Board of Directors
Francine Grimaldi Rienstra celebrates over forty years of business and communication experience. She is a University of Arizona graduate and has worked in radio, television, and marketing in both for-profit and the non-profit industries. Ms. Rienstra has founded, developed, and sold two businesses and is currently the Founder of Via de Dios, a 501(c)(3) Arizona non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a Christian Center to encourage unity, collaborate and partner with organizations and promote spiritual renewal through classes, events and retreats.
Between 1984 and 1994, Ms. Rienstra’s tenacity paid off after a ten-year competitive battle with over 40 opponents for one new FM radio license allocated to Tucson by the Federal Communications Commission. The company was successful through the lengthy process to emerge the winner of the radio license for 104.1FM. In 1994, she signed-on and launched 104.1FM and within a year she oversaw the growth of the radio station to become the number one rated station in its target audience. Anticipating the future of independently owned radio stations having to compete with corporate giants in that era, Francine sold the station to Roy P. Disney. Over her career she has also launched the sales department for KJZZ 580AM, and managed local marketing efforts for the launch of WB58 TV (now the CW).
As the Media & Arts Domain Director of 4Tucson, a Christian non-profit organization, Ms. Rienstra created several teams to help unify creative Christians. After three years, she was asked to take the Marketing Director position where she created and developed the department. Francine’s husband of forty years grew seriously ill and she opted to retire to take care of him until his death in 2016. During her work at 4Tucson, Francine became acutely aware of the divisions between Christian churches and people. Her desire is to unify Christians through offering a central location in Tucson where Christians can break down barriers through collaboration, continuing education, prayer, and participation in events together. Ms. Rienstra formed a group and began to actively pursue locating a property. She filed and was accepted for an Arizona 501(c)(3) non-profit status in June 2017. The new organization, Via de Dios (Way of God), continues to seek an appropriate property and is actively securing funding.
Meanwhile, Via de Dios launched in 2018 at Habitat for Humanity with various Classes, and provided meeting and training space for Christian organizations and non-profits. Since then, we have outgrown the facility and have been welcomed at Hope City Church which offers more opportunities for partnering with like-minded individuals and organizations while sharpening our focus and goals.
Ms. Rienstra has been distinguished with a National Star Award given by American Women Radio & Television. Francine is a member of Desert Hope Lutheran Church, serves on the Prayer Team, is a member of Marie's Centering Prayer Group, and has attended the Contemplative Group at the Benedictine Monastery for several years. She delights in her family of two adult children, their spouses and five grandchildren. “I am very blessed”. “My greatest joy is to follow God’s call while serving and honoring Him daily.”
Donna Celenza-Sweet has been teaching bible studies and facilitating workshops for over 30 years. She holds an advanced Certificate of Catechism from the Diocese of Tucson. Donna has been involved in the Contemplative Prayer movement for 20 years, leading groups and facilitating workshops. She also holds a Masters in Counseling and is a Spiritual Companion.
Chris was raised in Tucson where he has served in a multitude of church ministries and positions since coming to the Lord in 2008. In 2011 the Spirit of adoption moved on Chris’ heart when he married his bride Maria Mendoza, inherited four teenagers and took his new family’s name. In 2016 he was ordained a Senior Chaplain by the International Fellowship of Chaplains for his work in the community including prison ministry. Chris currently serves in leadership at The Gospel Rescue Mission as their Community Partnership Liaison where he connects community ministries and services to the one-stop-shop for homelessness at the Center of Opportunity. He and Maria love to spend time with their kid’s families which now include five grandchildren.
His defining worship lyrics are encapsulated in the lines:
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing you praise
Nancy spent her earlier years in Chicago and the Midwest. She earned a BA in Anthropology from Beloit College. In the 80's, she moved to Tucson, Arizona for graduate school, and decided to make it her home. She has worked in a variety of roles in healthcare for the past 30 years. She took a prolonged sabbatical from the parochial school Catholicism of her youth, returning enriched by vipassana Buddhism, Benedictine monastic traditions, early and present-day Christian mystics, and the practices of centering and contemplative prayer.
Kim Johnson is a retired commercial interior designer who was born in Fremont, OH but has spent most of her life in Arizona. She has raised two amazing daughters and had a fulfilling career working for a small office furniture manufacturer. She is currently embarking on a second career and has returned to school where she will pursue a Master’s degree in counseling. Despite growing up in a Baptist church, Kim spent most of her life searching for a spiritual experience confirming her belief in Jesus as the way to God. This journey led her to reject the teachings of her upbringing, but eventually, her quest for spiritual enlightenment brought her back to Christ.
In her search for spiritual growth, Kim has found fulfillment through a 12-step program and working with others to help them find the spiritual experience necessary for true transformation. She has been grateful to have service positions in her program, enabling her to help others discover the same spiritual journey she has experienced.
One of the places where Kim has found a deeper connection with her faith is through contemplative prayer at Via De Dios. Here, she has learned about the early church desert fathers and mothers and found the structure she needed to deepen her spiritual experience. Kim feels blessed to be able to serve this community and is thankful for the support it provides in her ongoing journey towards spiritual fulfillment.
Advisory Team
Jason is a native Arizonian who grew up in Tucson, AZ. He completed his Bachelors of Arts Degree from the University of Arizona in Religious Studies and History (2000) and has a Masters of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary (2008).
He enjoys reading on a variety of subjects, as well as teaching and writing on Scripture, theological matters, the practice of Christian spirituality and other topics of current concern. Jason is a Campus Minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), in the Graduate and Faculty Ministries (GFM) division; he primarily serves the Graduate Christian Fellowship at the University of Arizona. Jason is a member of King's Cross Anglican Church in Tucson, AZ and he serves under that congregation as a Lay Missioner. He is also the author of the book, Living God's Life (Christian Faith Publishing: 2022)