Our Staff at Calvary UMC

As an ordained clergywoman in the United Methodist Church with a background in music therapy and training as a spiritual director, Rev. Michelle Knight has pastored and interim-pastored multiple congregations during the last twenty-six years and served as an associate district superintendent. 

Since January 2022, she has served as Senior Pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg. Michelle’s leadership and teaching gifts really blossom as she encourages and mentors others’ spiritual formation in small groups, spiritual direction, Bible studies, retreats, and workshop settings.    

Michelle and her husband, Eric, have an amazing teenage daughter, two apricot mini Goldendoodles, and one Schnoodle. When not drinking Earl Grey tea, you can find her riding in her husband’s classic car with ’80s music blaring! She will tell you that she is “…an above-average Duke Blue Devil basketball fan who enjoys dark chocolate and a good book.” 

Rev. John Kamau Nyota is an ordained elder in the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church with more than 30 years of ministry experience serving churches and communities in Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States. John is passionate about helping people experience God’s grace, grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and discover their place in God’s mission.

Since returning to the United States in 2022, he has served congregations in Bloomington and Elkhart, Indiana, where he enjoyed welcoming new people into the life of the church, strengthening discipleship, and partnering with the community to serve neighbors in need.

John and his wife, Faith, have two adult children, Kimathi and Njeri, who live in London. He is grateful to be part of the Calvary family and looks forward to growing together in faith as the church continues to share Christ’s love with the Brownsburg community.

Mark is in his twenty-third year as the Director of Music and Worship at Calvary UMC, where it is his joy to cultivate an active ministry of vocal, handbell, and instrumental choirs. He also plays Calvary’s world-class pipe organ and leads the worship team. Mark holds degrees from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame, and Goshen College.

Mark lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife, Kara. In his free time, Mark enjoys photography, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family.

Melissa has been a teacher in the Brownsburg community for more than 30 years and has especially enjoyed her past 25 years teaching at the early childhood level at CLA. She looks forward to serving the children and families of CLA in a new capacity as director.

Melissa and Steve are lifelong residents of Hendricks County. They have three grown children, a bonus daughter-in-law, and an amazing grandson. In their free time, they love camping and boating in the mountains of Tennessee.

Sara has been a resident of Brownsburg for 13 years. She graduated from Butler University with a bachelor’s degree in education and certifications in special education and high ability. Sara has six  years of public-school teaching experience within Hendricks County and has served as a teacher at Calvary Learning Academy for the last three school years. She is excited to take a leadership role here and bring a new perspective to help continue the success of the learning academy. It is a privilege to work with the amazing families that we serve, as well as the incredible staff of teachers.

Sara and her husband, Jeff, have two sons in elementary school in Brownsburg. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with them, traveling, musical theater, and being outdoors.

Serving as our Financial Administrator, Leisha Barber is a 20-year resident of Brownsburg. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Purdue and a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. She has served Hendricks County for several years as a strong advocate for older adults and has supported numerous initiatives addressing homelessness, including Family Promise, No One Left Behind, and several other community engagement projects.

In her free time, Leisha enjoys hiking and walking with friends, traveling, scrapbooking, and home improvement projects. She is the proud mother of three beautiful and brilliant adult children and Clyde the cat.

Lisa joined the staff in an interim capacity in March 2022 and permanently in August 2022. Previously, she worked as a substitute office assistant, substitute teacher, and volunteer for the Brownsburg School System for several years.

Lisa enjoys reading, doing puzzles, and playing games. She and her husband, Eric, spend their vacation time visiting their family, who all live outside of Indiana.

Cheri has been a member of Calvary UMC for more than 35 years and joined the church staff in January 2026. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana University and worked as a registered nurse for 44 years before retiring. Most recently, she served as a kidney transplant coordinator at IU Health University Hospital. Cheri also volunteers with Family Promise of Hendricks County.

Cheri enjoys all genres of music, attending concerts, playing handbells, and participating in Calvary’s Praise Band. She also enjoys spending time at the lake whenever she gets the chance. Cheri has three wonderful adult children, two bonus children through marriage, and five amazing grandchildren.