Rev. Dr. Brooke Wilkerson,

Senior Pastor

Pastor Brooke was born and raised in Arizona. After living and serving in different parts of the world, she is happy to land at St. Matthew with her son. Pastor Brooke enjoys playing racquetball, being outside (when it's not too hot!) and time with family and friends. She is convinced of the value of corporate worship to shape us into individuals and a community that loves God, loves one another, and extends hospitality to the stranger. Pastor Brooke can be reached at brooke@stmatthewmesa.org

Ben Shafer,

Director of Music

Mr. Ben Shafer, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music and Choral Music Education. He received his master’s degree from Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona. Ben was appointed Sanctuary Choir Director at St. Matthew Methodist Church in Mesa in July 2015. Ben is now also Director of Music. He and his wife and four beautiful children have lived in Chandler for the last 10 years. Bringing with him a traditional background as a chorister, musician, and choral music director, Mr. Shafer proudly upholds the integrity of music in sacred church worship. He has served in many capacities in church music from Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley and Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ. In addition to directing the sanctuary choir he teaches Music at Central High School in Phoenix Arizona where he directs 4 choirs and also teaches guitar and music methods. When he is not busy with music he enjoys camping hiking and traveling across the beautiful state of Arizona. Ben can be reached at ben@stmatthewmesa.org.

Tonia Smith,

Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries

Tonia is an Arizona native who loves to travel the globe. Some of her favorite destinations are Paris, India and Washington, DC. She has many years of experience in service to youth, in a variety of roles, including being a big sister to 10 younger siblings. Her two greatest passions are education and music, which she has been blessed to turn into ministry. In her spare time, Tonia enjoys reading and scrapbooking. Tonia can be reached at tonia@stmatthewmesa.org.

Anne Kelley

Bell Choir Director

Anne Kelley is the Bellmaster of the Bells of Joy Handbell Choir at St Matthew UMC. She was born and raised in Apache Junction, AZ, where she grew up singing and ringing in the United Methodist Church. Anne teaches General Music and Handbells at Greenfield Elementary School in Gilbert. She graduated summa cum laude from Northern Arizona University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music Education: Choral degree. Anne is an accomplished choral singer, handbell ringer, and soloist across the East Valley. She is passionate about handbells and serves on the regional leadership board for Handbell Musicians of America. In her free time, she teaches private voice lessons from her home in Mesa. Anne can be reached at: anne@stmatthewmesa.org

Steve Edman,

Organist & Pianist

Steve has been playing the piano and organ at St. Matthew soon after joining the church in 1985. He is a retired band director and helps school employees plan for their post retirement occupation. When time allows he enjoys writing and arranging new anthems for the choir and other special church occasions. Steve is an accomplished and creative piano and organ player and is often accused of not playing the notes as written on the page! Steve can be reached at sedman3@cox.net.

Cheriden Yazzie

Administrative Coordinator

Cheriden is our Administrative Coordinator, who has experience in Church administration, and operations. He offers to St. Matthew many gifts: teaching, bookkeeping, servanthood; to name a few. Cheriden loves to interact with people, assist in any way that he is able. Back at home, the Navajo Nation, believers classified him as the 'go to' person for a listening ear, and Prayer. Whenever he finds time he loves to play music, sing: a worship "guru" at that.

To reach Cheriden you may email him at office@stmatthewmesa.org.