Fran Wyatt - Qwyatt Times Production 
 I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and from an early age I was immersed in 
music. Over the years, that passion has grown into a calling to help people encounter God through worship that is both artistically thoughtful and spiritually grounded.

My musical journey has included performing and touring with artists such as Joe 
Henderson, Conrad Herwig, Tony Dumas, Rex Richardson, Stefon Harris, and George 
Mraz, as well as sharing the stage with Michael Brecker, Carl Fontana, Bobby Watson, 
and Arturo Sandoval. I am also a ten-year veteran of the United States Air Force Band, 
where I served as timpanist for the Concert Band and drummer for the Jazz Band, Show Band, and Rock Group. During that time, I earned the drum chair with the United States Air Force Academy Jazz Band, The Falconaires.

For more than 25 years, I have served in worship ministry at churches including Willow 
Creek Community Church, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, Westlake Church 
of God, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. I currently serve as the Director of 
Worship at Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, Indiana, where my 
heart is to create worship environments that are welcoming, formative, and deeply 
accessible—places where both volunteers and professionals can bring their full selves 
before God.

In addition to my ministry work, I remain active as a performing musician and jazz artist throughout the Midwest. I enjoy playing across a wide range of styles and often say my favorite kind of music is simply “good music.”

I live in Indiana with my family and am passionate about mentoring musicians, worship leaders, and creatives—helping them discover their calling and serve with confidence, humility, and joy.

 

Members -

Cheryl Wyatt - Vocals
Francis Wyatt - Keys & Vocals
Terry Hayes - Guitar and Vocals
Kara Day Spurlock - Violin

Dr. Soaries

Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. is a globally respected architect of transformation at the intersection of faith, finance, and public leadership—building movements that redefine what freedom looks like in practice.

 

As founder of the DFREE® Financial Freedom Movement, he has catalyzed a worldwide shift in how individuals and institutions approach money—empowering thousands to eliminate debt, build generational wealth, and reclaim control over their financial futures. What began as a faith-rooted initiative has scaled into a global model for economic empowerment, reaching communities across the United States, the Caribbean, and the African continent.

 

Dr. Soaries’ influence extends deeply into Africa, where his work has supported community advancement, financial education, and capacity-building initiatives for nearly two decades—particularly impacting children and families. In recognition of this sustained commitment, he was enstooled in Ghana by His Majesty the Okyenhene as Nkosuohene—Chief of Development—a distinguished honor that affirms both his global reach and his enduring investment in human potential.

 

Through Corporate Community Connections, Inc., he partners with organizations and leaders worldwide to design scalable, results-driven

strategies that bridge purpose with economic progress—translating vision into measurable impact.

 

A dynamic communicator and minister, Dr. Soaries has inspired audiences from church congregations to corporate boardrooms across the globe. His leadership also spans the highest levels of public service, including serving as New Jersey’s Secretary of State and Chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, where he advanced integrity, inclusion, and innovation in democratic systems.

 

Expanding his influence into media and narrative ownership, Dr. Soaries is the visionary behind the “Say Yes When Life Says No” series—filmed in a state-of-the-art, independently owned studio he built and funded. The platform elevates stories of resilience, reinvention, and purpose—reinforcing his belief that controlling the narrative is essential to shaping outcomes.

 

At his core, Dr. Soaries is a builder—of systems, of leaders, and of possibility. His work is grounded in a singular conviction: that true freedom—financial, spiritual, and communal—is cultivated through faith, discipline, and responsibility.

 

He resides in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Donna, continuing to lead a global movement that challenges individuals and institutions alike to not only envision change—but to execute it.

Rev. Dr. Tilghman

The Rev. Dr. Tilghman met his best friend and wife, Barbette, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Together, they have three adult sons and two granddaughters. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as a Staff Sergeant and is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm.  

 

Dr. Tilghman currently serves as the senior pastor of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air, MD. Ames is the oldest African American church in downtown Harford County, and it has served as a beacon of hope, perseverance, and social justice—celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year, 2026. 

 

Dr. Tilghman is also an award-winning author of his dissertation, "Developing A Legacy Giving Program for the Black Church," at United Theological Seminary in Dayton. He has been featured in news articles, podcasts, radio shows, and a few magazines as someone who is conscious of social justice, faith, and healthy living. In the field of finance, he has served as a workshop presenter for the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Mid-Atlantic Foundation Financial Leadership Academy, and Garrett Theological Seminary.  

 

Locally, Dr. Tilghman serves as a mentor/director for the Civics and Chess Master’s Program for Boys. He is a lifetime member and former Chaplain of the Sgt. Alfred B. Hilton Memorial American Legion Post 55. He has served on numerous boards in Harford County, including the New Hope Community Development Corporation. Statewide, he is an interfaith leader with BRIDGE Maryland, Inc. and Maryland Youth Justice Coalition. Nationally, he is a member of the Gamaliel Network and the past Secretary of the Council of Presidents.  

 

Dr. Tilghman has degrees from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (HS Diploma), Howard University School of Architecture (BArch), Wesley Theological Seminary (MDiv), and United Theological Seminary (DMin).  He resigned from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an architect and project manager in 2009. 

 

The foundation of his ministry and community organizing principles is grounded in Galatians 6:9 and Proverbs 3:3-6. 

Dr. Carlos W. Perkins

Dr. Carlos W. Perkins is Assistant Research Scientist and Associate Director of Engagement in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. Carlos is an ordained clergy with the Indiana Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and serves as the senior pastor of Bethel Cathedral AME Church, the oldest black congregation in the city of Indianapolis. He also serves as the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Councilor for District 6. Prior to joining Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, Carlos served as principal with the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township in Indiana.

 

In addition to his work leading a congregation, Dr. Perkins taught classes in Sociology, Psychology, and Human Development. He is a certified Youth Development Specialist and holds certificates in Diversity Training and Designing and Implementing Diversity Initiatives. He is the published author of You are Enough: 21 Days to Sustaining The Seasons of Ministry.

^{The coordination program is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by the Center for Congregations.}