Staff

Dwight Kilbourne

I serve as the lead pastor of this great congregation. My primary roles are casting vision, teaching and overseeing the mission and ministry of the church. I have been serving in this role since 2012.

Patty and I have been married since 1978 and have three adult sons, all of whom are married. Our sons and their wives have blessed us with five wonderful grandchildren, whom we really enjoy spoiling.

I enjoy woodworking (making furniture and turning bowls) and gardening. My favorite fruit from my soil are delicious home-grown tomatoes.

Amanda Dean

Amanda Dean is a pastor, wife, mother, and lover of God and people. She has served in a variety of ministry settings from campus ministry to the local church. She describes her vocation as a call to help people live more fully into who God created them to be. Amanda currently lives in the Hixson area with her husband, Justin. Their infant son, Owen, passed away in 2017 from brain cancer. Amanda and Justin are passionate about honoring their son’s brief and beautiful life and raising awareness about pediatric cancer research. She enjoys connecting with friends, preaching, asking tough questions, and expressing creativity through cooking, crafting, and writing. Justin and Amanda are excited about becoming a part of the OUMC family!

Jonathan Walker

I am so blessed and excited to be part of the team here at OUMC since 2020! I oversee all things related to contemporary worship including the video, sound, lighting, and music teams. In addition, I get to utilize my creativity and manage our creative media, including social media, and technology around campus. I am a self proclaimed “technology nerd” and I’m all for any use of technology that enables us to do ministry for Jesus better and more effectively. I love to problem solve and troubleshoot problems so I’m always on call.

My wife Sarah and I live in Ringgold, GA with our three kids Isabelle, William, and Owen. We are both northern transplants to the south since 2007 and we love living in the south, although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss a good snow every once in a while.

Brett Hyberger

Music creates the atmosphere of worship. This is at the core of Brett’s passion: to craft genuine, heartfelt services that speak Christ and move the hearts of His followers, to fuse the love of music with the love of our Savior. Brett desires that everyone who walks through the doors of OUMC feels, hears, and witnesses the presence of Christ. He is also an accomplished voice over artist, providing character voices to video games, trailers, and documentaries. Brett loves being a father to his 2 sons and spends as time as he can with them.

Nancy Thompson

My name is Nancy Thompson, and I am blessed to be the Director of our Kids Day Out program. I joined OUMC in 2006, and joined the staff of KDO immediately after I retired from 42 years of teaching public school kindergarten in 2015. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Administration and Supervision. One of the greatest joys I experience is watching our young children at KDO learn and grow as “whole” children – socially, emotionally, academically, as well as in their faith walks.

I have 4 grandchildren, who unfortunately live in Maine and Massachusetts so I do not get to spend as much time with them as I wish that I could. I became a wicked cool stepmom (as my daughters labeled me) when I married their dad in 1991, and I became a widow in 2018 after 27 wonderful years together. I enjoy traveling, being outdoors, reading, and gardening. My church is a very important part of my life.

Pam Wells

I am Pam Wells and I serve as the Director of Congregational Care.

My family and I have been worshipping at OUMC since 1995 and I have served on staff since 2007.

As the Director of Congregational care, I get to journey with people through both good and bad times. I coordinate hospital, homebound or extended care facility visits as well as other pastoral care needs. I also serve as a liaison with regard to funeral services, but also love to help out with the occasional church wedding.

I am married to Paul and we have two incredible adult children, Victoria and Nick. In our free time we love to garden and go camping. We also have a really special pup named Allie.

Chrissy Gray

I am Chrissy Gray, Director of Children’s Ministry. I started working at OUMC in March of 2019 as the Director of the Children’s Ministry. I get to work everyday figuring out how to share God’s love with the kids and families in our church and community. I help lead a wonderful team of volunteers and staff who make each Sunday feel like a party while sharing Christ in the midst of the craziness. I live in Cleveland, Tennessee with my husband Trey. We have four children: Cooper, Avery, Benjamin, and Gracie. I enjoy a good podcast, a nice campfire, trying my hand at rudimentary woodworking and crafts, and being in and around water. I am always up for learning more about people and helping connect them to this meaningful ministry so if you are searching for your place I would love to talk and share a cup of coffee (or tea).

Branden Jones

My name is Branden Wayne Jones and I am the Director of Student Ministries which means I have the honor of walking with 6th – 12th grade students through their faith journey. I have been serving here since August of 2020 (tough year). In my family, I have a wife named Anna Jones who is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at LifeSpring Community Health (*hint of proud husband*) and an Australian Shepherd named Teddy (after Ted Tonks from Harry Potter). Anna and I spent half of 2018 hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and the other half traveling to see a little more of America. I love kids, being outside, making people laugh, being a nerd, and any sport I’m invited to play.

Randy Martin

I have served as Director of Reach Ministries since August, 2020. Reach Ministries involves local, national, and international outreach to people who need help. Reach Ministries also includes evangelism to our community which challenges us and prepares us to connect with friends, relatives, and neighbors in a caring and loving way so that they may connect to Jesus and the Church.

I have been a United Methodist Minister for 50 years. My wife Patsy and I live in Harrison and we have three children and six grandchildren.

Sarah Roach

I have had the pleasure of sharing in ministry at OUMC since 1998. Along with taking care of the church finances, I also manage the funds that are given to Share & Care, a benevolent fund that provides assistance to families, which is my greatest passion. My husband, Barry, and I have two children, Kelly and Casey, and 5 grandchildren.

Kelly Goss

My role at OUMC is administrative support for the lead pastor, the staff and the church. A few things I take care of are managing our calendar, updating records and attendance, maintaining office supplies, as well the creation and distribution of the weekly bulletin and church newsletter. I became part of this community in 2021 after a career in the publishing industry.

I grew up in Crossville, Tennessee and married my husband right after graduating from college. My husband and I have two sons and one grandson. I enjoy decorating, designing, looking for unique items at estate sales or resale shops, and spending time with my loved ones.

Dwight Kilbourne

Amanda Dean

Jonathan Walker

Brett Hyberger

Nancy Thompson

Pam Wells

Chrissy Gray

Branden Jones

Randy Martin

Sarah Roach

Kelly Goss

Alma Wilbanks

Robert Baker

423.238.9216

6131 Relocation Way · Ooltewah, TN · 37363

Dwight Kilbourne

Amanda Dean

Jonathan Walker

Brett Hyberger

Nancy Thompson

Pam Wells

Chrissy Gray

Branden Jones

Randy Martin

Sarah Roach

Kelly Goss

Alma Wilbanks

Robert Baker

423.238.9216

6131 Relocation Way · Ooltewah, TN · 37363