Executive Director
Rev. Roberta Egli
Roberta J. Egli is the Executive Director of Messy Church USA. As Lead Pastor of Trinity United Methodist, she led a team to start a Messy Church after learning about it through videos while googling for all-age ministry. They began their Messy Church in the fall of 2013 and met their mission to build community for neighborhood households who were not involved in a faith community.
In May 2016, she traveled to the UK to attend the first international Messy Church conference. She met three other people from the USA at that conference. Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church, invited the four USA attendees to pray and consider ways to connect churches in the USA who had begun a Messy Church. After a year of discernment with the initial group from the conference and a few others, Roberta left her position at Trinity UMC and assumed primary leadership for establishing Messy Church USA as a nonprofit organization in the fall of 2017.
Prior to receiving her Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion which led to her ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church, Roberta worked as a Registered Nurse in a variety of Clinical settings for 20 years.
She lives in Eugene, OR with her husband, and one of her two sons and their dog Jack. She enjoys walking along the Willamette River pathways close to her home, reading, traveling, visiting her oldest son in Portland, OR and hanging out with friends.
Associate Director
Dr. Johannah Myers
Johannah Myers is the Associate Director of Messy Church USA. She also serves as the Director of Disciple Formation at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Greenville, SC, where she’s been since 2009. In 2013, she led Aldersgate in starting a Messy Church and the rest is a very Messy history. Messy Church made such a difference at Aldersgate that Johannah couldn’t help but tell everyone about how awesome Messy Church is! When Messy Church USA formed, Johannah came on board as the regional coordinator for North and South Carolina, leading trainings in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
When she’s not leading Bible studies or talking about Messy Church, Johannah can most likely be found watching Duke basketball, planning her next trip, or hanging out with her Great Pyrenees Winifred.
Johannah has a B.A. in Psychology from Furman University and a M.Div from Duke Divinity School. In May 2019, Johannah received her Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary after studying with an international cohort at Wesley House, Cambridge UK. Her doctoral project was called “Practicing Faith Together: Messy Church and Disciple Formation” and focused on inter-generational discipleship.
Social Media Consultant
Robin Cannon
Robin Cannon is the Social Media Coordinator Messy Church USA. While working on staff at a United Methodist church in Virginia, Robin led a team that started a Messy Church.
What drew Robin to Messy Church is that she is passionate about finding creative ways for all ages to dig into the Bible and finding ways to add interactive elements to our worship. When Robin finally attended a Messy Church event in 2015 after having spent years reading about all the exciting, creative things being done in the UK, she was hooked! Robin believes that Messy Church is an amazing way to not only reach those who are uncomfortable with attending other types of worship services, but it is also a great discipleship tool and community builder for those already a part of your faith community.
Robin has led children and family ministries at United Methodist churches in Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio. She has also spent 15 years working in the technology industry. Robin and her husband, Mark, are currently serving as cottage parents to foster children at Crossnore School & Children’s Home in Western NC. Robin is also the founder of Family Ministry Tools which creates resources to help churches equip families to have faith conversations at home.
When Robin isn’t at work, she and her husband live in Cary, NC with their dog, Sadie. She enjoys spending time with her two young adult daughters, kayaking, reading, cooking and playing tennis.
Membership Registrar
Leyla Wagner
Leyla Wagner brings her vast experience, skills and passion for Messy Church to her role as Membership Registrar of Messy Church USA. She is a founding Board member of Messy Church USA and is a part of both the Messy Church USA Writing and Training teams. Leyla has been a part of the National Messy Church USA Conference Planning Team and the 2022 International Messy Church Conference Planning Team.
Leyla is a Pre-K teacher and Assistant Director of Community United Methodist Church (CUMC) Preschool in Huntington Beach, California. She has been co-leading a Messy Church at CUMC since 2013. She is as excited about Messy Church today as she was almost 10 years ago when she first learned of this ministry and feels her experience in leading and worshiping alongside those attending Messy Church has been life-changing. When Leyla finds spare time, she enjoys being with her family, reading, practicing yoga and traveling.