Eric Rieger became the Senior Pastor for Middlebrook Pike UMC in June 2007. While Eric is new to MPUMC, he is not new to Knoxville. He grew up in North Knox County and graduated from Powell High School. He attended East Tennessee State University; upon graduation, he immediately began seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Bannockburn/Deerfield, Illinois (a far-north suburb of Chicago). After Eric worked as a campus minister and ran a coffee house.

Eric returned to graduate school and earned a degree in counseling psychology and has 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 came into the United Methodist Church through a friendship and a working relationship with Pastor Bruce Marston at Christ UMC in Halls; yet, Eric's roots are Methodist—he was baptized as an infant at Powell UMC and worked as a camp counselor for two summers at Wesley Woods. Eric enjoys the outdoors: loves to backpack, fly fish, rock climb (been a very long time), go spelunking, camp, snorkel, and travel (wants much more of this). He also loves to read, drink good coffee with good conversation, preach, share the gospel, teach, and serve ("hands-on"). Eric joyfully states that Christ is the center of his life.

Eric is married to Marion Tant-Rieger, a clinical social worker (keeps Eric sane). She is Eric's best friend. Eric says Marion is a tremendous partner in ministry. Eric and Marion have five adult children: Matt, a missionary in Sweden, Vicky (married to Chris Price) and Jeannie, identical twins—both graduates from Emory and Henry, Philip, a body-builder and student, and Shannon, a senior at the University of Tennessee.

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

Wil Cantrell—Methodist by birth, preacher’s kid, and relative newlywed at the time—became MPUMC’s Associate Pastor in July 2004.

Wil brings a diverse background to our church having studied religion and history at Emory and Henry College and completed seminary at Duke Divinity School. As part of this education, he served in a pastoral role in both the Detroit suburbs and the mountains of North Carolina, and as a chaplain at Duke University Medical Center.

But Wil’s earlier work as a youth and children’s director at Reynolds Memorial UMC in Bristol may have made one of the biggest impacts on his life. It was at this church that Wil met Rebecca, who became Mrs. Cantrell in August 2003.

Despite Wil’s distraction, Rebecca completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Campbell University and now works as a pharmacist at CVS Corporation. At last, maybe we can get an answer to that age old question of why CVS and Walgreens insist on building on opposite corners from each other!!

You can e-mail Wil at wcantrell@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 McKensie (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.

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 Middlebrook Pike UMC as our bookkeeper in January 2007. She has over 15 years experience in bookkeeping and accounting including working for Delmar Haynes Pontiac and doing freelance work from home for the past eight years. Her clients included several service companies and a general contractor.

Charlotte has been married to husband David (employed with UPS) for 25 years and has two daughters—Taylor (12) and Bailey (10). She has attended the Church of Christ all her life and is currently a member of Norwood Church of Christ, where she and David teach a Sunday school class for 4- and 5-year olds. Charlotte is also serving on the PTSO Board at Adrian Burnett Elementary School as well as being the PTA Board Treasurer at Halls Middle School.

Charlotte has lived in Knoxville all her life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, traveling, 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.