Pastor
Rev. John Hill
Rev. John Hill was born and raised in Ashland, Kentucky. He grew up a United Methodist and as a youth was highly involved in the local church, district, and conference youth ministries. While working at Aldersgate Camp in Kentucky during summers in college, he felt God’s call to vocational ministry. He earned his B.A. in Religion with minors in Philosophy and Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond in Virginia. He then attended Emory University and earned his M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology. Prior to coming to Blakemore, John has served as a youth minister at Northside UMC in Atlanta, associate pastor at Christ UMC in Louisville, pastor at Bethpage UMC in Sumner County, and associate pastor at Christ UMC in Franklin. He has been the pastor of Blakemore UMC since 2015. He has two children, Becca (11) and James (7), is a true blue Kentucky basketball fan, loves strategy board games and science fiction, and enjoys traveling and trying new things.
Music Director
Matthew Pyles
Matthew graduated summa cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University where he received his vocal/general music education degree with honors and was recognized with an Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music Education award. While at MTSU he was the chapter president of ACDA and sang in their top choirs. He currently directs the middle school choirs, conducts the school musical and provides private lessons at Harpeth Hall in Nashville. He is also a freelance musician in the greater Nashville area.
Youth Minister
Steffie Misner Wampler
Steffie has been a member of Blakemore for several years and already knows our congregation and young people well. She brings work experience with young people from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and lots of volunteer experience here at Blakemore. She is full of creativity, passion, and ideas for the future of our ministry with young people. Steffie is originally from California. She earned her undergraduate degree from Belmont University and is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School.
Ministry Coordinator
Jessica Moore-Lucas
Jessica Moore-Lucas was born and raised in the metro Detroit area, and she moved to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt, where she majored in double bass performance. She has a Master of Arts degree in historical musicology from MTSU. She has 2 children who keep her busy when she’s not volunteering in the greater Nashville community. Her passion in this world is creating inclusive, clear, and fair institutions and communities.
Nursery Staff
Natasha Simmons-Crutcher
Natasha Simmons-Crutcher joined our Nursery Staff on March 1, 2020. She was born and raised in Nashville and has been in childcare for 17 years. During those years she has received a CDA in early childhood education to work with infants and toddlers among other child care accolades and training. She is also employed at Blakemore Children’s Center. She is married, and they have two teenage children, Latroy and Latroya. She graduated from Hillwood High School in the class of 2003. She enjoys music, reading, walks, swimming, and watching TV. She loves early childhood care because she like to see the development of children and to know that she had a hand in that development to get them ready for grade school.
Music Intern
Hannah Howell
Hannah is from Dallas, TX but is now a freshman at Belmont University majoring in Commercial Music for Voice. She attended a performing arts high school where she discovered her passion for music and hopes to combine this love for music and her faith to pursue a career as a worship leader one day. She is so excited to be a part of the Blakemore family!