Rev. Christopher and Rev. Kristi Hintz met as students at The Methodist Theological School in Ohio. They are in their ninth year as pastors of Marquette Hope, having previously served churches in West Ohio and the Michigan Conference, respectively. They love the challenges and joys of multi-site ministry, and the opportunity to coordinate and combine resources for meaningful ministry in current culture. They moved their family to Marquette from Evergreen, Colorado. They have 5 boys, David, 27, Gabe, 25, Drew, 24, Sam, 22, and Zachary, 17, a puppy named Nina, and an elderly rescue named Stella. In addition to ministry, they love hiking, biking, camping, and all things outside.  

Rev. Erica Thomas is our NMU Wesley Campus Ministry Director and Director of Community Outreach and Connectional Ministry. Erica is a California native who is thriving as a transplant in the UP as she enjoys the snowy winters and experiencing all four seasons. She holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is commissioned by the Michigan Conference as a Deacon. Erica finds joy in empowering youth and young adults to grow into their potential and follow their dreams.  When she is not studying or hanging out with NMU Wesley students, she can be found out on the trails with her two pups, Wrenegade and Santiago. She is passionate about the outdoors and enjoys sharing her passion through wilderness emergency medicine instruction and volunteering with search and rescue through the Marquette County Sheriff’s department.