Pastors

Lead Pastor

Alexander Barrientos

Born and bred in Washington, D.C., Alex Barrientos serves as Sligo’s Lead 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.

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 with a Bachelor’s degree in theology and acquired her Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary. Pranitha believes each person has a calling and is passionate about equipping them to live out that calling in Christ by reflecting His love, justice, and grace in their communities.

She is married to Kelan Fielder, and they have the absolute joy of being parents to Azzan. Pranitha enjoys spending time with family, friends, and neighbors over a good meal and great conversation

Pastor for Community Outreach and Discipleship

Rick Johns

Rick serves as Sligo’s Community Outreach and Discipleship Pastor. His favorite teaching of Jesus is “the good tree produces good fruit,” and he loves helping people discover how to grow into that “good, healthy tree.” 

Rick has his doctorate of ministry in leadership in community spiritual transformation from the Denver Seminary and theological degrees from Southern and Andrew’s Universities. He serves as an adjunct professor at WAU and on advisory committees for Adventist Healthcare. He has served over 25 years as a pastor in diverse communities in North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

In his free time, he loves trail running, traveling, sports, listening to and creating podcasts, and enjoys the Arts. He is married to a beautiful nurse practitioner, Georgina Abraham Johns, and they have four young adult children.

Pastor for Youth and Young Adults

Keila Carmona

Originally from South Bend, Indiana, Keila Carmona serves as Sligo’s Youth and Young Adult Pastor. Social work and pastoral ministry fuel her passion as she believes they help people uniquely see Christ and can transform lives.

Keila has multiple degrees from Andrews University: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Dual Master’s degrees in Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Social Work from the Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Trauma Informed Practice.

Her experience includes serving as an Assistant Dean for Student Interventions at Andrews University. She served as the Lead Teaching Pastor at One Place Community Fellowship, an intergenerational worshiping community at Andrews University. Shortly after her undergraduate work, Keila worked closely with Adventist college students attending a public university in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Director for Worship and Arts

Anwar Ottley

Anwar Ottley serves as Sligo’s Director of Worship and Arts. He is passionate about worship ministry and choral music. Before joining Sligo, he led Takoma Park Church’s music and worship ministry for fourteen years. Anwar also serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Washington Adventist University. He is an active composer and arranger, published by GIA Music and Gentry Publications. Anwar’s music has been performed in churches and venues across the country, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Washington National Cathedral.

Anwar holds a Doctor of Worship Studies from Liberty University and music degrees from Washington Adventist University and Andrews University.

Anwar enjoys cooking, eating out, jogging, hiking, and spending time with Sharlene and their sons Jude and Ellis.

Pastor for Children and Family

Samuel Moreno

Sam is the Children’s & Family Pastor at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he makes the love of Jesus tangible for young hearts and their families. With over 15 years of ministry experience in Maryland and Oregon, Sam blends creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to spiritual growth into everything he does. An alumnus of Columbia Union College (theology and psychology) and Andrews Theological Seminary (master’s degree), he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. 

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Sam met his wife, Wendy, during their college years in Maryland. Together, they are the proud parents of Mateo, and they love spending time together as a family. When he’s not teaching a Bible story or leading a game, you can find him watching basketball, playing board games, or catching a good movie.