Program Staff

MEET OUR PROGRAM STAFF

You can email any staff member by clicking on their respective photograph. If you need a support staff email address, click here to access it via a PDF file.

Leanna Baldwin, Director of Children's Music

Significant others: Husband, Steve; Son, Josh; Daughter, Rachael and husband Ismail, they reside in Turkey; 1 dog/Boxer, Lucy; 1 cat/Gray Tabby , B.P.

How I relax and have fun: Walk, Exercise, Read, Spend time with family and friends

Favorite music: the “classics” especially, Bach, Mozart, Verdi and Poulenc; Celtic, especially Clan and Drummagh; West African traditional

Favorite food and/or restaurant: Steak, shrimp (surf and turf); Jestine’s in Charleston, SC

Ideal vacation: a week at the beach, especially Charleston, SC and a week in the mountains at Pipestem State Park, West VA

Biblical character I most identify with: David---He danced, he sang and he played his praises to God.

What I like best about Munsey: The CHILDREN and being given the opportunity to sing, play and dance with them.

The usual stuff: Native of East Tennessee (born/Kingsport, live/Johnson City); BSME from ETSU; Elementary Education endorsement from Milligan; Orff-Schulwerk Certification Levels I, II and III from Western Carolina University; World Music Drumming Certification Levels I, II, Music of Ghana and Drumming in the Spirit from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; in addition to duties at Munsey, I teach elementary music (25 years), currently at Lake Ridge School; play clarinet with the Johnson City Community Concert Band.

Dianna Cantler, Director of Connections Ministries
Significant others:  married to Bob, mother to daughter, Palmer, a sophmore at Wofford College and son, Quentin, a 11th grader at Science Hill.
How I relax and have fun: I am a confirmed shop-a-holic! And there’s nothing better than hearing the phrase “It’s football time in Tennessee!”
Favorite music: Our radio dial has to be the most diverse – pop, broadway, contemporary Christian, 70’s and 80’s with an occasional country thrown in.
Favorite food or restaurant:  I like the locals – Brumley’s, Red Pig and Café Lola
Ideal vacation:   Sitting on the beach with a good book
Biblical character I most identify with: I am a Martha through and through!!
What I like best about Munsey: The fact that we have this wonderful history, but aren’t afraid to do something new to reach out to the community.
The Usual Stuff: I graduated from ETSU and have lived in several major Southern cities before we came back “home” to Johnson City. I love that I am able to use the gift's God has given me by directing the welcoming and inviting ministries at Munsey since 2004. I consider it a personal challenge to learn the name and something about each person who visits with us - I'm looking forward to meeting YOU!

Lindy Kinser, Parish Nurse

Significant Others : My best friend and husband, Mark. My son Stephen lives in Knoxville, and my daughter Ashley lives in Greenville SC. Barkley our Lab, and 2 grand-dogs, Chubbie and Lilly Kate.

Favorite Music: I like most all music, Christian to Country

Favorite Food: Chocolate, of course!

Ideal Vacation: Most any where with family and friends.

Biblical Character: I most identify with Martha as a worrier, but continue to strive to be like Mary.

What I like most about Munsey: The people.. you can always find a place to belong, serve and grow together in Christ.

Usual Stuff: I grew up in Louisville, KY, Graduated from University of Louisville with an AD in Nursing. Moved with Mark to Knoxville then on the JC. We raised our children and have attended Munsey for 17 years now.

Rebecca MacPherson, Administrative Support

Significant others: Husband, Dwight L. MacPherson (writer), Step sons: Clayton Dwight, Duncan Bruce and Logan Scot.

How I relax and have fun: Reading, traveling, sitting out on our back porch watching the mountains.

Favorite music: Eclectic taste: Praise & Worship, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Big Band.

Favorite food or restaurant: The Bistro 105, Freibergs, Chili’s. I am learning to love (as well as cook) Southern food!

Ideal vacation: Going back to Paris – or anywhere in France. Ireland where I lived for a year. Traveling on the Orient Express.

Biblical character I most identify with: Paul, because I was a sinner saved by Grace.

What I like best about Munsey: The staff have a heart for God, so it is a blessing to work with them.

The Usual Stuff: Born in New York, raised in California and New Hampshire. I worked in the entertainment industry (Fox Studios) for seven years before meeting my husband (through a book he wrote titled Dead Men Tell No Tales). I left the craziness of Los Angeles for the calmness of Tennessee.

Doug Miller, Director of Facilities and Media

Significant others: Wife Beth, 2 growing boys, Chris and Mike, and Wall-E and Melodie, our family pets.
How I relax and have fun: Discovery and History Channel programming, fly fishing, wood working, and Boy Scout leadership.
Favorite music: Bluegrass, country, and classical (don’t say it).
Favorite food or restaurant: Most of them.
Ideal vacation: Go somewhere where I can do nothing, by my definition.
Biblical character I most identify with: Job, he perseveres.
What I like best about Munsey: The people. I work with and serve - the best people in Northeast Tennessee.

Amanda Onks, Youth Coordinator

Significant Others: My wonderful husband, Jason, is the Director of Buffalo Mountain Camp. We’re learning lots of fun things about parenthood, & our son, Cooper, is the joy of our lives. We also have two dogs named Jack & Callie.
How I relax and have fun: read, spend time with family & friends, family walks, watch a T.V. show now & then
Favorite music: country
Favorite food or restaurant: I love just about all food! I particularly enjoy seafood, Chinese & Japanese, potatoes, and just about anything sweet.
Ideal vacation: somewhere tropical with lots of time to do nothing
Biblical character I most identify with: I would say I’m inspired by Paul, more than that I identify with him. I find his complete turn-around & passion for God amazing and am also inspired by his dedication to teaching others how to truly walk with God.
What I like best about Munsey: Munsey is deeply committed to its youth program and sees students as valuable and inspiring members of our church body.

The Usual Stuff: I grew up in Seymour, TN and went to all three Seymour schools (elementary, middle, & high) before graduating & moving on to Emory & Henry College. I graduated from Emory & Henry with a bachelor’s degree in Religion and minor in English. I worked in full-time youth ministry for five years before going back to school to earn my master’s degree in teaching. I’m now back in the youth ministry career and feel extremely blessed and that I’m exactly where God wants me to be.

Eva Price, Director of Nursery and Younger Children's Ministries

Significant Others: My husband Rayne is a high school science teacher at University High. My daughter Annalee is 4 years old, and my son Elliott is 2.

How I relax and have fun: I love to read, do anything outside, and spend time with my family and friends.
Favorite music: I enjoy most music, but my radio dial is most often on country.
Favorite food or restaurant: Italian. I love pasta!
Ideal vacation: At the beach with my family. To make the vacation even better it would include only sunny days, and the beach would not be crowded!

Biblical character I most identify with: Like Martha, I tend to worry and have a hard time staying still. In the end though, I want to listen and follow God's plan.

What I like best about Munsey: I love the people that make Munsey what it is. Everyone is friendly, helpful,and accepting to newcomers. I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful staff and congregation.

The Usual Stuff: I grew up in Corryton, TN, which is a little town right outside of Knoxville. I moved to Johnson City for college, and received an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Development. After graduation from ETSU, I entered graduate school and earned a Master's Degree in School Counseling. I worked in the school system as an elementary school counselor for the 5 years.

Priscilla Estes Sarvadi, Director of Christian Life Center and Activites

Significant Others: I have an absolutely wonderful daughter, Brittany, who is a registered dietitian and lives in Jonesborough.
How I relax and have fun: Being in the great out-of-doors is delightful—mowing, gardening, hiking; FUN is dancing—ballroom, line, Texas 2-steppin’.
Favorite Music: A Welsh artist, NIA—her perky pop gospel and praise-orientated ballads.
Favorite Food or Restaurant: The down-home cookin’ of the Ole Farmhouse Restaurant/Greenville; beef (Sauerbraten), potato dumpling, and red cabbage at Gasthaus Edelweiss in Weber City, Va.
Ideal Vacation: Anywhere I can be outdoors, gardening, hiking or biking!
Biblical Character I most identify with: For sure in name, Priscilla and Priscilla…a “stick to it” attitude. “Called”, and committed to the call.
What I like best about Munsey:
The multiple opportunities to be involved in missions locally and globally. The diversity of programming for all ages of Munsey members as well as the greater community.
The usual stuff: I grew up in the local rural community of Washington College, living in same home till completion of my undergraduate and graduate degrees at ETSU. I was on the faculty of ETSU for twenty-four years, teaching dance (contemporary & ballroom), and multiple other courses in the Department of Physical Education. Continuing to teach, I came on staff at Munsey in 1989.

Beth Witt, Director of Worship Arts in Journey and
Co-Director of Outreach

Significant others: I am married to Rick, who works at Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, We have a son, Robert, and a daughter, Rachel, who is a student at Emory and Henry College majoring in Religion and a wild dog, Snickers.
How I relax and have fun: Reading, taking long walks, playing in my flower garden, watching old movies, and spending time with my family.
Favorite music: I love all kinds of music, particularly Contemporary Christian music
Favorite food or restaurant: Ice Cream
Ideal vacation: Trips with my family
Biblical character I most identify with: Barnabas, the encourager, because I enjoy encouraging others
What I like best about Munsey: The way people at Munsey accept others from all walks of life, just they way they are, and help them find a place in ministry at Munsey.

The Usual Stuff: I was born in Johnson City, grew up in Kingsport and lived my middle school and high school years in New Jersey. I graduated from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina with a degree in Music Education and have worked in church music for over 25 years. I have been on staff at Munsey since 2003.