Rev. Daniel Lyvers (he/him) serves as the Senior Minister at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Chattanooga, TN.

Rev. Daniel previously served for four years as the Associate Minister at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bowling Green, KY and for two and a half years as the Associate Minister at Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fort Collins, Colorado – two congregations he loves deeply.

Daniel graduated with a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University Divinity School where he was a Disciples Divinity Scholar and recipient of the J.D. Owen Prize for Excellence in New Testament Studies. Prior to that, he graduated from Transylvania University with a B.A. in History and a minor in Political Science.

He believes that at the heart of his call to ministry is to simply set the table and hopes to create spaces where folks can be courageous and curious, find connection and belonging, experience God’s affirming love, literally break bread together, and be sent out to share in the work of love, openness, and hospitality.

He loves spending time with his partner Kate and his brindle hound dog, Chloe, playing around on the banjo, reading a book and drinking coffee, listening to live music (especially the Avett Brothers and Tyler Childers), and all things Kentucky – particularly basketball.

Rev. Allison Bright (she/her) spent most of her 20s as a student in higher education where, in one way or another, she studied storytelling and scripture. Most recently, she did so at Brite Divinity School, where she earned her Master of Divinity and was a two-time Walker Ministerial Preaching Scholar.

Rev. Allison has served the wider church in a variety of ways, including as a member of a bilateral dialogue team with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and as a student at the Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland. Alongside her work at First Christian, Allison regularly serves as a keynote speaker, sharing stories of faith, justice, and belonging in diverse settings. No matter who or where she is serving, Allison is passionate about helping people of all ages and identities discover how God’s love can bring healing, justice, and wholeness to their lives and communities.

When she’s not at church, much of Allison’s spiritual practice happens in her vegetable garden, where tending the soil shapes her trust in a God who works below the surface. When the garden is resting, she often practices calligraphy, savoring the patience the craft requires. She shares life with her fiancée, Karen, who you’ll often find reading nearby. No matter the season, Allison can be found joyfully singing musical theater songs in her kitchen. 

Ismael Sandoval (he/him) is a conductor and bridge builder in the greater Chattanooga area and throughout the east coast. He shares his passion for music with underserved communities and anyone that needs it most including hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters and more. Ismael also shares his talents with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (associate conductor), the Chattanooga Youth Symphony (music director), the UTC Orchestra (director), and the Chattanooga Women's Chorus (director). 

Ismael has two bachelors degrees in music from the University of Florida and a masters degree in orchestral conducting from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Ismael loves to spend his free time with his amazing wife, Emma, and their beautiful pup, Pablo.

Ivy Smith (she/they) has a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from UTC, and graduated from Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts with a focus in Vocal Music. She feels that the use of music to express faith and share God’s love in a way that words cannot always fully convey is what she has been called to do, and that, growing up in Chattanooga, she has a deep connection to the area and its community. Ivy enjoys crocheting and all kinds of crafts, along with hiking and nature watching.

Victoria’s (she/her) background includes Customer Service/Sales and Office Management.

Victoria’s role at the church has her wearing many hats, and her involvement in Chattanooga does, too. In addition to her role on staff, she spends her free time as a community organizer, building bridges in underserved, marginalized communities in the tri-state area within 50 miles of Chattanooga.

Victoria’s hobbies include traveling, music, and creative writing.

I met my husband, Bob, in 1998 and we have a beautiful boy who was born in 2022. We always have dogs to complete our family. Animal welfare is a huge passion for me. I serve two animal rescues as a board member, volunteer and bookkeeper. My other interests are hiking, kayaking and spending time with my family. I have always been interested in organizations that serve the community which is the main reason I am proud to be a part of the First Christian Church staff.

Morgan Ellis attended Jacksonville State University, there she earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Family and Consumer Science with a concentration in Child Development.
She has volunteered many hours studying with the United Cerebral Palsy Center of East Alabama. She also worked as the center manager of Brain Balance Fort Worth, and has been a preschool teacher since 2017. Since teaching, she has adapted her teaching to the Reggio Emila and Montesorri ways. Morgan is excited to become a part of the FCC family.