Our Team

Rev. Christopher Wurpts

Lead Pastor

Christopher became a pastor because it allowed him to share in important and holy moments with people he cares deeply about. Whether it’s the sacred ritual of worship, the joy of officiating weddings, or simply connecting authentically with others, he sees these experiences as a true divine calling.

What Christopher loves about NSUMC is that it’s a community filled with people just like him: individuals who are navigating a hectic and confusing life, seeking joy along the way. He firmly believes that embracing the teachings of Jesus is the key to living a truly meaningful life. While he trusts that Love will ultimately save us all from ourselves, he recognizes the value of having a supportive, encouraging, and challenging community to walk alongside during the journey.

One of Christopher’s deepest desires as Lead Pastor is to help people deepen their faith, forge meaningful connections, and cultivate spirituality among our young people. He finds great fulfillment in nurturing these aspects of individuals’ lives.

In his personal life, Christopher resides in Phoenix with his wife, Ingrid, their young daughter, and their beloved old dog. During his downtime, he unabashedly enjoys indulging in guilty pleasures like watching trashy reality television. Shows like “Love Island” make him reconsider his stance on theological concepts like “total depravity.”

Rev. Leah Bergstrom

Pastor of Congregational Care

Leah R. (Prytherch) Bergstrom first experienced a call to ministry at the age of 12 during a church Confirmation class. Excellent leadership at church, youth group, church camps and the Indiana University of PA Wesleyan Foundation all continued to lead her in the direction of pastoral ministry. She earned her B.S. and M.A. degree in English and taught English for 3.5 years.

During this time, she married her husband Bob, and after their first daughter was born, she became the Director of Christian Education at her church. By the time her second child was born, and four foster children were living in their home, she received her Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary while working full-time at St. Paul’s UMC in a suburb of Pittsburgh. She stayed on staff of that church for 32 years, moving from Diaconal Minister to Deacon to Elder.

Upon moving to Arizona, Leah felt that NSUMC was a clone of her beloved Pennsylvania church – a place where people desired to live and grow in their faith and to care deeply for one another, and where children, youth, and music were valued.

Leah believes that education in the faith is primary in order for people to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior and to live into the most abundant life possible.

Bob and Leah have been graced with six children, four of whom were adopted. Having fifteen foster children at various times, family, friends, and church family proved to be a blessing as they became the village that surrounded the children with love and guidance. Leah has written four books that relate some of the family’s experience.

Leah and Bob spend their spare time visiting their children and thirteen grandchildren around the country. Leah loves her dogs and watching sports, especially the Steelers. (Though you’ll never be invited to watch a game with her as she is definitely not the same person you see in the pulpit on Sundays mornings as she cheers, rants, raves, and screams at her favorite teams.)