Staff Anniversaries - June 2024
It would be impossible to overstate how valuable our staff is in pursuing our mission to serve Knoxville’s urban youth. Whether staff members are directly involved with youth through discipleship, coaching, tutoring, etc. or are a part of the support staff that equips them, each member has God-given talents and passion that make our organization fruitful. It is our desire to celebrate them and, in the process, let you get to know them a little better. So, stop by our blog each month to see the latest anniversaries and get to know the folks who are the hands and feet of our work in knoxville’s city neighborhoods!
Makaley Black - 3 years
Makaley Black
Makaley has spent the majority of her life in the North Knoxville Area where Emerald Youth first began. Her community was heavily impacted and influenced by her grandfather Bob Black and her father Rob Black. She grew up seeing the evident change these two men brought to her community. Their life was founded on the life calling Christ had for them: to serve the youth and give back to the community that raised them. This seed of service and love Christ planted in her grandfather and in her father was the same seed Christ planted in her long before she even realized it. God is using Makaley to plant the same seed of service and love into hearts of young people all over the city. One of her favorite memories while serving at Emerald Youth is annually recognizing the 8th grade Scholar Athletes at Emerald Academy at the near closure of their athletic seasons.
Whalen George
Whalen George -3 years
Whalen working at Emerald Youth was an answer to many years of prayer. Over the years, Whalen worked as a youth and college ministry director. Year after year, each position he had was either a volunteering position or a low paying job. Due to this, his prayer was one day he would be able to work full time in ministry while financially supporting his family. When Emerald hired him three years ago, his prayer was answered. He is so blessed to be living in his purpose as his career. Whalen gets excited when he sees young people begin to become who God has created them to be. He trusts that as he continues to pour into young people and teach them about Jesus, a positive change will come. Whalen reflects that his prayer wasn’t denied by God, just delayed. God made it worth the wait and Whalen thanks God that he brought him to Emerald Youth.
Denise Johnson
Denise Johnson - 2 years
Denise attributes her coming to Emerald Youth as the Lord’s doing. “I think the Lord brought me to Emerald Youth because Emerald is carrying out the work God has equipped me to do: to support families and the community and help them live a full and abundant life.” Denise was amazed that there was a place such as Emerald where she could live out her mission with a multitude of people that were passionate about the same things she had passions for. One of Denise’s most memorable moments was when she took young people to a local retirement home to sing. She recalls the residents were brought to tears and full of joy as the youth sang. As they left the retirement home, Denise says the experience of singing and serving the residents caused the youth to also be full of tears and joy as well.
Lindsay McNeely
Lindsay McNeely - 8 years
While Lindsay was in the field of education, God began to stir in her heart. God began to place a passion in her heart for her community and her neighbors, and she knew then that he was beginning to call her to ministry. Two years later, a door opened for her to transition into Emerald Youth. Immediately, Lindsay knew it was a step in obedience to God’s calling on her life. While being on staff, she has seen God use her experience in the field of education and pair it with God’s mission of going and making disciples. Some of Lindsay’s sweetest moments she remembers comes from camp or midweek worship. She loves the opportunities to gather with a large group of youth and sing praises to God. “It is such a sweet, sweet glimpse of heaven,” Lindsay says.
Rachel Shipman
Rachel Shipman - 3 years
Rachel has been in and around ministry her entire life. Before coming to Emerald Youth, she served the Fountain City community alongside her family for the better half of her childhood into adulthood. She felt the Lord calling her to go, to expand her horizons and view ministry in a different light and in a different community. The Lord used Emerald’s mission statement and Rachel’s love of serving youth to lead her to Emerald. “I think it’s a privilege that I get to love and serve youth in the community the same way that my community loved me. It is the greatest honor,” she says. One of Rachel’s most memorable moments while being at Emerald was when she interviewed the youth about their time during the summer with Emerald. She listened as they spoke about what Emerald meant to them and how much they loved summer and excitingly looked ahead to the fall. Rachel saw the fruitfulness of the work of the ministry.