Rev. Dr. Tara Gay is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Presently, she serves at Faith United Methodist Church in Trenton, MI as the senior pastor. She preaches the word of God each Sunday and teaches about the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Pastor Gay believes in making disciples for the transformation of the world.

In her ministerial life, she has served as a District Superintendent of the Crossroads district and in various cross-racial, cross cultural churches as pastor. She enjoys working in the community, creating a vision and mission for the church and being around the youth. During her pastoral life she went to Israel and is hosting a trip to Greece in August 2024 which is Paul’s Missionary Journeys. She loves working with all the members of the congregation to help the kingdom of God to be experienced on this earth. One of the talents she has been given is teaching the word of God to the people of God.

She is the Vice President of Sacred Sisters, the chairperson of Michigan Conference Nominations Committee and the Chairperson of Black Clergy for the Michigan Conference. Pastor Gay has taught at Indiana Wesleyan Seminary, Ecumenical Theological Seminary and Payne Theological Seminary. She specializes in spiritual formation and leadership. Dr. Gay has led workshops and seminars that have challenged both clergy and laypersons to be more effective in missions and ministry. During her years in seminary, she served in the United States Air Force as a Chaplain Candidate for Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado and Scott Air Force Bases in Illinois respectively.

Over the years, Dr. Gay has attended General and Jurisdictional Conferences as a delegate. She was a member of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women for 8 years. Also, she chaired the Conference Board of Church and Society. She is also a trained Life Coach.

Her spiritual practices include prayer, fasting, meditation, and worship which helps to strengthen her faith in God. In addition, she has led several prayer workshops and consistently does personal devotions and prayer time with colleagues on a weekly basis. She is a faithful servant of God, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 37 years.

Dr. Gay is married to Bryon Gay. She has four children: Christopher, Luke, Zane and Jake. She also has six grandchildren.

Rev. Grace Ann Beebe grew up in Trenton and attended Trenton Schools. Even though she never moved, she did attend three different elementary schools in Trenton, as new ones were constantly being built. Grace Ann graduated from Trenton High School.

Grace Ann went on to earn a BS from Eastern Michigan University in Special Education, an MEd. from Wayne State University in Guidance and Counseling, and 30 additional graduate hours in Special Education from the University of Michigan.

Her entire teaching career was in special education with students with physical disabilities. She also taught in Grand Rapids for 2 years and in Taylor for 28 years, and worked in various grade level classrooms and as a Teacher Consultant.

After retiring from teaching, Grace Ann attended the Ecumenical Theological Seminary for one year and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio for three years earning an MDiv. in 2004. She was commissioned as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 2004 and ordained in 2007. Reverand Beebe's focus as a Deacon has been helping churches with accessibility issues and helping some establish special needs ministries. In addition, she has filled a variety of roles at Trenton Faith UMC and have established various ministries there.

Teri was raised in Lincoln Park and has lived in Trenton for the last 30 years.

She holds a master's degree in HR and Instructional Design and Technology. 

She is married to Jerry and has a grown son Mikael who is married to his wonderful wife Annie.

You can reach Teri during business hours (Mon.-Thurs. 9 AM - 3PM) at (734) 671-5211.

Heather started as the Sunday School Coordinator in September 2019. She grew up at Faith Church and has been an active Sunday School teacher her entire adult life.

Heather holds a BS degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. She has been a registered dietitian with over 20 years experience, working with both children and adults.

She is married to Jeff and they have three daughters: Clare, Allie and Cate. When she isn’t helping out in the Sunday School program, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading and hiking.

Stephanie Bell... having grown up in this amazing church, Faith UMC since I was 2y/o. I have grown spiritually through all the inspiring Parishioners which has helped me grow raising my children. My husband George and I were married at Faith in 2014, then we started our family in 2015. My husband and I have 3 wonderful children which we enjoy having them now grow up in our church.

 My musical interests began with listening to the Adult Chancel Choir in the back pew at a young age ... (really just being my mother’s shadow). Then, I was in the children’s choir, hanging with the trouble tenors and bad boy basses!! (They always seem to be getting in trouble not following their choir leader little laughs and giggles throughout the rehearsals and singing praises to our God.) This had a long-lasting impression for me and inspired me to really be more serious on wanting to be more involved in the music program.

I started playing handbells at age 12 and got incredibly involved in the youth program and kept growing deeper in my faith. At the age of 18, I was asked if I wanted to start taking over the rehearsal as our bell director as the minister and had enough on his plate and of course I agreed!

This only inspired me to do more.  At the age of 20 I was asked to be the director of music here at Faith.  Here I have been able to celebrate through music Gods love for all of us.

Let us all make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Sandra Strall has a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She taught English for 43 years at Carlson High School, Gibraltar, Michigan, where she was the English Department Chair and advised the yearbook.

During a sabbatical year, she worked in Royal Oak, Michigan at the Rogers/Ruffati organ dealership, a division of CBS Musical Instruments. She was one of two salespeople in Royal Oak, and one of only two women in the country who sold and demonstrated Rogers electronic organs and Ruffati pipe organs. Her area was the Eastern half of the state of Michigan and the top six counties in Ohio.

A principal organist from the age of 16, she has worked at several Methodist churches across the state. A member of the American Guild of Organists, she came to Faith from the organist position at Christ Lutheran Church in Monroe, Michigan.