Rev. Dr. Cathy Clardy Patterson

Rev. Dr. Cathy Clardy PattersoRev. Dr. Cathy Clardy Patterson founded the Fountain of Life Church (“FOL”) in 2006 with 12 individuals, like the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Disciples they set forth in obedience to the Word of God. Rev. Patterson has made it her mission to seek out the unchurched by proclaiming the Word of God and serving the people. Her message is clear: Jesus has called us to transform the world and to do so by reaching beyond the walls of the church. Therefore, Rev. Patterson believes that the church, following in the footsteps of Jesus, must meet people where they are and minister to their needs. Empowered by the Holy Spirit the FOL seeks to touch lives not only in the Valley of the Sun, but globally through its mission work.


Rev. Patterson entered the ministry in 1999 and was granted a license to preach by the Presiding Elder of the Phoenix-Albuquerque District of the Desert Mountain Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (“AMEC”). Rev. Patterson was ordained by the AMEC in 2002 as an Itinerate Deacon and upon her successful completion of the denomination’s 5 year course of study she was ordained as an Itinerate Elder in 2004. Rev. Patterson pursued a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Rev. Patterson’s academic credentials also include: a Juris Doctorate from The Harvard Law School; a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University (where she was designated a University Fellow by the faculty); a Bachelor of Science in Management and Industrial Relations from Minnesota State University at Mankato where she was the first graduate of the University’s Honors Program.

Rev. Patterson has had a wide-ranging career in law and finance. She practiced law at major firms in both Washington D.C. and New York. Rev. Patterson eventually was lured to Wall Street where she held a series of progressively responsible positions at two of the largest investment banks in the world. During her tenure on Wall Street she closed more than $16 billion in complex structured securities transactions. Ultimately she became only the second African American woman in U. S. history to be named a Managing Director of a major investment bank. Rev. Patterson moved to Arizona to accept a position as a Sr. Vice President of ING /Pilgrim Securities. Currently, in addition to her pastoral duties she is the CEO of a consulting firm. 

Rev. Cathy has always given back to the community. Since her arrival in Arizona she has served on the ministerial staff at Tanner Chapel AME Church in Phoenix where in addition to having the opportunity to preach and teach the Word of God she served as the Vice Chair of Tanner Community Development Corporation. Rev. Patterson has also been active in a number of civic organizations, having served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Scottsdale Cultural Council, a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Phoenix and a member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for Arizona Opera, and the Chair of the Board for Arizona Cares, Inc, She is currently a member of the African American Christian Clergy Coalition. 

Rev. Patterson has been happily married to Mr. Ross Patterson, Jr. for 28 years. Mr. Patterson has a heart for mission work whenever there is a need he is the first to respond. His missionary endeavors have included extensive work with the Lost Boys of the Sudan, survivors of Hurricane Katrina and developing an outreach ministry for men. 




Share by: