocal/choral clinician, pianist, vocal coach, piano teacher, and emcee. Nathan’s debut solo album was released on July 27, 2012.
Phil Cross began his songwriting journey in 1980 and is one of the most highly acclaimed songwriters in Gospel Music. His compositions are well known and well loved. Phil tours with Poet Voices and is also available for solo concerts, choir revivals, worship leading, and songwriting seminars. A few of Phil’s most known songs include Champion Of Love (Cathedral Quartet), When I Get Carried Away (Gold City), Saved To The Uttermost (The Speers), Miracle In Me (The Greenes), Yes I Am (The Hoppers), I Am Redeemed (Poet Voices), and Jesus Built A Bridge (Poet Voices).
Jonathan D. Williams has previously served for three and half years as Organist/Accompanist at Ardmore Baptist Church – Winston-Salem, NC where he chaired Arts at Ardmore, a visual and performing arts series, and organized and performed in the biennial Keyboards at Christmas. Jonathan studied organ performance with Faythe Freese at the University of Alabama where he won the AFMC – Sarah Caldwell Lee Organ Competition at Samford University and the Clarence Dickinson Organ Festival Competition at William Carey University. Jonathan also works in the Forsyth County Tax Administration office and is married to Catherine (Cady) née King. They are blessed with a lovely and rambunctious 1.5-year-old son named Archibald James (Archie). FUN FACT: Archie’s namesake, Archibald Theodore King, was a Moravian Minister in the Virgin Islands during the early 20th century.
Christopher Plaas has entertained audiences throughout the United States and Europe. He earned his BM in Vocal Performance at East Tennessee State University and his MM in Vocal Performance at Appalachian State University. Christopher has been featured as a young artist with Indianapolis Opera, Opera on the James, and Teatro Nuovo and has had recent appearances with Knoxville Opera, Salt Marsh Opera, Barn Opera, and Asheville Lyric Opera. He is currently in his 4th year as an adjunct professor of voice at East Tennessee State University.
Matthew Sleeth, MD, a former emergency room physician and chief of the hospital medical staff, resigned from his position to teach, preach, and write about faith and health. Dr. Sleeth has spoken at more than 1,000 churches, campuses, and events, including serving as a monthly guest preacher at the Washington National Cathedral. Recognized by Newsweek as one of the nation’s most influential Christian leaders, Dr. Sleeth is the executive director of Blessed Earth and author of numerous articles and books, including Reforesting Faith and 24/6.
His most recent book, Hope Always: How to be a force for life in a culture of suicide, released in May 2021. Dr. Sleeth lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with Nancy, his wife of 40 years. Their grown children serve with their families in full-time ministry and as medical missionaries in Africa.
Dr. Sleeth will bring our Keynote Addresses and will speak on “10 Ways to Maintain Mental Health.”
Bishop Kenneth Carder was elected to the episcopacy in 1992 by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the U.M. Church. At the time he was the pastor of the Church Street U.M.C. in Knoxville. He was assigned to the Nashville Episcopal Area, effective 1 September 1992. He was assigned to the Mississippi Area in 2000, where he served until retiring in 2004 and joining the faculty of Duke University Divinity School. Currently, Bishop Carder serves as the Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina. He is the author of five books and numerous articles.
Bishop Carder was with us in 2021 and is back in 2022 to be our Preacher for the Festival of Wisdom and Grace.
Rev. Dr. Hyung Jae Lee serves as the Smoky Mountain District Superintendent of the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Most recently, Jae has served as pastor of Calvary UMC in Charlotte since 2013. Previously, he was pastor of Wesley UMC and Thrift UMC, both in Charlotte, and associate pastor at First UMC in Brevard. Born and raised in South Korea, Jae completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Hanyang University in Seoul. Coming to the US in 1997, he earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry at Duke Divinity School.
Jae is married to Kim, a registered pharmacist in North and South Carolinas, and they have three adult children. Jae loves Western North Carolina’s mountains and enjoys walking and hiking.
Amber (RYT – 500) is a Yoga & Mindfulness Mentor whose passion is helping women reconnect with themselves through movement, meditation, and the practice of setting sacred boundaries. She is driven by her own transformation that yoga and mindfulness helped unfold when she stepped onto her mat in 2013 after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease.
When joining her for a Slow Flow or Restorative Yoga class, you’ll be invited to explore the infinite possibilities that good self-care can provide both on and off the mat. Amber is a 500 hour certified yoga instructor who brings her silly sense of humor, creative sequencing, and everyone-is-welcome attitude into her classes for a refreshing experience from head to toe.