Our Staff

Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.

- Chris Hadfield

Rev. Crystal Fallesen

Rev. Crystal Fallesen has been in ministry for 20 years. She began her ministry work as a Christian Educator and then became a Local Licensed Pastor. This June, Crystal will be commissioned as a Provisional Elder. Pastor Crystal is passionate about walking alongside people in their faith journey and helping them to grow closer to God and one another. Like John Welsey, Crystal believes that our faith is meant to be lived out and should impact who we are and how we interact with others. She is known for being enthusiastic and approachable. Crystal has a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology and a Masters of Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. She also received her BA in sociology from Maryville College with a certificate in nonprofit management. Crystal has been married to Tim for 18 years. Tim works for TVA. They have four children together, Eli (13), Khloe (13), Arabella (12), and Nakaia (9). Fun fact: Eli and Khloe are not twins, all of their daughters are adopted. They also have a dog named Maggie, who is everyone’s favorite family member.

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Jackie Flores
Youth Director

Jackie grew up in the UMC, as the oldest daughter of a Methodist pastor. She attended the University of Alabama, where she volunteered with her church's youth group, and spent summers working at various camps. After UA, she attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary while working at a large United Methodist church in Texas, earning a Master's in Youth Ministry. After returning to the Southeast, she and her husband settled in Chattanooga, where he currently leads worship at Hixson UMC, and they are foster parents. Jackie currently works at Tyner Community Center, leading programming for all ages, and is excited to get back to church ministry as well.

Fun facts: My favorite tv shows are The West Wing and Ted Lasso. I have a spreadsheet of 200 iconic tv shows I want to eventually watch.

My perfect day would...start with coffee and playing cards on the front porch with a friend. It would end with clean sheets and lots of blankets, cuddling my puppy and reading a good book.

If I won the lottery...first of all, I wouldn't tell anyone. But I would buy a house with a sunroom and land, and I'd pay someone to mow the lawn regularly. I'd fund McKamey forever, and I'd work part-time so I could still do the work I love, but would have time to cook dinner every night (if I wanted). And then, I'd book a very nice spa vacation.