Leadership

Bruce was born in 1959 as the third child in a pastor’s home. He became a Christian at the age of 12 in an evangelistic crusade held at my home church in Florida. Since he was heavily involved in the church as a teen-- working in a bus ministry as a route captain and teaching a group of fifth grade boys in a Sunday School--it was no secret that he would continue that love into his adult years. Bruce graduated from high school in 1977 and went to Bible college where he fully surrendered to full time ministry. Several years later on January 31, 1982, he was ordained to the gospel ministry. He received his Bachelors in Bible from Trinity College of the Bible, his MDiv from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his PhD from Trinity Theological Seminary. Before he became a pastor he served churches for over 13 years as both a music and a youth director. In 1994 he accepted a call to pastor a church in New Market, Tennessee and then in 1999 he came to Mount Harmony. Bruce is privileged to be married to his beautiful wife, Tracy, and together they have a wonderful daughter, two outstanding sons, a great son-in-law and exceptional daughter-in-law and three (soon to be four) precious grandchildren.

Something most people don't know about me: For about a year of my life I was a home delivery milk man. That's right. I used to go from house to house and deliver milk for Pet Dairy.

Favorite Food: Fried Chicken with all the fixin's, duh! Hey, go ahead and fry anything and it will probably be my favorite.

Favorite Movie/Music: I am going to have to go with genres here. I love action movies--the Bourne movies; westerns in general, even Rocky 1-100. I really love all kinds of Christian music but I also have a great affinity for the "70"s folk-music-stuff and when it comes to classical, I am a big fan of Mozart.

If I could be any animal for a day I'd be: An eagle because I would love to be able to soar the heavens and gaze back into God's creation at all the wonder and beauty it beholds.

Chris is a native of East Tennessee, born in 1973, in Louisville. He got a technical degree from Pellissippi State Technical Community College and worked as a design engineer in his early adult life. Chris was saved as a young adult and began serving in his local church. It was there he met his wife, Jennifer, and they were married in 1998. Their passion for serving the Lord grew and they surrendered their life to full-time ministry. Chris has a Bachelors degree in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Baptist Bible College, in Springfield, Mo. He and his wife have three children; David, Garrett, and Baylie.

Something most people don’t know about me: I love building model ships. It is a hobby I want to get back into.

Favorite Movie/Music: My favorite movie is The Hunt For Red October. Anything with Sean Connery has to be pretty cool, right? Casting Crowns is my favorite group, but I like all kinds of Contemporary Christian Music. I also like classic rock!

If I could be any animal for a day, I’d be: A Lion. Top of the food chain. Hey, if it’s only a day, I want to make sure I don’t get eaten. But I will have to watch out for Dentists!

Steven was born and raised in the mountains of central Pennsylvania in 1988. He came to Knoxville to attend Johnson University in 2006, and has slowly adapted from his Yankee ways to the "bless your heart" attitude of the South. He met his wife Ashley while at Johnson, and they married in 2009. They now have two children: Cali (13) and Gibson (10). Steven graduated from Johnson in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Youth Ministry, Preaching, and Bible, and from Southern Seminary in 2017 with a Master's Degree in Christian Ministry. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in the Theology of Worship program at Southern Seminary.

Something most people don't know about me: I was named after one of the greatest guitarists of all time - Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Favorite Food: Strombolis and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Favorite Movie/Music: It's a tie for the movie: Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back and Star Trek: First Contact. For music, I like just about everything, but I always end up back at Prog Rock (Dream Theater, Thank You Scientist, Their Dogs Were Astronauts, and a ton more).

If I could be any animal for a day, I'd be: Probably a horse. Partially to run fast, since I've never been a fast runner. But mainly to kick stuff.

Born in 1970 in Jackson, Mississippi, Bruce moved to the Memphis area when he was only 2 years old, so he’s always called Tennessee home. Bruce graduated from high school in 1988, and he came to know the Lord on March 28, 1990 while watching Adrian Rogers on television. Bruce had grown up as a Deacon’s kid in a Southern Baptist Church, and ironically, his salvation experience happened when he skipped church that Wednesday evening!  True story!  Bruce had prayed a prayer when he was younger but at the age of 19, truly repented of his sin and called on the Lord for salvation! Although Bruce had felt a call to ministry even back then, he did not pursue that calling until much later in life. Bruce worked in the insurance and banking industries until fully surrendering to ministry in 2009. At that time, he also began pursuing his educational goals, graduating with Bachelor’s Degrees in Religion and Finance from Liberty University in 2012. He continued at Liberty, where he also received a Master’s of Divinity in Pastoral Leadership in 2015 and a Master’s of Theology in 2018. He has been on staff as the bookkeeper at MHBC since 2012; but God called him to work with our Senior Adult ministry in a pastoral capacity in 2021. Bruce was elected as our Associate Pastor to Senior Adults on February 6, 2022 and began serving in that role with his wife Stephanie.  The Hills renamed the ministry HAMS (Harmony Adult Ministry to Seniors), and they love serving in this new role together!  Bruce and Stephanie have been married for 30 years and have one son, Thomas; two adorable dogs, Mia and Mollie; and one crazy kitty, the Flakycat.
 
Something most people don’t know about me: I was almost a scratch golfer when I was in my early twenties. I had a handicap of 3 as there was a golf course right outside of Memphis that would allow Memphis State students to play for $1. Back then, I played up to 5 days a week. I also coached 16-18 year old boys in church league basketball during that time. It was serious business, and my team even won the county championship in 1992!

Favorite food: Cheese is definitely my favorite food (I would’ve made a great mouse!), but my favorite meal is a Low Country boil with crab legs and shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn.

Favorite Movie/TV Show/ Music: Dances with Wolves is my favorite movie and I like most westerns.  Seinfeld is my favorite TV show, but I’m also becoming nostalgic about some of the shows from my childhood in the 70s.  I enjoy all kinds of Christian music, from Southern gospel to contemporary….but I also still love the 80s music I learned to drive to!  
 
If I could be any animal for a day it would be: I would choose to be a Great White shark or a large sea mammal. It would be great to explore the oceans and see the last unexplored places on earth. 

CJ was born in the Republic of Panama where his parents were stationed in 1991. After graduating high school in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, CJ attended Carson Newman University for a degree in Middle School Education. Then in July of 2014 he joined the United States Army as a Chaplain Assistant, and was stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia at the Regimental Memorial Chapel. During that time, CJ found a passion for teaching Gods word to middle school and high school students. After four years, CJ moved back to East Tennessee in July of 2018 where he is now teaching Science at Jefferson Middle School. CJ joined the staff at Mount Harmony in February of 2019. CJ joined his wife Britney, and her son Beau’s family, in April of 2014 and have added two children of their own, Kaia and Kian, since 2014.

Something you don’t know about me: I always thought it would be cool to own a portable BBQ business. I also think it would be cool to Coach one day.

Favorite TV/Movie/Music: For TV show I really liked watching Friday Night Lights when I was in high school. On the movie side I like to watch the super hero movies. I have been listening to a lot of Lecrae and Christian Hip-Hop.

Favorite Food: I like to eat anything but I really enjoy grilling and smoking BBQ pork.

If I could be any animal, I’d be: A police/military trained service dog. They show loyalty, discipline and love.

Kris Wysong was born in 1986 in Illinois. After a number of moves during his childhood for his father’s job working on locomotives, Kris and his family ended up in Chattanooga, TN in 1999. In 2004, Kris moved to Knoxville, TN to enroll at the University of Tennessee to become a Graphic Designer. After graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design, Kris married the love of his life Katelyn in 2011. Kris was saved in marriage counseling of all places on July 6th, 2011, 10 days before he and Katelyn were married. Soon after their marriage, Kris and Katelyn became official members of Mount Harmony Baptist Church and have served the church in a number of ways, such as in the choir, nursery, AV team, long term planning committee, personnel committee, and with the Middle School. Kris and Katelyn have two daughters, Clara and Emma, who also love attending MHBC.
 
Something you don’t know about me: As mentioned above, I was born in Illinois, which technically makes me a Northerner, but shhhhh don’t tell anybody!

Favorite TV/Movie/Music: Stranger Things, Master Chef, Jurassic Park, Interstellar, Pogo, Zach Williams, K Love, and way too much more to list.

Favorite Food: Pizza, Pizza, and Pizza.

If I could be any animal, I’d be: Considering how my kids don’t let me sleep in anymore, I’d love to be a bear as they get to hibernate.