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Meet Our Pastor
Rev. Josh Kouri
Josh has been a pastor for 11 years, 7 of them in the New Mexico Conference. Previously, he served as the pastor of Mesa View United Methodist Church in Albuquerque and in congregations in El Paso and Amarillo, TX. He was also a youth minister in Las Cruces, NM and Garland, TX.
Josh’s faith story began in high school when his family made him start going to church because they were afraid he was getting “weird.” By chance, or luck, or grace, the people in that church were weirdos too. They completely changed his life by showing him that Jesus loves all of us and that Christian community is so very good for the soul. That church was St. John’s.
Since then, Josh has been particularly passionate about spiritual formation and emerging expressions of Christian community – both online and in new monastic and missional settings. Josh believes that all people are sacred expressions of God’s creation and creativity.
Josh is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He was a Perkins Prothro Fellow, a Ministry Fellow with the Forum for Theological Education, and a Lewis Fellow with Wesley Theological Seminary’s, Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Meet Our Staff
MATTHEW GREER
Matthew Greer has served as Director of Music and Worship Ministries at St. John’s since 2003. Matt directs the Chancel and Sonrise Choirs, and oversees both the music ministry’s role in worship and its community outreach. In recent years he served as a guest conductor for the New Mexico Philharmonic and was a recipient of Creative Albuquerque's Bravo! Awards, honoring artistic innovation, entrepreneurship and community impact. He also serves as Artistic Director of Quintessence Choral Artists of the Southwest. A native of Kansas City, Matt has degrees in music and theology from Trinity University and Boston University.
Summer Music Sessions
Brett Reece
Brett was born and raised here in Albuquerque and here at St. John’s. He was baptized, confirmed, an active participant in the Sonrise Choir and Solid Ground Youth Group, and even worked as a custodian at the church part-time during college. Brett graduated from Eldorado High School and then proceeded to UNM where he got a BBA concentrating in Operations Management. After college Brett became a licensed real estate broker which he still maintains, and in the summer of 2023 started an accounting
position at a local firm in town.
Brett was a sponsor for the Youth Group starting after the church was reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic. He became the Interim Youth Director in October 2023, and has now been given the permanent position here at St. John’s. Brett loves working with the youth of our church while they build their relationships with one another and with God. Solid Ground Youth Group was pivotal in Brett’s life and helped him develop the faith, skills, characteristics and relationships he values today. He wants to
ensure that the Youth program continues to provide that same joy and support for every student that is involved.
TIM NUZUM
As the Director of Food Ministry, Chef Tim is the Executive Chef in St. John’s professional kitchen where he creates meals that he and his team prepare to feed the food-insecure in Albuquerque. His desire is to share the love of God by creating fellowship around food to feed the body and soul. Tim also helped create and develop the new Garden Ministry of St. John’s. The harvest from the garden is used in the Food Ministry in the preparation of meals. Additionally, meals at the church are open to the community to come and participate in, as well as Tending the Soil and Soul in the garden. Tim has an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and has worked professionally as a baker and pastry chef.
Molly Shannon
Reverend Molly Shannon began her ministry at First United Methodist, Midland, Texas where she was Lay Ministries Coordinator, then Associate Pastor for almost ten years. She transferred to the New Mexico Annual Conference in January 2000, and began work at Central UMC here in Albuquerque, as Director of Program Ministries and Associate Pastor. She took a leave of absence for several years and retired in June of 2020. Congregational care always took priority in her ministry – from new baby welcomes to Hospice care; small group development and teaching; Healing and Memorial services, grief recovery and leading through times of transition; as well as the blessing of children, backpacks, mission teams, pets, quilts, and celebrations of all of life’s “ages and stages.” Molly lives with her husband Richard and their Lakeland Terrier, Oliver; three grown sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren round out her immediate family.
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Estephany Miranda
Estephany Miranda has worked in the early childhood field for over 10 years. She has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a concentration in working with children. Estephany has been part of the St. John’s staff since 2019, when she began working at the church as a Pre-K classroom teacher. Her goal is to strengthen St. John’s program and provide the best quality of care possible.
Estephany was born and raised in Mexico City and lived there until she was 11 years old. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, and is married to her highschool sweetheart, with whom she has two daughters that attend St. John’s.
GIL FLORES
Praise Band Director and Media Coordinator
A native of Guadalajara Mexico, Gil Flores has been an Albuquerque resident since 2010.
Gil is the owner/operator of Qantares Recording Studio here in Albuquerque.
Prior to arriving in New Mexico, Gil was the Worship Arts Pastor at “The Worship Centre” - a mega church with multiple campuses all throughout Central California.

 Gil has a daughter named Olivia and when he isn’t working, Gil and Olivia can be found taking walks in the Nob Hill district of Albuquerque, dancing to Latin Music, playing futbol (soccer) or hunting for REAL Mexican tacos.
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Erin Donegan
Erin Donegan best describes her life as a passionate and unending pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. She has studied music, earning a masters degree in sacred music from the University of Notre Dame, as well as theology, earning a masters degree in theological studies at Duke Divinity School. Erin’s work has sought to bridge the intersection of theology and the arts, where she believes God’s message of redeeming love can be richly received and understood. Within that work, she has always focused on creating a culture of belonging, placing a particular emphasis on creating space for the voices of children. Erin looks forward to serving the community at St. John’s as the Assistant Director of Music.
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Jamie Davidson
Jamie Davidson attended Sandia High School and the University of New Mexico and has over 30 years of office and business management experience.
Renée Honn
Renée is from Washington State, and holds a Bachelors in Music Education from Eastern Washington University as well as a Performance Certificate from The University of New Mexico. She recently completed her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from The University of New Mexico. She started working at St. John's as an intern for the Music Ministry in 2023 and is continuing her work as the Office Administrator.
JIM AHREND
Originally from New York and an Alumnus of New England Conservatory, Jim Ahrend has been with St. John's since August 2019. Jim has continually held church music positions since age 13 in various settings and styles. His compositions have been featured nationally in UCC campaigns and celebrations. Since moving to Albuquerque in 2008, Jim's activities have included gigs of all types; coordinating a 3-year weekly jazz vespers called Faith, Hope and Jazz; teaching/accompanying jazz at Outpost Performance Space and UNM; and piano tuning for hundreds of NM clients. Jim and his wife Jodi enjoy their combined five grown kids and seven grandchildren.
SUSAN BRUMBAUGH, MA, LMHC
Susan is a licensed mental health counselor at St. Johns providing in-person and online services. She works with adults of any age who find themselves stuck and are seeking support and strategies to live rich, meaningful lives. A sliding scale is available for those in financial need. In addition to counseling, Susan is a mindfulness practitioner and leads criminal justice research projects at RTI International. She is married and has two young adult children.