OUR TEAM

LURONE "Coach" JENNINGS - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PASTOR
Casting the vision...

exdir@thebeth.org

Lurone was born in Lafayette, Alabama, but grew up in the South side inner city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is a 1972 graduate of Howard High School, where he became an outstanding athlete in football, basketball and track. His athletic and academic skills earned him a football scholarship to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the most prestigious Black Colleges in the country. Lurone earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education in 1977. After graduating from Fisk University, he returned to Chattanooga and began his teaching and coaching career with the Chattanooga City School System. During his coaching career Lurone had the pleasure of coaching NFL Star, Reggie White, former Green Bay Packer, All-Pro Defensive End. He also coached Olympic Gold Medallist, Venus Lacy, who starred on the US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team.

In 1983 Lurone became a committed disciple for Jesus and in 1986 he was licensed and ordained as a Baptist Minister. He attended Beraccah Bible Institute and earned a Certificate of Study in 1988. In 1992 he received a Master’s Degree in Education, with a concentration in Administration and Supervision, from Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, TN.

In 1992, Lurone became Principal of his alma mater, Howard School of Academics and Technology, the largest inner city high school in Chattanooga. He later moved to the school system’s Central Office as Director of Drug Education and Athletics, with responsibility for programs in forty-one schools.

After much prayer and 18 years of working with youth in the public schools of Chattanooga, in 1995 Lurone heard the Voice and felt the hand of Jesus calling him into full-time ministry. He was appointed founding pastor of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, now known as Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church. He jointly serves as the Executive Director of the United Methodist Neighborhood Centers, Inc. otherwise known as the Bethlehem Center. He is one of the founders of the Bethlehem Community Development Credit Union, the first of its kind to be chartered in the State of Tennessee. He is also the Associate Publisher for the Chattanooga Courier, an African American owned newspaper.

In 2005 Lurone released his book, "Crisis in Urban America", which reveals his vision for dealing with the many problems plaguing our inner city communities.

Lurone is married to Glinda H. Jennings and they have 3 children, Lurone Jr., Luronda and David, as well as three granddaughters, Ania, Tymber, and Nadia. Lurone also shares his faith and ministry through his revivals, conferences, workshops, and sermons in other churches, schools, and ministries throughout the country.

BILL HOLLAND - BUSINESS MANAGER

bholland@thebeth.org

Bill Holland joined the Bethlehem Center staff in March 2004 as the Director of Economic Development. He has extensive experience in sales, operations management, and has owned his own business. He worked for Walt Disney World in the entertainment department as a Disney character from 1975 to 1981. Bill presently serves as a Major and Battalion Chaplain with the Tennessee State and National Guard.

Bill attended the University of Central Florida and received a Bachelors degree in Marketing in 1982. He then attended the International Seminary in Plymouth Florida and was ordained in 1985 and completed his Masters Degree in Ministry in 2006. Bill and his wife Marlene have two children and a grandson, Camren. The Holland family attends The City Church in Chattanooga and enjoy being an extension of its dynamic ministry to the inner city community.
 

DAVID MEREDITH - LITERACY ACADEMY COORDINATOR

dmeredith@thebeth.org

David Meredith is the Literacy Academy Coordinator.  He graduated from Chattanooga’s Riverside High School and attended Alabama A&M University where he received Bachelor of Science in Art Education.  Afterwards, he continued his studies at the Nazarene College.  Mr. Meredith taught 17 years in the Chattanooga public school system, three years at the Bethlehem Academy for Boys, and worked with the Boys Club of Chattanooga teaching art and recreation.

WILLIE KITCHENS - PERFORMING ARTS DIRECTOR

wkitchens@thebeth.org

His musical presentations are defined as electrifying orchestrations that are sensitive, yet soul stirring, with heart felt creative arrangements that encourage hope and joy through personal life experiences.  His hand clapping, foot patting and meditative style reaches all audiences of all ages and races.

Willie gave his life to Christ at the age of nine.  But he didn’t understand the seriousness of his commitment until after the tragic death of a close childhood friend.  Eventually, at the age of twenty-four, is when he believed he had a true eye-opening experience after being challenged by a friend to examine just where he actually stood with God.  He rededicated his life to Christ and has been growing in God’s wisdom ever since.

Through the years after mastering the lead guitar and the bass guitar his desire to know more about where God was leading him in his music motivated him to teach himself how to play the piano, electric keyboards and also the harmonica.

These are some of the groups and places that he has ministered with and to throughout his musical career.  They include The Five Sons of Calvary, The Ambassadors of Christ, Reverence, The Bethlehem Community Center Mass Choir, and The Harmonizing Superiors.  Colleges, schools, The Bobby Jones Show, Jamaica, youth rallies, retreats, prisons, theaters, government institutions, retirement centers, hospitals, children’s homes, and Christian conventions to name a few.

Some of his personal achievements are co-owning a private business, being a director and minister of music, recording his own and others musical projects, radio broadcast engineering, song writing, composing, arranging, vocal instructing, musician, and producing.

He also volunteers his time and energy to the Widows Harvest Ministry, The Chattanooga Prison Ministries, The McCallie Homes Development Center, and to community and church groups when called upon.

His current activities include co-ownership of the Bethlehem Recording Studios, the executive director of the Bethlehem Center Mass Choir, radio broadcast engineer for the Bethlehem Focus talk show, the Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church minister of music, the Bethlehem Community Center’s performance arts director.

MS. MARY ANN SMITH - TEACHER

MS. CLEO GRANT PACE - TEACHER

Ms. Pace has served for two years at the Bethlehem Literacy Academy as a volunteer teacher. She holds a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters Degree in English both from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Ms. Pace taught for 10 years at Martin County High School in Stuart Florida and 20 years as a middle school teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada. She moved to Chattanooga for retirement and we are very blessed to have her expertise in The Bethlehem Literacy Academy.

MS. SAMANTHA DOWDY - TEACHER

Samantha was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended High School at
Craigmont High. This is Ms. Dowdy's second year working at the Beth
Center as a teacher and Loves it ! Her interests are in Education,
Psychology and School Psychology.

 

MS. CANDIS DAWSON - TEACHER

Ms. Dawson is presently a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with her major in Psychology and minor in Education. She is a Captain on the UTC Elite Dance Team, Vice-President of Krimson Kourts, Inc. After graduation Ms. Dawson plans on getting her Masters degree in Psychology. While completing her Masters degree she wants to start working as a school Psychologist. Her favorite words to live by are: "All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me", and "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Ms. Dawson has been at the Beth Center Literacy Academy for two years and says that she really enjoys working with the kids and hopes that she is impacting them in a special way.
 

DEWAYNE BRYANT - BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT

dbryant@thebeth.org

A graduate of Chattanooga High, DeWayne Bryant began working at the Bethlehem Center on August 23, 1996. His desire is to continually serve the Lord and the community. DeWayne has been the husband of Effie Bryant for four years. They are the parents of three children. DeWayne and his family are members of the Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church. Among his hobbies are playing basketball and wrestling.