Rev. Bill Robey, Interim Minister

Bill was born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1945, and lived there until completing undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia in 1967.  Upon graduation from college, Bill was commissioned and served as a pilot in the United States Air Force, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1988.  During his years on active duty he earned a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

After retiring from the Air Force, Bill began seminary studies at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana.  He was the only Disciples of Christ student in the seminary!  He completed his Master of Divinity Degree there in December of 1990 and was ordained on December 30, 1990, at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mandeville, LA.

During his final two years in seminary Bill served as the interim minister at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hammond, LA, and was called to be their full time minister upon ordination.  He remained there until June of 1992 when he moved to Seattle, WA, where he served as the intentional interim minister for two congregations that were seeking to unite.  The congregations successfully united the following year, becoming the Columbia-Lakewood Community Church.  Bill then received a call to be the minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Sumner, Washington, beginning in September of 1993.  He served as their pastor until retiring from full-time ministry in September of 2005.

Since retiring from full-time ministry Bill has remained active in regional work with the Northwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), serving with his wife, Connie, as co-coordinators of the Region’s congregational transformation process and most recently as co-chairs of the Region’s new Transformation Team.  In addition,  Bill and Connie were coaches for four of the Northwest Region’s congregations participating in the transformation process and most recently have trained three new Regional coaches.

Bill also served as interim minister of First Christian (Disciples of Christ) in Helena, MT, from November, 2006, to November, 2007.  In the fall of 2009, he filled-in for the pastor of Englewood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Yakima, WA, while he was on sabbatical leave.  In 2010 Bill served as the part time interim minister for First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Olympia, WA, for six months.  He completed a full year as the interim minister of Bellevue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in January of 2012.

Bill has been married to Connie for the past fourteen years.  They each have two grown children by former marriages.  They also share (and spoil) nine delightful grandchildren, ranging in age from 3 to 14 years of age, and their two “puppies”, Kiki and Ringo.

Rev. Heather Tolleson, Minister of Community Life

I have been a life long (that is at least as long as I can remember) member of the Disciples of Christ Church. I grew up moving all over the country with my family until we finally settled down for High School in Texas. In my time as a youth leader in the Coastal Plains Area, I served on the Regional Youth Council and on the Regional Youth Council. This would be the environment that would foster my call to ministry in its infant stages.

I attended Texas Christian University where I was able to discover faith in a new way! I served in a variety of positions including President of Uniting campus Ministries and as the Tucker Outstanding Leadership and Service awards recipient. After Receiving a BA in Religion and Psychology, I moved across the street to Brite Divinity School. There I worked as a Teaching Assistant, served in Campus Ministry at TCU and was the President of the student body. In December of 2005 I graduated with a M.Div and was ordained.

After seminary I moved to Shelbyville, Kentucky to serve as the Associate Pastor of First Christian Church. In December of 2007 I began ministry here at Saguaro Christian Church serving as the Minister of Community Life. I am also the Regional Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries for the Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Arizona! Find more information about Regional Youth events at www.arizonadisciples.com. In my time here in Tucson I met my partner, JR. We were married May of 2009, and love celebrating life together here in Tucson.

Rev. Kevin Prahar, Seminarian Resident

This May Kevin joined us as part of the Saguaro Team. Kevin has just begun his Master of Divinity degree of at Lexington Theological Seminary. Kevin is a licensed minister in Arizona. In May the official board of Saguaro had a special meeting to approve Saguaro to be a teaching congregation with Kevin over his time in the degree program. As a teaching congregation we will provide Kevin with opportunities for ministry inside our church and the community through regular worship participation, preaching, ministry focus and a Ministerial Support Committee.

Kevin will be involved for 10 hours a week in ministerial duties here at Saguaro. He will have specific focus in the Stephen Ministers and the Men’s Ministry. We hope that all of you will hold Kevin in prayer over his time in the program.

I was born and grew up in New York, along the south shore of Long Island; not too far from Jones Beach. I spent lots of time in NYC with my dad at his work: CBS television; where he was a senior design engineer. We moved to Tucson in 1969, and I began working in the family business, until it closed in 1995 following my dad’s passing. Thus began a search for a new career.

In my career search, I worked as a police dispatcher for The University of Arizona Police Department and as a dispatcher for The University of Arizona Parking and Transportation services. During this time, I met my wife Carol, who was the ‘girl next door’ (well, upstairs actually-she lived in the apartment above me). Our apartment was right here in the neighborhood on Old Spanish Trail. We married in 1993 and began a blended family with our four kids, and now enjoy our 9 grandchildren.

My call to ministry happened gradually, but in 2000, with Saguaro’s help, I became a licensed minister, working in Men’s Ministry and Pastoral Care. In 2004, I answered a call to pastor Park Avenue Christian Church here in Tucson, serving for six and a half years until Park closed in January of 2011. Carol and I are pleased to once again be back at Saguaro, where we have been members since 1996. I am beginning to get settled into my new duties as Seminarian Resident here at Saguaro.

I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona in 2010, with a degree in Religious Studies, minoring in Judaic Studies. In May of 2011, my studies began online at Lexington Theological Seminary, for a Master’s of Divinity degree. I hope to graduate in 3-4 years and become fully ordained within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Jeff Myrmo, Music Director & Song Leader

Info coming soon.

Keith Koster, Accompanist

Keith has a BSM from Midwestern Baptist College, majoring in piano performance and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Oakland University. Keith has served as Music Director of several churches, including Ferndale Free Methodist, Abiding Presence Lutheran, Utica United Methodist and Saguaro Christian Church. Keith served as Artistic Director of Great Lake’s Men’s Chorus for seven years and Desert Voices in Tucson for seven years. He is a past Board member of GALA Choruses, tirelessly advocating for the inclusion of youth in the GLBT choral movement. Under his tutelage, Desert Voices appeared in 2 international choral festivals and released 3 CD recordings. Keith is a huge supporter of composers, having commissioned countless compositions since 1990. His most recent, “All Of Us” by Connecticut composer Amy F. Bernon, was just published. An active member of ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), ADM (Association of Disciples Musicians) and AZMEA (Arizona Music Educators Association), Keith currently teachers music at La Cima Middle School in the Amphitheater District.

Laurie Cleveland, Office Manager

I am a life long member of the Disciples of Christ Church. I grew up in Oklahoma City, OK where I was an active participant in church life, but primarily youth activities. In high school I served as District 6 Representative on the Regional Youth Council and was involved in the planning of many retreats. As a junior, I attended International Affairs Seminar in New York and Washington D.C. This provided me with an opportunity to see both the church and our government in action!

I attended college at Oklahoma State University where I graduated with a B.S. in Business. I began work just one week after graduation. It is there I met my husband, Michael. From Oklahoma, we moved to Shreveport, LA where we spent the next 5 years until our move to Tucson in the fall of 2005.

Michael and I are the proud parents of two little girls and it is important to us that our children are raised with the support of a loving church family. Shortly after our move to Tucson, we found Saguaro Christian. We have been members here for 3 years. I found an opportunity to become involved in something dear to my heart, youth! I now have the chance to pay forward all that was given to me as a youth growing up in the church. I now teach Saguaro’s High School Sunday School class as well as sponsor the high school youth group. I have served as Children and Youth Ministry Chair for the past year and a half and have truly enjoyed it!

When I’m not involved in a church activity, other things I enjoy are family outings such as hiking, picnicking or a day at the museum. I am also very passionate about animals and love working with them. And sometimes, I just like a moment to kick back and relax with friends.

Coming Soon, Director of Saguaro Infant Care and Preschool

It is with happiness and sadness that we say goodbye to Veronica Kinley our SICP director.  She will be heading off at the end of the month to be close to family and an arriving grand-baby.  Our personnel committee has been working hard to name a new director.  Please check back soon for more information.

Saguaro Infant Care and Preschool (SICP) is an outreach of the Saguaro Christian Church to the families and children of our community, to provide quality childcare without discrimination. The center is on the church campus and the ministers stay connected through weekly meetings with the director. SICP falls under the corporate guidelines of the church and is governed by the church board.