Staff

Nancy and Ben at Hanging of the Greens 2012

Our Pastor: Rev. Nancy Martin

Nancy was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. After high school she attended and graduated from the University of Evansville in Indiana.  Nancy majored in Theological Studies in college and went on to get her Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. 

During her summers in Seminary she worked at Appalachia Service Project, and there she met her husband Ben, who now works there full time.

Nancy has been with our church since January 2012.

She is passionate about the Bible, God, Methodism and helping folks find their place in ministry.

She is also the pastor at our sister church, Grange Hall United Methodist Church.

Valley Parish Director of Student Ministries: Josh Russell

Joshua K. Russell currently serves as the Director of Student Ministries of the Valley Parish and as the Kingsport District Youth Coordinator for the United Methodist Church.

He is also the Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at King University where he was previously a Research Assistant for the Philosophy and Religion Department. He is the Content Editor for Graffito: A Journal of Protest and Identity.

In the Spring of 2014 he will begin seminary education and pursue his Master of Divinity. He is also on a fast-track for a Ph.D. in Biblical Archaeology.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, kayaking, and spending time with his family.

Words cannot express the blessing he feels to work with the youth and the Valley Parish.

He is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee, grew up in the Sullivan Gardens community, and now resides in Church Hill.