Rev. Mimi Walker, Senior Pastor, she/her. Mimi has led the Church at Ponce & Highland since 2008. She grew up in the southeast and has pastored and co-pastored Metro Atlanta churches since 2003. Raised in the Presbyterian Church, she was an elder in her church at 17 and felt called into ministry – because the church feels like home.
Mimi and her husband Dr. Graham Walker lived in the Philippines from 1986 to 1998 where they taught in seminary and worked with churches in Baguio City. Since returning to the U.S., Mimi has been Pastor to the seminary community of McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University and adjunct instructor in Spiritual Formation. Rev. Walker has a humanities degree from Florida State University, an M.A. in Religious Education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has done graduate work at the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary.
Rev. Walker envisions the church as a recovery group for human beings. We all show up just as we are and say, “This is me. These are my hopes and dreams. This is what I’m struggling with.” If we trust in the love of God and take this journey together, we just might change the world. And it’s good enough to be one link in the chain, one patch in the quilt of the mercy, justice and love spreading across this beautiful planet. You can contact Rev. Walker at mimi.walker@dhbc.org.
Rev. Colleen DeGraff Holtz, Associate Pastor for Families with Children, she/her. Colleen provides lessons, activities, and care to the children and parents of our church and creates opportunities for our children to connect with all members of all ages. Colleen believes learning about God and God’s love is a two-way-street with children. She loves teaching children, but also loves learning from them. She believes church is a space for learning, teaching, and experiencing God’s love from every person of every age. Colleen has a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University and has been with our church since 2019. Email: colleen@dhbc.org.
Rev. Colin Holtz, Associate Pastor, he/him. Colin sees church as a place to practice new ways of relating to ourselves, to each other, and to the whole. He’s a one-time atheist who is super confused at how he ended up a pastor, and loves liberation theology, contemplatives and mystics, Francis of Assisi, and Howard Thurman. A member of the pastoral staff since 2019, Colin holds a Master of Divinity from the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University and is the co-author of Moral Leadership for a Divided Age: 14 Leaders Who Dared to Change Our World. Email: colin.holtz@dhbc.org
Christopher Massie, Director of Music, he/him. Christopher helps select the weekly hymns for services, directs the Church at Ponce & Highland Sanctuary Choir, and organizes services of song for the Advent and Lenten seasons. Christopher believes that music is a direct link to praising in church, instrumental or singing. Music brings everyone involved together in a joyous and meditative way, and helps create an inclusive community. Through song selections from many cultures, respectfully, music can help us understand one another since it bridges a common language amongst all peoples. He is also an elementary music teacher for Fulton County Schools, and an instructor for the Atlanta Young Singers. Christopher is currently working on a Masters of Music with a concentration in education from Georgia State University.
Jim Wright, Managing Director, he/him. Jim is the CFO of the church. He originally got involved with the church as a member in 2004, then came on staff in 2008 to assist in coordinating usage of the building. Jim holds a bachelors degree in psychology and is a certified nonprofit business manager and facilities manager, and now oversees everything from finances to facilities at the church.
Rev. Allen Jones, Community Chaplain, he/him. Allen leads up our mission team and our work with people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Email: allen.jones@dhbc.org
Leisa Smith, Accompanist