Pastors

Senior Pastor

Alex Barrientos

Born and bred in Washington, D.C., Alex Barrientos serves as Sligo’s Senior Pastor. He believes in creating spaces for communities to grow in grace and developing opportunities of service for the Kingdom of God. Besides his passions for preaching and teaching, Alex is an avid reader, a DC sports fan and loves vintage fountain pens. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Anisha, and they love spending time with their daughter, Shanthi.  

A graduate of Washington Adventist University and Andrews University Theological Seminary, Alex is pursuing his Ph.D. in Theological Ethics at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.  He is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Religion at Washington Adventist University.

Alex has served over fifteen years in church leadership roles, community organizations, the Potomac Conference (Capital Spanish, Beltsville, Capital Memorial, Meadowbridge, Gloucester churches), Florida Conference (Spring Meadows church), and NAD committees.

Executive Pastor

Pranitha Fielder

Originally from Andhra Pradesh, India, Pranitha Fielder has been a part of the Sligo Church community since 2001; she has served as Youth Leader, Pastor for Youth and Young Adults, Pastor for Discipleship and Congregational Care, and now serves as Sligo’s Executive Pastor. The Sligo community is near to her heart for being the place that allowed her to live out her call to ministry from when she was a teenager.

Pranitha graduated from Columbia Union College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Theology degree. She acquired her Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary in 2009. She has enjoyed being an adjunct professor at Washington Adventist University for over ten years.

In keeping with Ephesians 4:12-14, she believes every Christian has a God-given calling to build up Christ’s Kingdom. Pranitha is passionate about equipping God’s people to live out their calling in Christ and reflect His love in their communities.

She is married to Kelan Fielder, and they have the absolute joy of being parents to Azzan.

Pastor For Youth & Young Adult Ministries

Jonathan Gantt

As Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Jonathan brings to Sligo several years of experience in working with young people.  He served for seven years as a Bible teacher, the first three at Pine Tree Academy in Freeport, Maine, and subsequently at Takoma Academy. While in Maine he also served as Chaplain and at Takoma Academy as assistant Chaplain. Jonathan served as Sligo’s Young Adult Sabbath School Study Leader.

Pastor Gantt enjoys preaching and teaching the gospel to all age groups, and is passionate about bringing people into the church and helping them become a part of the kingdom of God, which he sees as the only cure for a broken and hurting world

Pastor for Congregational Care & Family

Hazel Ramirez Marroquin

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Hazel has served in various ministerial and leadership capacities throughout the years.  Before transitioning to Pastoral Ministry, she worked as the Public Relations Director for Jesus 101 Biblical Institute.  Hazel holds a degree in Business Administration & Accounting and worked many years in the corporate world before answering a call from God to deepen her ministry.  She then completed a degree in Theology from Southwestern Adventist University.   

Hazel’s passion is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, motivating and empowering others to live up to their full potential in Christ and simply reminding everyone of the unconditional love of Jesus. Hazel enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She and her husband, Gilberto, have two adult sons.