Eric Rieger became the Senior Pastor for Middlebrook Pike UMC in June 2007.

A Tennesseean from his very early days, Eric was baptized as an infant at Powell UMC, grew up in north Knox County, worked as a camp counselor for two summers at Wesley Woods, graduated from Powell High School, and attended East Tennessee State University.

Upon graduation from ETSU, he immediately began seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Bannockburn/ Deerfield, Illinois (a far-north suburb of Chicago).

Following seminary, Eric worked as a campus minister and ran a coffee house until he returned to graduate school and earned a degree in counseling psychology. He then worked as a family coordinator in a treatment center, counseled men—court-ordered—for domestic violence, taught psychology at Walter's State Community College as an adjunct professor, and ran a private counseling practice. Eric attributes his coming into the United Methodist Church as a pastor to a close friendship and working relationship with Pastor Bruce Marston at Christ UMC in Halls.

Eric enjoys the outdoors—backpacking, fly fishing, rock climbing (although its been a long time), spelunking, camping, snorkeling, and traveling (wants to do much more of this). He also loves to read, drink good coffee and have good conversation, preach, share the gospel, teach, and serve "hands-on". Eric joyfully states that Christ is the center of his life.

Eric's best friend, wife, and partner-in-ministry is Marion Tant-Rieger, a clinical social worker (which is very handy for keeping Eric sane). Eric and Marion have five adult children: Matt, married to Dara-Lynn with 1st grandchild Sam; Vicky, married to Chris Price; Jeannie, married to Andrew Moore (Vicki and Jeannie are identical twins—both graduates of Emory and Henry College); and Philip and Shannon, both recent graduates of the University of Tennessee.

You can e-mail Eric at erieger@middlebrookpike.com.

Josh Kilbourne is a life-long United Methodist and the son and grandson of pastors. Josh considers Holston Conference home having grown up in Apison (near Chattanooga), Knoxville, and Johnson City. 

Josh studied religion, history, and psychology at Emory & Henry College and then attended seminary at Duke Divinity School. While at Emory & Henry, Josh served Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Glade Spring, Virginia as a supply pastor and worked as a youth and children’s minister at Emory United Methodist Church. Josh was also very active in the campus ministry at Emory & Henry. During his time at Duke, Josh served as an intern at Kenly United Methodist Church in Kenly, North Carolina and then worked as an intern with the Prospect-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Circuit in Yadkin County, North Carolina. In 2006, Josh began serving the Floyd United Methodist Circuit in the Wytheville District. While in Wytheville District, Josh served as the chairperson of the Board of Directors at Camp Dickenson and as the vice-president of the Wytheville District clergy.

On May 20, 2006, Josh married Callie Breeding at Emory Chapel on the Emory & Henry campus where they met. Callie and Josh now have two children, Anastasia (born in 2008) and Isaiah (born in 2010).  Josh loves being active by playing sports (he thinks he’s got game) and enjoying the outdoors by hiking, camping, fishing, etc. Not only does he enjoy playing sports, but Josh is an avid sports fan, especially following Tennessee Volunteer football, Duke Blue Devil basketball (please forgive him!), Atlanta Braves baseball, and the NFL in general. Josh loves to travel and considers his most formative experiences to include mission trips to Costa Rica and Slovakia and a pilgrimage to Uganda and Rwanda with Duke Divinity School.

Callie’s degree from Emory & Henry is in music education, and she taught elementary music for two years. She is currently working full-time caring for the children, Ana and Isaiah.  We hear Josh is quite the handful as well.

You can e-mail Josh at jkilbourne@middlebrookpike.com.

Sonny Melton became our new Director of Traditional Worship and Music in late 2008.

The son of a church musician and a public school teacher, Sonny has pursued both careers. For 31 years he was a music teacher at Carter High School in Knox County, where he taught choral and general music. His handbell program was one of the first in a public school in Tennessee. For several years he was on the music staff at his alma mater, Carson-Newman College, where he directed a choral ensemble, the handbell choir, and worked with student teachers in music. In 2001 he was recognized by the college as a distinguished alumnus. He holds a Masters Degree in Music Education and a Doctorate in Music Education and Choral Conducting from UTK.

]Sonny began his church music career at the age of 19 and has served 12 churches in three denominations. He was the first full-time Director of music at Fountain City United Methodist Church, a position he held for over ten years. Since his retirement from Fountain City, he has served as interim director of music for two churches prior to coming to Middlebrook Pike UMC.

He has been married for 45 years to his wife Carol, has two grown children and one grandson, and two great-nephews to whom he is known as “Uncle Pop.” He enjoys gardening, traveling, and writing and arranging music for choirs and handbells.

You can e-mail Sonny at smelton@middlebrookpike.com

Ann Cover—Kid's just love Ann. And that's huge, but it isn't the only qualification she brings to the job. Ann earned a B.S. in Child Development and Special Education at East Carolina University, and then added a Master's Degree from the University of Tennessee in Child and Family Studies.

Before becoming MPUMC's Director of Children's Programs, Ann directed a day care center and worked as a school counselor. And if that isn't enough, Ann even writes her own curriculums, just to be sure our children are getting the right messages about what Methodists believe.

Ann discovered MPUMC one day after grad school at UT when she just happened to drive by (now that's curb appeal!), and she has been attending here since 1993. Outside of church, Ann's time is split between Husband Robert and Daughter Mackenzie (born in 1992), hand-making beads and jewelry, reading, and planning the next getaway to a beach!

You can e-mail Ann at acover@middlebrookpike.com.

Eric Bronkala has a bit of a split personality in our church. First, he is the Director of Youth Ministries, which means he leads our youth groups, youth missions, and an occasional spiritual retreat and worship experience throughout the southeastern and mid-western United States.

And if dealing with all those teenagers isn't enough, Eric also serves as Worship Leader of the Crossroads Worship Service (our 11:00 a.m. contemporary workship service held in the gymnasium). In this role, he gets to use his beautiful singing voice and formal musical training. A 1995 graduate of the University of Tennessee's Master of Music program, Eric also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Pellissippi State. He has completed two contemporary Christian recordings.

Eric lives in Knoxville with his wife Laura, son Jake (born in 2002), and Luke (born in 2005).

You can e-mail Eric at ebronkala@middlebrookpike.com.

Justin Haynes was appointed to direct our contemporary worship service in June 2007, but has been a leader in this service since 2004 when he began amazing us with his keyboard skills. Justin brings lots of experience to Middlebrook Pike—he has been Musical Director at five other churches (three of which were Baptist, but we'll still count them), taught at five schools ranging from elementary to university level, and has played with a wide variety of musicians and performers including Aretha Franklin.

Justin received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina in 2003, but upgraded his Gamecock education with a Master of Music from The University of Tennessee in 2007. Wise move Justin! His jazz and blues background shows through a bit some Sundays!

You can e-mail Justin at jhaynes@middlebrookpike.com.

Mindy Savage joined Middlebrook Pike UMC as the Director of Connections on March 14, 2011.

Mindy has been a member of Middlebrook Pike UMC since 2000. She grew up in Knoxville and attended Carson Newman College where she was a Community Service Bonner Scholar and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music with a minor in Business Management. Mindy directed choirs at FUMC in Jefferson City, worked two summers as a counselor at Wesley Woods Camp, and she served as the summer youth director. She has also volunteered at a local home for mentally handicapped children, worked in Bulgaria with Peace Corps, worked with AmeriCorps Teams, participated in in-home small groups, worked for many years in retail sales meeting the public face-to-face on a daily basis, organized community events, recruited and supervised volunteers, and volunteered in a nursing home.

Mindy has been married to Ben Savage for almost 13 years. Mindy likes to sing, read, and be out in nature.

You can e-mail Mindy at MSavage@middlebrookpike.com.

Mike Moses joined Middlebrook Pike UMC as the Church Administrator on December 11, 2006.

Mike took early retirement in February after 28 years working in the plants at Oak Ridge. He is a graduate of Auburn University and attended graduate school at both the University of Tennessee and Georgia State. He is a member and leader at Central United Methodist Church in Lenoir City. He and his wife Daphnea have two grown children. When asked why he was applying for this job, Moses said, "For many years I have wanted to serve the Church in this way."

You can e-mail Mike at MMoses@middlebrookpike.com.

Charlotte Giles joined joined Middlebrook Pike UMC as our bookkeeper in January 2007. She has over 20 years experience in bookkeeping and accounting including working freelance from home for several years. Her clients included several service companies, a car dealership, and general contractors.

Charlotte has been married to husband David (employed with UPS) for over 25 years and has two daughters—Taylor and Bailey. She is a member of the Church of Christ. Charlotte has served on the PTSO Board at Adrian Burnett Elementary School as well as being the PTA Board Treasurer at Halls Middle School and PTSO Treasurer for Halls High School.

Charlotte has lived in Knoxville all her life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, swimming, bicycling, and walking.

You can e-mail Charlotte at cgiles@middlebrookpike.com.

Debbie Uglow came to Middlebrook Pike UMC in the early '80s after spotting it just down the street from where she lived with husband Ron.

Ron and Debbie have a son, Andy (born in 1977), and a daughter Ashley (born in 1980). Debbie's creative outlet takes the form of cooking, quilting, decorating, and crafting (is that a real word?).

You can e-mail Debbie at duglow@middlebrookpike.com.