| Meet our Ministry and Program Staff |
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Senior Pastor walterweikel@abingdonumc.org Walter Weikel grew up in the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee. He also spent part of his teenage years in Radford Virginia. He is a graduate of Science Hill High School and Emory and Henry College. Walter was in graduate school at the University of Tennessee when he received the call into ministry. He feels it was one of God’s great practical jokes that he lacked only one semester completing his graduate degree when he sensed the call. Rev. Weikel completed seminary at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Walter is married to the former Lisa Coulthard who also graduated from Emory & Henry. They have three sons: Jackson, Mark and Sam. Some of Walter’s hobbies include bicycling, hiking and tennis. Rev. Weikel has served Abingdon United Methodist Church since 2006. For him, the most satisfying parts of his ministry include preaching, teaching, working with youth and having opportunities to meet with people one on one. Please contact Walter if you have any questions for him or about the church at 276-628-2321. |
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Associate Pastor nicolehill@abingdonumc.org Nicole was born and raised in the Knoxville area of East Tennessee. She is the youngest of five children and has been a part of the United Methodist Church since she was 11 years old. She is a graduate of South-Doyle High School in Knoxville, TN. She graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, TN in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. In 2004 she graduated from Duke Divinity School with a Master of Divinity degree. She has been serving as the Associate Pastor at Abingdon UMC since the summer of 2004. She shares the pastoral responsibilities with the Senior Pastor. Three out of four Sundays, Nicole leads worship and preaches in the 8:45 traditional service. Once a month, she preaches in the Contemporary and 11:00 services. Nicole's biggest joy in serving at AUMC is getting to share in the lives of the people of the church. It is such a blessing to be a part of so many different lives, and it is such a privilege to see people of all ages grow in their faith. Nicole also enjoys planning and leading worship and teaching. In her down time, Nicole enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with friends and family. She currently resides in Abingdon with her dog Bo and cat Sadie. |
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Music Director glennpatterson@abingdonumc.org Glenn Patterson grew up in the itinerant system of the Holston Conference while his father was a pastor. He and his family lived in Sevierville, Hixson Tennessee, Chattanooga, Bristol and Norton in his pre-college years. He attended Emory & Henry and the University of Mississippi. He and his wife Debby live in Bristol. They have two children, Sean and Jamie. Sean attends ETSU and Jamie attends Virginia High School. Glenn and Debby are pleased to have Glenn's father, the elder Glenn Patterson sharing a home with them. In addition to music, Glenn enjoys teaching, whitewater rafting and reading. |
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Program Director suzannerankin@abingdonumc.org Suzanne Rankin was born and raised in Bristol, Virginia. She is the oldest of two children and has grown up in the Methodist Church. She is a graduate of Virginia High School and earned her BA in Communications from East Tennessee State University in 1994. As a child growing up, Suzanne always felt a sense of peace when she came to church. Because of that God has always been a central part of her life, whether it has been singing in the choir as a child, attending youth events as a teenager and later serving as a Youth Director while in college. It was no surprise when a church came calling asking her to consider being part of their staff. Suzanne has been with Abingdon UMC for the last eight years as Program Director. Suzanne is married to Mike Rankin. They have a daughter, Katie and a dog named Cocoa. They are currently residing in Bristol. |
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Director of Children's Ministries Paige Gibson has worked at Abingdon United Methodist Church part-time as the Children's Director for the last four years. Originally from Blountville, Tennessee, Paige graduated from Sullivan Central High School. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary English and a Master's Degree in Reading from Emory and Henry College. She has worked for the last 16 years as an Elementary School Teacher, teaching everything from Preschool to Fifth Grade. She is currently a Fourth Grade Reading Teacher at Greendale Elementary School. She is married to Bill Gibson and has two children, Mattie, 8 and Luke, 2. Her hobbies include scrapbooking, reading and playing with her two children. |
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Contemporary Worship Leader bpgibson96@embarqmail.com Bill Gibson grew up in the Castlewood area of Southwest Virginia. He is a graduate of Castlewood High School and has earned his BS Degree from East Tennessee State University in Sociology. He has been employed with the Virginia Department of Corrections for the last 23 years. Bill became the Music leader for the Contemporary Worship Service at AUMC when the Contemporary Service was formed over one year ago and put together the band that is now playing each week. Bill has a love for music, having played the drums in several rock 'n roll bands and two years at Pleasant View UMC for their Contemporary Worship Service. He has recently taken up playing the Bass Guitar for our worship service. Bill stays busy being a referee for wrestling and a member of the Abingdon Fire Department. He also enjoys skiing, golfing and running. He has been married to Paige for the last 13 years and has two children, Mattie and Luke. |
101 East Main Street ~ Abingdon, VA 24210 ~ Telephone: (276) 628-2321 ~ Message line: (276) 676-1258 ~ Fax: (276) 676-0383
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