Meet the Board

Emily Lambright, Director, Neigh'tions

  • Emily started volunteering with Neigh’tions as an English teacher in 2017 and quickly fell in love with the people. She stepped into the role of Director in 2021 and has loved seeing God’s hand at work through Neigh’tions.

    “Serving at Neigh’tions has taught me so much about our God, who loves and cares deeply for every one of us. We are all on a journey toward experiencing the fullness of His love and goodness for ourselves, and Neigh’tions has been a community through which I’ve been able to experience glimpses of the Kingdom of God. Neigh’tions has changed my perspective by allowing me to meet people from all over the world and call them my friends.”

John King, Board Member, Neigh'tions

  • John Kenneth King has served on the board since 2020. He previously served in pastoral ministry for 31 years and with Final Command Ministries (a missions organization) for 12 years. He retired in December 2021.

    “Meaningful and spiritual conversations are critical to finding spiritually open people. Serving people well earns the right to be heard when they are open. Neigh’tions serves refugees and immigrants with excellence, so it creates an excellent setting for finding Persons of Peace (Luke 10:1ff).”

Rebecca Bush, Board Member, Neigh'tions

  • Rebecca Bush started volunteering with Neigh’tions in 2018, primarily helping with childcare. Since then, she has had the privilege of getting to know the neighbors that we serve and continues to serve in childcare. In 2022, she began serving on the board.

    Outside of volunteering, she is a Program Manager with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga, TN. She enjoys sunshine, coffee, and hiking.

    “For so much of my childhood, I dreamed of living abroad and serving others. In college, when I learned about the work of Neigh’tions, I realized I didn’t even need to leave my city. Getting to know our neighbors has brought so much joy to my life. It is an honor and a delight to serve this community right here in Chattanooga.”

Troy Stuart, Board Member, Neigh'tions

Bob Taylor, Board Member, Neigh'tions

  • Bob Taylor began volunteering with Neigh’tions in 2020 and became a board member in 2023.
    He retired from his engineering vocation after 30+ years, during which he was involved in analysis, design, research, and project management related to electric power generation and aerospace. Concurrent with that career and afterward, his avocation for about 35 years has been Christian mission activity in several countries. For about 10 years, he helped facilitate dialogue, vision, and collaboration among several organizations working in the same large country.

    “I volunteer with Neigh’tions because it enables me to (1) reach out directly (rather than through others) to people I can help; (2) make friends and appreciate people who are different from me; and (3) reach out to people from around the world without leaving Chattanooga.”

Jerri Fritz, Board Member, Neigh'tions

  • After being inspired by a friend's experience volunteering with Neigh’tions, Jerri Fritz became a volunteer herself in early 2021. She started as an English tutor and eventually transitioned to teaching her own English class. She now serves on the Neigh’tions board and hopes to contribute her expertise to fundraising.

    Jerri is currently in full-time ministry with Cru, working with the Family Life ministry as the Chattanooga Field Director. As a missionary, she has traveled to many countries to share the good news of the gospel and enjoys getting to know people from different cultures. Jerri truly believes that God has given Chattanoogans a unique opportunity to share Christ’s love by bringing the nations to our city.

  • Becky Griggs started volunteering with Neigh’tions as an English teacher in 2016 and joined the Board in 2021. Outside of Neigh’tions, she has worked with a variety of education-based programs: directing an after-school tutoring program, serving as a volunteer coordinator at her local elementary school, and teaching as a Montessori preschool teacher. She is now homeschooling her son.

    “Serving with Neigh’tions has enriched my life in every way. It has grown my faith as I’ve heard miraculous testimonies from our neighbors. It has stretched my prayer life as we’ve seen needs that only God can meet. It has taught me gratitude for each breath I take, growing my awareness of the fragility of life and sovereignty of God. It has taught me about hospitality and generosity as our neighbors have showered my family with love. It has been an honor and privilege to serve with Neigh’tions.”

    Deuteronomy 10:18-19: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

Meet the Staff

Emily Lambright, Director, Neigh'tions

  • Director

    Emily started volunteering with Neigh’tions as an English teacher in 2017 and quickly fell in love with the people. She stepped into the role of Director in 2021 and has loved seeing God’s hand at work through Neigh’tions.

    “Serving at Neigh’tions has taught me so much about our God, who loves and cares deeply for every one of us. We are all on a journey toward experiencing the fullness of His love and goodness for ourselves, and Neigh’tions has been a community through which I’ve been able to experience glimpses of the Kingdom of God. Neigh’tions has changed my perspective by allowing me to meet people from all over the world and call them my friends.”

Becky Griggs, Director of Prayer and Discipleship, Neigh'tions

  • Director of Prayer and Discipleship

    Becky Griggs started volunteering with Neigh’tions as an English teacher in 2016 and joined the Board in 2021. Outside of Neigh’tions, she has worked with a variety of education-based programs: directing an after-school tutoring program, serving as a volunteer coordinator at her local elementary school, and teaching as a Montessori preschool teacher. She is now homeschooling her son.

    “Serving with Neigh’tions has enriched my life in every way. It has grown my faith as I’ve heard miraculous testimonies from our neighbors. It has stretched my prayer life as we’ve seen needs that only God can meet. It has taught me gratitude for each breath I take, growing my awareness of the fragility of life and sovereignty of God. It has taught me about hospitality and generosity as our neighbors have showered my family with love. It has been an honor and privilege to serve with Neigh’tions.”

    Deuteronomy 10:18-19: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

Ellen Smith, Director of English Language Classes, Neigh'tions

  • Director of English Language Classes

    After providentially running into Becky on a paddleboard, Ellen started volunteering with Neigh’tions as an ESOL teacher in 2022. While her expertise lies in English language education, she left public education with 7 years of teaching experience to explore other professional opportunities. She holds a Bachelor's in Spanish from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from Hellenic University. 

    Ellen has always loved cultures and languages. She frequently travels abroad and has lived in both Chile and Greece, along with traveling everywhere in between. She is an enthusiastic educator with a heart for serving the immigrant community and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with English language learners again with Neightions! She is passionate about equipping students with the necessary language skills to thrive in our world and unlock doors for the future. Some of Ellen’s favorite things besides language and cultures include gardening, sunshine, coffee, beach days, chocolate, puzzles, paddleboarding, and being with her cherished friends and family.