Our Staff

Pastor Lentz is the transition pastor at Mount Cross Lutheran Church until a new settled pastor is called in a process that usually takes about one year. Pastor Ken has served parishes in Ohio, Michigan, California, Florida, and Germany and as an interim for six congregations in Arizona. He also taught church history at the Lutheran seminary in Berkeley, California.

His permanent home is in Scottsdale. His hobbies include travel, reading, amateur magic, European tour group leading, and teaching.

J. Michael Brown officially began his position as Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Coordinator at Mount Cross in September of 2005. He received his credentials as a Certified Youth Minister from The Center for Youth Ministries at Wartburg Theological Seminary. The road that led to this ultimate destination provided a wide range of knowledge. This path started off with earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics and a Master of Arts degree in Music. Michael taught Middle and High School music, Drama, Latin, and Ancient History for 30 years. He was also a church choir director and tenor soloist with various secular groups.

Michael has attained the rank of Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm. His two sons, Jonathan and Timothy, have followed in his footsteps by also earning the rank of Eagle.

Michael was consecrated a deacon in 1990 and has served churches in New York and Florida before moving to Payson in 2005.

Dr. Victoria Harris is the Director of Music/Organist at Mount Cross, leading worship at the 8:30 service as organist and director of the Chancel Choir, Mount Cross Bells, and the SummerChoir.

Dr. Harris' degrees are A.A., piano, Christian College, Columbia, MO, B.Mus. in piano performance, the Eastman School of Music; M.A. in piano performance and music history, the Ohio State University, the M.F.A. and D.M.A. in organ performance and pedagogy, the University of Iowa. Dr. Harris was Chair of the Music Department and Director of the Preparatory Division-Community Music Program at Mount Union 
College, Alliance, Ohio, from 1986 to 2004. She previously was a professor on the music faculty at Hiram College in Ohio, and at the University of Redlands in California.

She performs as concert pianist and organist throughout the United States, as well in Europe and Russia. Dr. Harris serves as adjunct faculty at Gila County Community College, Director of Music at Mount Cross Lutheran Church, Pianist for the Payson Choral Society, and Director of Harris Music Studio in Payson.
 

Wes Hathaway is our Praise Team Leader at Mount Cross. The Praise Team leads worship every Sunday at the 10:30 contemporary service. He is also the director of our Praise Band, an inter-generational group of musicians that play at the 10:30 service the last Sunday of each month.

Wes was born into a Christian music environment. The Hathaway Family has been involved in music ministry for over 60 years. His early childhood memories revolve around music in the home and music in church. He began his music education on the accordion at the age of five and was soon playing at church with his family. By the time he entered college at ENC in 1962, Wes was proficient at the piano, organ and drums. He had the opportunity to perform and travel with The Masters and The King's Men, 'southern-style' gospel quartets, as piano accompanist.

Wes joined our staff at Mount Cross in March of 2002. He has lived in Payson since 1992 and is the director of Payson Academy of Music, which offers private music instruction for students on the piano, guitar and violin.

"O Lord, I ask for guidance in everything I do; and pray You'll make my music, an instrument for You"
 

Lenore White - Administrative Assistant

Lenore is a native of Arizona. She was born in Phoenix and moved to Payson in 1977. She met her first husband through his mother (her co-worker at Safeway). During their 7 years of marriage, they had 4 beautiful children: Heather, Zachary, Joshua, and Seth. She was a single mother of the 4 for about 4 years, until she renewed a past friendship with the man who is currently her husband. They have added two little girls to the family, Elizabeth and April. Lenore is kept busy dealing with her Brady Bunch and is enjoying her position with Mount Cross.

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