Rev. Deontez Wimbley – Senior Pastor
Rev. Deontez Wimbley was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. He became a member of the United Methodist Church his freshman year of college at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Claflin University is one of the 11 historically Black United Methodist institutions of higher education. After graduating from Claflin with a bachelors in Sociology, he started a career in public health. For close to a decade, Rev. Deontez worked to eliminate HIV disparities, increase sexual health literacy, and decrease the prevalence of sexual violence.
It was a rewarding career, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Deontez experienced a call to ministry that led him to his very first appointment as the Pastor of Cross Roads UMC. Rev. Deontez is a student at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio in Delaware, Ohio pursuing his Masters of Divinity and Masters in Theological Studies. He is also on the ordination track to become an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. He is a proud uncle, brother, and dog dad. When he is not reading a book or writing a sermon, he enjoys really long walks and fun outings with friends.
Francine Martyn – Director of Music
Francine Martyn was born in Southern California, where she began taking piano lessons at age 7. She played clarinet in her high school marching band, as well as in the USC Concert Band. At the University of Southern California, where Francine earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1987, she studied piano, organ, and clarinet. She continued her music studies at Claremont Graduate University, and received her M.A. in music in 1991.
Francine has been the organist at several churches covering a wide range of denominations, beginning in 1982 at South Hills Presbyterian Church, then at Walnut United Methodist Church. She has also played at Redeemer Lutheran Church, and as guest organist at Desert Garden United Church of Christ in Sun City. Francine continues to have the amazing opportunity to play as guest organist for the Christmas and Easter programs at Glendale Seventh Day Adventist Church, with former Faith choir director Dennis Marsollier, and former Faith organist Claudia Marsollier.
After her two children came along, Francine felt called to begin a teaching career in general education. After living in California, Australia, and New York, she came to Phoenix with her family in 2002 to begin her teaching career. She has taught 4th grade and 2nd grade, and 1st grade. Now that her children, Derek and Janette, are grown, Francine is pursuing a long deferred passion for medicine, attending school to become a physician’s assistant.