Staff
Priest-in-Charge
The Rev. Steve Wachter
The Rev. Steve Wachter is the Priest-in-Charge at Hope in the Desert. Steve joined the Hope staff in 2021 as the Assistant to the Rector and was selected as Priest-in-Charge in October 2023.
A lifelong Episcopalian, Steve served on active duty as a Chaplain’s Assistant with the US Air Force from 1984-2014. He served as a Program Director for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico from 2014-2023.
He has been married to Kellie Furney from Clovis, NM since 1988. Kellie is a Fellow with the National Institute of Miniature Artisans and does bespoke needlework for noted New Hampshire Doll artist Gail Wilson. They have one son, Zachary, who is an Emergency Management Program Manager with the state of New Mexico in Santa Fe, NM.
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Dr. Lin Lilley (Retired)
The Rev. Dr. Lin Lilley, though retired from full-time service as a priest, enjoys teaching and preaching. Mother Lin has completed Levels I through IV of the School for Healing Prayer. She regularly continues to substitute at other local parishes when priests are not available for Sunday services and to serve as secretary for diocesan committees.
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Pat Green (Retired)
Reverend Pat is an Episcopal Priest (retired) a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (retired), and a trained Spiritual Director. She was ordained in 2000 and has served as a pastoral counselor, priest, and pastor in both the Episcopal and Lutheran Churches. She currently serves as Chaplain to the Women’s Council of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and Chaplain to Light in the Desert Chapter of the Daughters of the King, and as Assisting Priest at Hope in the Desert.
She has been married to Al Green for 55 years. They have two married children, Jeffrey and Deborah Green and Shelley and Brett Bagwell; and two grandchildren, Zoe Green and Megan Bagwell. In her leisure time, Rev. Pat is an iconographer, and enjoys reading, writing and music.
Her vision for ministry is to teach, preach and heal in ways that foster spiritual transformation consistent with biblical principles and to build community dedicated to fulfilling God’s vision.
Assisting Deacon
Deacon Jane Ross (Retired)
I’m happy to serve the Lord at Hope+in+the+Desert Episcopal Church. The people form a wonderful community that brings the love of Jesus Christ to those they come in contact with.
After some initial delay, I responded to God’s call to ordained ministry during my early involvement at Hope. I received my seminary education at the School for Ministry of the Diocese of the Rio Grande and was ordained a Vocational Deacon on July 30, 2005.
I have been with Hope since the core group to start our mission was launched in 1999. I became involved in all aspects of worship and the many activities designed to establish our church in the far Northeast Heights. When I retired from my position as counselor at St. Pius X High in 2001 after twenty years, I gained more time and opportunity to serve in many ministries at Hope.
After retiring from active ordained ministry in September of 2020, I’ve continued to participate in Hope’s Intercessory Prayer Ministry, the Order of the Daughters of the King, and Eucharistic visitations for the sick and homebound.
I am a cradle Episcopalian who has been happily married to Ron, a devout Roman Catholic, since 1969. We have raised two wonderful children who both live in Albuquerque with their spouses and children. We enjoy the many activities we share with our four grandchildren.
Parish Administrator
Jennifer Espen - email: office@hopepiscopal.org
Jennifer Espen has been Hope’s Parish Administrator since January 2023. She is a long-time resident of Albuquerque, has been married for over 25 years and has two adult sons, Joshua and Matthew. Joshua lives in Pullman, Washington where he is working for an archeology firm and Matthew is finishing his last year at the University of New Mexico. Jennifer has two golden retrievers, Tucker and Toby, seven box turtles and one parakeet. She was a stay-at-home mom for about 20 years but returned to the workforce in 2018 as a financial analyst in the healthcare industry. Jennifer enjoys running, gardening, scrapbooking, genealogy and is currently trying to learn how to play the piano!
Music Program Coordinator/Organist
Beverly Simmons
Beverly joined the staff in April 2024 as the music coordinator and organist. She has a Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Having served as Minister of Music (organist and choir director) in Episcopal churches for over 50 years, she is pleased to be able to introduce Hope to the glories of organ music, as well as continuing the tradition of “blended” music that has been used here.
Her husband, an Episcopal priest, died in 2002. She was living in upstate New York at that time where she and Mother Jean Campbell became friends and nine years later decided to share a house. When they both retired, they moved to New Mexico nine years ago. Beverly soon became Minister of Music at St. Francis Episcopal in Rio Rancho. She held that position until February 2024.
In addition to music and cooking, Beverly’s hobby is travel. She has been on all seven continents and in over 50 countries. She loves being in nature and seeing wild animals in their own habitat. Her own domestic animal is a Ragdoll cat named Allegro.
She appreciates good liturgy and loves the Episcopal Church, and so she is happy to be at Hope in the Desert.
