Our Church Staff

Rev. Allen Cross

Minister

Reverend Allen Cross grew up in Virginia where he attended the Woodberry Forest School and then spent a scholarship year at St. Edmunds School, Canterbury, England. He graduated with a B.A. in European History from Washington & Lee University and spent the next twenty years in international corporate risk management in New York and Atlanta until discerning a call to ministry in 2001. He graduated with an M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary and began parish ministry in the Presbyteries of Northeast Georgia and Greater Atlanta and later served in the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. Allen’s mother resides in Washington, DC. He has three sons: one in Denton, Texas, another in Portland, Maine, and the third attends Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Allen enjoys visiting family and has been an avid fly-fisher in Tennessee and Colorado. His Labrador Retriever, Ted, is an enthusiastic swimmer but a messy roommate.

Gabriel Martinez

Music Director

Gabe Martinez was born and raised in Big Spring, Texas attending public schools and graduating from Big Spring High School. Following that he continued his education at Howard College where he took piano and organ lessons from Mr. Eddie Vandewalker and trumpet lessons with Mr. Dan Kiley.  Gabe holds a B.S in Music Education from Texas A&M University – Commerce. There he studied trumpet under Dr. Daniel Kelly.  In addition to serving as organist of First Presbyterian Church, Gabe also teaches within the Big Spring Independent School District serving as Associate Band Director where he teaches sixth through twelfth grade band. He places an emphasis on teaching the aesthetics of music with the belief that it will enhance the quality of life for his students now and in the future. He holds memberships in the Association of Texas Small School Bands, Texas Music Educators Association, and in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. In his spare time, his hobbies include detailing his truck, running, golfing, attending his students sporting events and going to Rangers Baseball games.