Rev. Bill Dunbar, Senior Minister

Born and raised in southern California, Bill grew up in Long Beach and spent most of his life living up and down the west coast, until receiving a call to serve as associate pastor at Saguaro Christian Church in Tucson, Arizona in 1998. He served in that position until the church called him to serve as Senior Minister in 2007.

Always at home near the ocean, Bill received a B.S. in Marine Engineering Technology from the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA, along with his USCG license to serve as 3rd Engineering Officer on ocean going merchant vessels. After sailing on the USNS Kawishiwi and USNS Neptune for Military Sealift Command, Bill decided to stay closer to home and went to work in the ship repair business for Southwest Marine, working as a contract administrator and then as contract department manager at the firm’s Portland, Oregon division.

Although active in the church for most of my life, it wasn’t until 1995 that I responded to the call to serve as an ordained minister. I had always resisted the idea when people suggested that I consider ministry – after all, like Jonah, I had run off on a ship instead! But through a six-month process of study and discernment, I realized that this was where God was calling me next.” Bill attended seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, graduating in 1998 and being ordained at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Married in 1986 to Kit, they are the proud parents of two great boys, Parker and Joseph Dunbar. Since there isn’t much water around Tucson to play in, Bill spends his free time reading, cooking, and working on seemingly endless home improvement projects.

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.