ARCOLA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - Key Persons
Ami works with our communications team and makes us look good - creating beautiful designs and graphics that you see in our brochures, website, banners and more. She and her beautiful family joined the church in 2005.
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Anitha Manne has been a member of Arcola Church since 2005. She lives in Stone Ridge with her husband and 2 kids. Anitha has taken on the role of a CCM to support others within the Arcola community as she continues to grow in her own faith and serve God.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Youth Ministry
Audra has been a member of Arcola Church since 2017 and the Chair of Youth Ministry since Fall of 2022. She grew up in the Methodist Church in her hometown of Wilson, NC and has fond memories of her time in youth group and the impact it had on her life. After earning her Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington she worked in sales and marketing prior to staying home with her three daughters. Audra, her husband Brad, and three girls, Anna, Lilah and Michaela, live in Willowsford. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending Bible Study, playing the piano and is always up for a new adventure.
Job Titles:
- Director of Arcola Christian Preschool
We are blessed to have Barbara as the Director of Arcola Christian Preschool. With a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, she has always loved working with children, especially preschoolers. She enjoys that preschoolers like to explore and learn -- and that they have such wonderful, simple faith. In addition to working at Arcola Christian Preschool, she is a mother to two children, lives in Ashburn and has been a part of Arcola Church since 1996. Barbara has been employed by the church since 2004 and helped start the preschool in 2005. She loves to read, garden, hike and spend time with her family. One of her favorite scriptures is: "God's love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky" (Luke 1:78). It reminds her of how, even on a rainy day, the sun always seems to be shining in the faces and actions of the preschoolers at ACP.
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Barbi has been a member of Arcola Church for almost 23 years. In recent years, she has felt a calling to become more involved in God's work. Being a Congregational Care Minister is one way of responding to God's call. Barbi continues to grow in her prayer life and is available to pray with or for those in need. She is honored to serve God in this special way.
Job Titles:
- Youth Music & Faith Ringers Director
Pastor Chris Riedel was born in Dayton, OH, the 4th of six children born to George and Elinore Riedel. He grew up in Northern Virginia and is a proud Robinson Ram. Graduating with an accounting degree from the best college in Virginia (which is in Blacksburg), Pastor Chris worked as a CPA for five years until the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and a call from God led him into ordained ministry. He served Bethel UMC and Centreville UMC while studying at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He has served Arcola UMC since 1995.
Pastor Chris has the great fortune of having been married to Julia Dedmond since August 10, 1985, and they rejoice over their four children: Ben, married to Jacki; Jessalyn, married to Adam; Emily, engaged to Nicolo; and Sam, married to Megan. Four grandchildren - Caroline, Oliver, Gwen and Jack - add to the joy. Julia is a school counselor with Loudoun County Public Schools.
Pastor Chris's favorite Bible passage is the 23rd Psalm, while a favorite hymn is "Let There be Peace on Earth". He cheers for America's Team in football and the current World Series Champion Atlanta Braves in baseball. Breakfast is not complete without Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts and he believes with all right thinking people that Heath Bar Blizzard is the best.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Trustee
Chris executes the church's strategic vision and provides executive level leadership. She directs all the staff, oversees the financials as well as manages all facilities -- including room scheduling and maintenance. Chris graduated from James Madison University and received her Juris Doctor degree from Antonin Scalia Law School. She and her family live in Ashburn and have been members of Arcola Church since 2000. She loves sports, cookies and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Deborah joined the Arcola staff in July 2023 as the Director of Serve. In her role, she strives to ensure Arcola is active in the community, both locally and beyond. She earned her Bachelor's degree at Randolph Macon College and her Masters in Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University.
At Arcola, Deborah led Women's Bible Studies and the Moms with Teens & Tweens group. Since fall of 2018, she's stayed in touch with the needs of the local community in her role as Family Liaison with Loudoun County Public Schools. Deborah, her husband Jim and their two boys, Brent & Hunter live in South Riding. She enjoys traveling, time with her family and reading.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Church Leadership Team
- Trustee
Doug Horstman joined Arcola in the fall of 2017. His wife (Katie) and two daughters (Elizabeth and Abby) live here in Loudoun County and are all part of our Church family . A Virginia native, Robinson HS and Virginia Tech graduate, Doug owns a Travel Company that supports group and meeting events at a diverse array of resort destinations around the world. He is an active participant in the Men's Ministry, multiple bible studies and is a lay leader at Arcola. His path to faith was more of an academic one, inspired by the apologetics of John Lennox, Gary Habermas, and the great fellowship that Pastor Chris brings here at AUMC.
Job Titles:
- Director of Grow & Ministries
As Director of Grow, Julia seeks to develop and deepen Christian faith from childhood through the older adult. Through gathering in community to share our lives and strengthen our relationship with God and each other, we are able to grow in grace and love.
Early in her career, Julia worked as a Christian Educator and Youth Director for many years. She retired this year from LCPS after 21 years as an elementary school counselor. Julia graduated from the University of North Carolina with a Masters in Counseling. She has also done work as a hospice volunteer and as a volunteer chaplain at Fairfax Hospital. She looks forward to bringing her experience to the Director of Grow position.
Julia has been a involved at Arcola United Methodist since 1995 when her husband Chris became the church's pastor. Presently, she enjoys long walks, reading and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
- Member of Arcola UMC
Karen has been a member of Arcola UMC since 2010. She was a nurse, in the pharmaceutical industry for 16 years. Currently, she works as a Holistic Health Coach. Karen has been married to her husband Scott for 27 years and has a son Brian who is 23 and Kyle who is 19. Volunteering and serving others is important to Karen and she has an appreciation for the connection between one's physical, mental, emotional & spiritual well being. By serving as a CCM, she hopes to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications / Department
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Lisa Korhnak and her family joined Arcola church in 2005. For 13 years she directed the communications and care ministries at the church. During her time directing the care ministries at Arcola Church she became a Congregational Care Minister (CCM), Lay Counselor and CCM instructor. She has a heart for those who are hurting or lonely and hopes that her ministry as a CCM will bring joy and show God's love to others. In addition to being a CCM, Lisa is an executive marketing consultant, wife, mother of three, and proud dog owner of Daisy. She enjoys hiking, reading, movies, watching lacrosse and time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Molly directs the care ministries at Arcola Church along with providing counseling and congregational care to members of our church and community. Molly is a graduate from the University of Virginia Nursing School and the University of Maryland graduate program specializing in counseling and psychiatric mental health. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Children 's Music Director & Music Administrative Assistant
Tianna is excited to be appointed to Arcola Church as associate pastor. As a long time Lay Servant worker of the church she looks forward to experiencing the church from a pastoral perspective as she lives into her clergy work. Her primary role will be to continue shepherding Worship & Arts Ministries. Tianna is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary and also holds a certification from Shenandoah University's Church Music Institute. Additionally, she serves as a member of the District Leadership Development Team and will continue serving as Director of Lay Servant Academies for the Virginia Conference. In her empty nester free time, she enjoys playing with her two dogs, spending time with her husband, Chris and checking in on her young adult children, Kayla and Jake.
Job Titles:
- Congregational Care Minister
Rich Theroux lives in Chantilly and has been a member of Arcola UMC for over 20 years. He is a Branch Chief at the Office of Management and Budget in DC. Rich chose to be a CCM because he enjoys helping people through difficult times.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Trustees
- Member of the Church Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Church Leadership Team
- Trustee
Tammy joined the Arcola Church Financial team in 2022 and is thankful for the opportunity to apply her Business Accounting degree from Radford University to AUMC Financial needs. She loves spending time with her Husband and 2 daughters and the dog. In her spare time, Tammy enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Communications
Tina assists the Director of Communications, whether she is writing the Arcola Church Connection e-newsletter or updating the website -- she serves by spreading the word about our church and opportunities to get connected. Tina has been employed by Arcola Church since 2014. Her husband, Steve, and their two children (now grown) have been members of Arcola Church since 2001.