We call ourselves Salvage Gardeners.
Melissa Guthrie is the Founding Director of the organization and Pastor with the worshiping community at The Banquet. Danie Jones is the Music Minister for the The Banquet.
Cindy Good and Brian Russell served as founding board members. Their vision and passion helped shaped who we are today. Brad Bennett contributed years of leadership before his (second?) retirement in 2019, and he continues to share his gifts with Salvage Garden. Salvage Gardeners celebrate that every body is a gift.
An ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Melissa has leadership experience across denominations. She’s an editor and author. Parenting is her favorite (and most difficult) job. Melissa previously served as the Executive Director + Minister of the Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance and with First Christian Church Greensboro as its Director of Congregational Life. Melissa is holding Henry. Holding anyone’s baby is holy.
From a family of gifted musicians, Danie was born in Fayetteville, NC. Danie says, “Like many musicians, the church is where I first fell in love with music. Music is my first love and an ever present portion of my life. From playing trumpet in 7th grade to making the Department of Defense Schools all Germany Honor Choir in High School, even taking second in a couple of local blues challenges. Playing music makes me happy and if I do it just right it has the ability to make other people happy as well.”
A retired Moravian minister, Brad spends a lot of his time playing music. In addition to the (joyful) noise he shares at Salvage Garden, Brad is a part of Come and Worship and The Rockers. He is a parent and a poppy. Brad and his wife Sue live in Winston Salem.