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Below are some of the folks on this incredible Grace Ministries team. Let us know how we can serve you.
 
Scott_Brittin.jpg
Scott Brittin

 
GMI Staff Role
Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
After 37 years of ministry I now serve as president emeritus. My personal mission is to encourage, equip and empower multipliers with the life of Christ.

 
Education and Training
BA in pastoral ministry. MA in pastor theology

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Jace-Headshot-829717d32435b3d9ed13dcb2aba0d0c7.png
Jace Caulder

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
I had been a Christian for 29 years and never knew what it was to really “know God” as He intended until I met Roger Stark, a pastor in Jacksonville, FL in 2012.

After accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1983, I served faithfully as a layman for many years before answering a call to ministry and going to Bible College in 1993. I earned my BS in Church Ministries in May of 2000 and served as an associate pastor for over 11 years before “hitting the wall”. I felt empty and dissatisfied; and I did not want to live in my “roller coaster religion” any longer. I resigned my position with nowhere to go but to my knees.

That’s when Jesus showed me the true meaning of His Grace! I was brought into something that I never experienced before and my heart craved for more! Now I know who I am in Christ; a son of God, unconditionally loved, forgiven completely, and accepted just as I am. I am a new creation IN Jesus. He speaks to me, He leads me, He comforts me; He is LIFE! My Life. It is my passion to bring this message of Life in Christ to all who will hear.

 
Education and Training
BS in Church Ministries

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
HeadShotGmint.jpg
Curt Chandler

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor,Mentor 

 
About Me
Saved at 8 years old I did not begin to walk with Jesus until 1998 after attending a 3-day renewal weekend. I learned about grace then and it transformed me, but I continued to work hard at achieving acceptance and worth by being successful at business or a “good” Christian. Getting the right job, house, car or behaving well, was never enough or never lasted long and I was always left with doubt, regret and remorse that I could not sustain righteousness.
My wife and I have been married for 42 years and 18 of those were spent dealing with drug addiction in our daughter. Thanks to God’s grace she is fine now and is living a fruitful productive life. We have been leading small groups and consulting with Families of Addicts for over 10 years.
My journey to Grace Ministries began in the fall of 2018. I wanted to become a Christian Counselor to help families and parents at a deeper level. I found Grace Ministries and the Exchanged Life model through friends at church.
After attending the Encounter, I began to take hold of my Identity and who God says I really am. Continuing the EDC (Equipping the Discipleship Counselor) training I finally received the gift of Grace and I am a new man the old has passed away. The freedom that brings, allowing me to be me, because God shares his righteousness with me in Christ, is something I want to help others come to know.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [a]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Christ lives in me and I am free to be me and that is enough. I know I am loved, accepted, worthy and secure in Christ.
Ephesians 2: 5-7 even when we were dead [f]in our transgressions, made us alive together [g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
My purpose for counseling comes from 1 Peter 4:10, Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
I am excited to help you find the Freedom that God’s grace brings.
My specialty is serving families that have a loved one struggling with addiction

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Kim-Kelly.jpg
Kim Kelley

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
God used the broken places and painful circumstances of my life to open myself up to Him, and to experience the fullness of life in Him!

It is now my joy and passion to walk beside others as they travel this road to experiencing the peace, rest and freedom of life in Christ!

Though, saved at nine years old, I was in my thirties before painful circumstances in my family and marriage brought me to a place of seeking out who God really was for myself. Knowing about Him was no longer enough, I needed to know Him for myself.
There is a huge difference in knowing about someone and truly knowing them. I needed to know Him and know that He knew and cared about me!

In looking at and studying His word for myself, I was stopped on John 10:10 “There is a thief (an enemy) that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

I understood the destruction of the enemy in my life but . . .
“Where was this abundant life?”

I certainly wasn’t experiencing it in my life, but I knew His word was true, so somehow I had missed it.

At the same time, I had been invited, by a friend, to a Grace Ministries conference at her church. It was there that God began to reveal to me this abundant life. It came in exchange: my doing life in my own strength to my receiving life in His!

I had been trying to keep my life together for so long, out of my own strength. I was exhausted and simply couldn’t do it anymore, not to mention I hadn’t been doing a very good job of it as well.
Little did I know, that was the best place that I could have been. In that conference, God began to reveal to me the meaning of Galatians 2:20a: “For I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ in me.”

Therein, was the answer to all my searching for the abundant life!

Life wasn’t about me getting through the storms and circumstances of life on my own or in my own strength. It was, instead, knowing and entrusting that Christ came to do it for me, through me. Abundant life comes in knowing and trusting Him for my needs, not me having to control life and meet them, myself.
This was what I had been missing, not me but Him in me! Jesus, my life source, my strength, my need meeter. . . My very
Life!

Has life circumstances and pain brought you to a place of brokenness? Are you searching for freedom from the lies of the enemy and the heaviness of life?

Are you, like I was, searching for abundant life?

If so, I would love to walk with you in the good news of His abundant life!

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
33917795-0AB6-465A-94AC-E46397F0FA46.jpeg
Hannah Kimbrough

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
I love connecting with others and seeing God at work in this world. While I have always had a heart for missions and ministry, I have not always understood the difference between striving and rest. I grew up in a loving Christian home and heard from an early age about God’s love. I received Christ very young and quickly determined to prove I was worth it.

Living under the pressure to perform, I channeled my energy into service for God. My deep love and curiosity for other cultures led me overseas where I served with a team for many years. It was during this time overseas that much of my personal paradigm fell apart. I discovered the futility of self-effort and the incredible joy of seeing God transform lives. I was putting an all out effort into working for God, which of course led to failure and disappointment. Through a season of darkness I encountered God’s love on a new level and began to discover what it means to receive. He invited me on a journey to let go of striving and to learn to operate from a place of rest.

As I learn to draw from Him as my source, I love to share the joy of rest with others. I am passionate about sharing the good news of God’s grace and seeing knowledge become a reality in people’s lives.

I received my M.A. in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University in 2016 and I am thrilled to serve as a discipleship counselor at Grace Ministries.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes…” Isaiah 54:2

 
Education and Training
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University

 
Languages Spoken
  • Chinese
  • English
 
Michelle-Morris.jpg
Michelle Morris

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counseling Supervisor,Discipleship Counselor,Trainer 

 
About Me
Michelle is passionate about sharing her journey from a striving perfectionist to resting in her identity in Christ. Her tumultuous journey through pregnancy loss, infertility, and divorce became the stepping stones to experience the profound love of God in the midst of heartache and loss. Her desire is to guide others in their own journeys through brokenness to find the joy, peace and rest that is only available in Christ.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Michelle relocated to the greater Los Angeles area in her twenties. Almost two decades later, she accepted God’s invitation to explore Southern living in Marietta, Georgia. Her favorite activities include hiking, kayaking, learning, traveling, and teaching personal defense.

She received her M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Luther Rice University and Seminary with an emphasis on the Exchanged Life Model.

Psalm 18:33-34 He makes my feet like the deer, and sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 
Education and Training
Masters in Christian Counseling

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Pam_OGwin.jpg
Pam O’Gwin

 
GMI Staff Role
Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Trainer 

 
About Me
I was raised in a Christian home and became a believer when I was 8 years old. I always went to church and I knew the Bible stories and all of the hymns. I had the knowledge of God's love and Christ's sacrifice on the cross. I learned as a teenager that Christ came "that I might have life and have it abundantly" which prompted my mission to achieve that abundant life by doing all of the right things.

After I was introduced to Precept Bible Study in my early twenties, I realized that God's Word really did give life. The Word of God came alive to me as never before. I learned about the character of God and the promises of God. I tried so hard in my own strength to live out what I read in Scripture. I really loved the Lord and I wanted to be pleasing to Him.

I married at a young age and we had two great boys and I felt so grateful and blessed. During the 17 years of marriage I tried very hard to be the best wife, mother, Christian, daughter, friend, neighbor, and tennis player! All of this effort of striving for the abundant life started to get me down and I became depressed because I felt like I could never measure up to MY standard. I had set the bar so high I could not attain it and I didn't know how to rest in Christ for His strength. I felt like everything was up to me to figure out and live out. The result was depression and divorce.

During this time of grief, God showed me that He didn't want me to work at having an abundant life, He want to be my Abundant Life. God began to heal me and teach me how to accept His invitation to "come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest..come and learn from Me...and you will find rest for your soul."

As time went on, I experienced God's call to vocational ministry, so another journey began. After completing seminary I prayed for God's direction. I knew that I wanted to be part of a ministry that taught believers and seekers how to discover and accept Christ for their very life. In 2004 a friend of mine told me about Grace Ministries International (GMI), so I looked them up and discovered that their passion and mission was also mine.

I attended a conference, a workshop, and met with several of the staff. I immediately knew that this was where God was calling me. I interned with GMI in the fall of 2005 and joined the staff in August 2006. It has been an amazing journey and God has guided me every step of the way. I have learned and am learning more of God's faithfulness, truth and love as He leads me in relationship with Him and the people He brings into my path. This life is a life I could never achieve on my own. He alone is the One who meets our need for love, acceptance, worth, and security. He alone is worthy of praise!

 
Education and Training
Masters Christian Education-New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Bachelor in Business Administration-Shorter College

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Pamela-Pernell-86f59cffe6b45e5c34699e1f23ada106.jpg
Pamela Purnell

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
I was born and raised with my three brothers in North Carolina in a Christian family. The church was the center of our religious training and social life. I became a Christian at the age of 7. Since we went to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening, until I moved away to go to college, I thought I knew God, Jesus and the Bible pretty well. I learned that God had done his part in sending Jesus to save us from our sin and going to hell after we died, and now I should be able to live a life pretty much free of sin and full of abundant life.

After graduation from college, I went to work for IBM. And it really does stand for “I’ve Been Moved”. I started in Raleigh North Carolina, moved to Washington DC, then to Seattle Washington, and then to Atlanta GA. When they wanted me to move to NY, I finally said I am done with moving.

But I did have an interesting career. The general areas of IBM that I had various jobs in were in Direct Sales as a Marketing Rep, (and yes, I did wear a pinstripe suite and scarf bowtie), Marketing Management, Headquarters Marketing, Human Resources as a People Development Manager for the South East, and Education and Training.

While I did have good jobs and some awesome opportunities to work with great people, when I got to Atlanta, I was beginning to get “burned out”. I began to ask myself and God was this all there was to his promise of abundant life? The life I was living was not easy and light, but hard and exhausting, with no rest in sight. I was going to Dr. Stanley’s church at the time, and was encouraged to check out Grace Ministries, which I did.

And I began to hear about God’s Grace, how He loved me just for who I was, not for what I should/could do for Him to earn his love or blessings or prove my worth. Now, that was different from my previous understanding, and the seed was planted.

After retirement from IBM, I went to Charis Bible College here in Atlanta. Charis is the Greek word for Grace. From GMI and Charis I learned that God is more interested in an intimate relationship with me than my keeping the rules. So much so, that He has come to join Himself with me, so that we are One Spirit…as in a marriage. I am the Bride of Christ…and you are too. He exchanged my life of trying to measure up to the law, and gave me His life of Sonship. It is this loving relationship and gift that he desires each of His children to know and live in.

After graduating from Charis Bible College, I began to volunteer at GMI, and now am a Discipleship Counselor and Conference Speaker communicating this gospel of God’s love and grace, which is really, REALLY good news!!

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
 
IMG_7779 2 (1).jpg
Lori Sargent

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Discipleship Counseling Supervisor,Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
Lori's personal mission is to educate, equip, and encourage others towards abundant life in Christ. Her passion is that women will know their true identity, worth and value in Christ, and then experience His transforming power in their daily life.

Lori was born in Georgia and also spent a lot of her time in South Carolina. She has been married for 31years and has 2 grown daughters, who both reside in Nashville. One of her favorite things to do is hike and tent camp, and you can often find her on a trail or next to a stream in the Georgia mountains. Lori also enjoys gardening, spinning, reading, drinking coffee and cozy blankets!

Lori has been a part of the Grace Ministries Family since 2014, where she received her Discipleship Counseling Training. She spent two years as the Director of the Relationship Center of Bartow Family Resources, and recently returned to Grace Ministries to serve as Interim Director of Counseling, Discipleship Counselor and Teacher.

As a 2021 Graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Lori has a passion for leadership development and building team connections, as well as walking Counselees through the Grace Ministries Counseling Process, and journeying with others through grief, trauma and difficult relationships.

 
Education and Training
Kennesaw State University - BS Psychology, 2021

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
2019 headshot.jpg
Vernon Terrell

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Facilitator,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
As a product of Grace Ministries International back in the 1990s (trained through First Baptist Church of Atlanta counseling program), I learned the truth of God's grace and freedom in Christ. I started my own ministry that I ran for 30 years while at the same time working in the corporate world. I've had the opportunity to speak, teach, and minister to many around the world. I volunteer with a high school student ministry, coach special-needs baseball (Miracle League), and partner with other ministries to proclaim the truth that sets free.

 
Education and Training
BBA, Georgia State University

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
Below are some of the folks on this incredible Grace Ministries team. Let us know how we can serve you.
 
Scott_Brittin.jpg
Scott Brittin

 
GMI Staff Role
Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
After 37 years of ministry I now serve as president emeritus. My personal mission is to encourage, equip and empower multipliers with the life of Christ.

 
Education and Training
BA in pastoral ministry. MA in pastor theology

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Jace-Headshot-829717d32435b3d9ed13dcb2aba0d0c7.png
Jace Caulder

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
I had been a Christian for 29 years and never knew what it was to really “know God” as He intended until I met Roger Stark, a pastor in Jacksonville, FL in 2012.

After accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1983, I served faithfully as a layman for many years before answering a call to ministry and going to Bible College in 1993. I earned my BS in Church Ministries in May of 2000 and served as an associate pastor for over 11 years before “hitting the wall”. I felt empty and dissatisfied; and I did not want to live in my “roller coaster religion” any longer. I resigned my position with nowhere to go but to my knees.

That’s when Jesus showed me the true meaning of His Grace! I was brought into something that I never experienced before and my heart craved for more! Now I know who I am in Christ; a son of God, unconditionally loved, forgiven completely, and accepted just as I am. I am a new creation IN Jesus. He speaks to me, He leads me, He comforts me; He is LIFE! My Life. It is my passion to bring this message of Life in Christ to all who will hear.

 
Education and Training
BS in Church Ministries

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
HeadShotGmint.jpg
Curt Chandler

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor,Mentor 

 
About Me
Saved at 8 years old I did not begin to walk with Jesus until 1998 after attending a 3-day renewal weekend. I learned about grace then and it transformed me, but I continued to work hard at achieving acceptance and worth by being successful at business or a “good” Christian. Getting the right job, house, car or behaving well, was never enough or never lasted long and I was always left with doubt, regret and remorse that I could not sustain righteousness.
My wife and I have been married for 42 years and 18 of those were spent dealing with drug addiction in our daughter. Thanks to God’s grace she is fine now and is living a fruitful productive life. We have been leading small groups and consulting with Families of Addicts for over 10 years.
My journey to Grace Ministries began in the fall of 2018. I wanted to become a Christian Counselor to help families and parents at a deeper level. I found Grace Ministries and the Exchanged Life model through friends at church.
After attending the Encounter, I began to take hold of my Identity and who God says I really am. Continuing the EDC (Equipping the Discipleship Counselor) training I finally received the gift of Grace and I am a new man the old has passed away. The freedom that brings, allowing me to be me, because God shares his righteousness with me in Christ, is something I want to help others come to know.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [a]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Christ lives in me and I am free to be me and that is enough. I know I am loved, accepted, worthy and secure in Christ.
Ephesians 2: 5-7 even when we were dead [f]in our transgressions, made us alive together [g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
My purpose for counseling comes from 1 Peter 4:10, Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
I am excited to help you find the Freedom that God’s grace brings.
My specialty is serving families that have a loved one struggling with addiction

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Kim-Kelly.jpg
Kim Kelley

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
God used the broken places and painful circumstances of my life to open myself up to Him, and to experience the fullness of life in Him!

It is now my joy and passion to walk beside others as they travel this road to experiencing the peace, rest and freedom of life in Christ!

Though, saved at nine years old, I was in my thirties before painful circumstances in my family and marriage brought me to a place of seeking out who God really was for myself. Knowing about Him was no longer enough, I needed to know Him for myself.
There is a huge difference in knowing about someone and truly knowing them. I needed to know Him and know that He knew and cared about me!

In looking at and studying His word for myself, I was stopped on John 10:10 “There is a thief (an enemy) that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

I understood the destruction of the enemy in my life but . . .
“Where was this abundant life?”

I certainly wasn’t experiencing it in my life, but I knew His word was true, so somehow I had missed it.

At the same time, I had been invited, by a friend, to a Grace Ministries conference at her church. It was there that God began to reveal to me this abundant life. It came in exchange: my doing life in my own strength to my receiving life in His!

I had been trying to keep my life together for so long, out of my own strength. I was exhausted and simply couldn’t do it anymore, not to mention I hadn’t been doing a very good job of it as well.
Little did I know, that was the best place that I could have been. In that conference, God began to reveal to me the meaning of Galatians 2:20a: “For I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ in me.”

Therein, was the answer to all my searching for the abundant life!

Life wasn’t about me getting through the storms and circumstances of life on my own or in my own strength. It was, instead, knowing and entrusting that Christ came to do it for me, through me. Abundant life comes in knowing and trusting Him for my needs, not me having to control life and meet them, myself.
This was what I had been missing, not me but Him in me! Jesus, my life source, my strength, my need meeter. . . My very
Life!

Has life circumstances and pain brought you to a place of brokenness? Are you searching for freedom from the lies of the enemy and the heaviness of life?

Are you, like I was, searching for abundant life?

If so, I would love to walk with you in the good news of His abundant life!

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
33917795-0AB6-465A-94AC-E46397F0FA46.jpeg
Hannah Kimbrough

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
I love connecting with others and seeing God at work in this world. While I have always had a heart for missions and ministry, I have not always understood the difference between striving and rest. I grew up in a loving Christian home and heard from an early age about God’s love. I received Christ very young and quickly determined to prove I was worth it.

Living under the pressure to perform, I channeled my energy into service for God. My deep love and curiosity for other cultures led me overseas where I served with a team for many years. It was during this time overseas that much of my personal paradigm fell apart. I discovered the futility of self-effort and the incredible joy of seeing God transform lives. I was putting an all out effort into working for God, which of course led to failure and disappointment. Through a season of darkness I encountered God’s love on a new level and began to discover what it means to receive. He invited me on a journey to let go of striving and to learn to operate from a place of rest.

As I learn to draw from Him as my source, I love to share the joy of rest with others. I am passionate about sharing the good news of God’s grace and seeing knowledge become a reality in people’s lives.

I received my M.A. in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University in 2016 and I am thrilled to serve as a discipleship counselor at Grace Ministries.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes…” Isaiah 54:2

 
Education and Training
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University

 
Languages Spoken
  • Chinese
  • English
 
Michelle-Morris.jpg
Michelle Morris

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counseling Supervisor,Discipleship Counselor,Trainer 

 
About Me
Michelle is passionate about sharing her journey from a striving perfectionist to resting in her identity in Christ. Her tumultuous journey through pregnancy loss, infertility, and divorce became the stepping stones to experience the profound love of God in the midst of heartache and loss. Her desire is to guide others in their own journeys through brokenness to find the joy, peace and rest that is only available in Christ.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Michelle relocated to the greater Los Angeles area in her twenties. Almost two decades later, she accepted God’s invitation to explore Southern living in Marietta, Georgia. Her favorite activities include hiking, kayaking, learning, traveling, and teaching personal defense.

She received her M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Luther Rice University and Seminary with an emphasis on the Exchanged Life Model.

Psalm 18:33-34 He makes my feet like the deer, and sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 
Education and Training
Masters in Christian Counseling

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Pam_OGwin.jpg
Pam O’Gwin

 
GMI Staff Role
Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Trainer 

 
About Me
I was raised in a Christian home and became a believer when I was 8 years old. I always went to church and I knew the Bible stories and all of the hymns. I had the knowledge of God's love and Christ's sacrifice on the cross. I learned as a teenager that Christ came "that I might have life and have it abundantly" which prompted my mission to achieve that abundant life by doing all of the right things.

After I was introduced to Precept Bible Study in my early twenties, I realized that God's Word really did give life. The Word of God came alive to me as never before. I learned about the character of God and the promises of God. I tried so hard in my own strength to live out what I read in Scripture. I really loved the Lord and I wanted to be pleasing to Him.

I married at a young age and we had two great boys and I felt so grateful and blessed. During the 17 years of marriage I tried very hard to be the best wife, mother, Christian, daughter, friend, neighbor, and tennis player! All of this effort of striving for the abundant life started to get me down and I became depressed because I felt like I could never measure up to MY standard. I had set the bar so high I could not attain it and I didn't know how to rest in Christ for His strength. I felt like everything was up to me to figure out and live out. The result was depression and divorce.

During this time of grief, God showed me that He didn't want me to work at having an abundant life, He want to be my Abundant Life. God began to heal me and teach me how to accept His invitation to "come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest..come and learn from Me...and you will find rest for your soul."

As time went on, I experienced God's call to vocational ministry, so another journey began. After completing seminary I prayed for God's direction. I knew that I wanted to be part of a ministry that taught believers and seekers how to discover and accept Christ for their very life. In 2004 a friend of mine told me about Grace Ministries International (GMI), so I looked them up and discovered that their passion and mission was also mine.

I attended a conference, a workshop, and met with several of the staff. I immediately knew that this was where God was calling me. I interned with GMI in the fall of 2005 and joined the staff in August 2006. It has been an amazing journey and God has guided me every step of the way. I have learned and am learning more of God's faithfulness, truth and love as He leads me in relationship with Him and the people He brings into my path. This life is a life I could never achieve on my own. He alone is the One who meets our need for love, acceptance, worth, and security. He alone is worthy of praise!

 
Education and Training
Masters Christian Education-New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Bachelor in Business Administration-Shorter College

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Pamela-Pernell-86f59cffe6b45e5c34699e1f23ada106.jpg
Pamela Purnell

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
I was born and raised with my three brothers in North Carolina in a Christian family. The church was the center of our religious training and social life. I became a Christian at the age of 7. Since we went to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening, until I moved away to go to college, I thought I knew God, Jesus and the Bible pretty well. I learned that God had done his part in sending Jesus to save us from our sin and going to hell after we died, and now I should be able to live a life pretty much free of sin and full of abundant life.

After graduation from college, I went to work for IBM. And it really does stand for “I’ve Been Moved”. I started in Raleigh North Carolina, moved to Washington DC, then to Seattle Washington, and then to Atlanta GA. When they wanted me to move to NY, I finally said I am done with moving.

But I did have an interesting career. The general areas of IBM that I had various jobs in were in Direct Sales as a Marketing Rep, (and yes, I did wear a pinstripe suite and scarf bowtie), Marketing Management, Headquarters Marketing, Human Resources as a People Development Manager for the South East, and Education and Training.

While I did have good jobs and some awesome opportunities to work with great people, when I got to Atlanta, I was beginning to get “burned out”. I began to ask myself and God was this all there was to his promise of abundant life? The life I was living was not easy and light, but hard and exhausting, with no rest in sight. I was going to Dr. Stanley’s church at the time, and was encouraged to check out Grace Ministries, which I did.

And I began to hear about God’s Grace, how He loved me just for who I was, not for what I should/could do for Him to earn his love or blessings or prove my worth. Now, that was different from my previous understanding, and the seed was planted.

After retirement from IBM, I went to Charis Bible College here in Atlanta. Charis is the Greek word for Grace. From GMI and Charis I learned that God is more interested in an intimate relationship with me than my keeping the rules. So much so, that He has come to join Himself with me, so that we are One Spirit…as in a marriage. I am the Bride of Christ…and you are too. He exchanged my life of trying to measure up to the law, and gave me His life of Sonship. It is this loving relationship and gift that he desires each of His children to know and live in.

After graduating from Charis Bible College, I began to volunteer at GMI, and now am a Discipleship Counselor and Conference Speaker communicating this gospel of God’s love and grace, which is really, REALLY good news!!

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
 
IMG_7779 2 (1).jpg
Lori Sargent

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Discipleship Counseling Supervisor,Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
Lori's personal mission is to educate, equip, and encourage others towards abundant life in Christ. Her passion is that women will know their true identity, worth and value in Christ, and then experience His transforming power in their daily life.

Lori was born in Georgia and also spent a lot of her time in South Carolina. She has been married for 31years and has 2 grown daughters, who both reside in Nashville. One of her favorite things to do is hike and tent camp, and you can often find her on a trail or next to a stream in the Georgia mountains. Lori also enjoys gardening, spinning, reading, drinking coffee and cozy blankets!

Lori has been a part of the Grace Ministries Family since 2014, where she received her Discipleship Counseling Training. She spent two years as the Director of the Relationship Center of Bartow Family Resources, and recently returned to Grace Ministries to serve as Interim Director of Counseling, Discipleship Counselor and Teacher.

As a 2021 Graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Lori has a passion for leadership development and building team connections, as well as walking Counselees through the Grace Ministries Counseling Process, and journeying with others through grief, trauma and difficult relationships.

 
Education and Training
Kennesaw State University - BS Psychology, 2021

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
2019 headshot.jpg
Vernon Terrell

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Facilitator,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
As a product of Grace Ministries International back in the 1990s (trained through First Baptist Church of Atlanta counseling program), I learned the truth of God's grace and freedom in Christ. I started my own ministry that I ran for 30 years while at the same time working in the corporate world. I've had the opportunity to speak, teach, and minister to many around the world. I volunteer with a high school student ministry, coach special-needs baseball (Miracle League), and partner with other ministries to proclaim the truth that sets free.

 
Education and Training
BBA, Georgia State University

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
Below are some of the folks on this incredible Grace Ministries team. Let us know how we can serve you.
 
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Scott Brittin

 
GMI Staff Role
Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
After 37 years of ministry I now serve as president emeritus. My personal mission is to encourage, equip and empower multipliers with the life of Christ.

 
Education and Training
BA in pastoral ministry. MA in pastor theology

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
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Jace Caulder

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
I had been a Christian for 29 years and never knew what it was to really “know God” as He intended until I met Roger Stark, a pastor in Jacksonville, FL in 2012.

After accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1983, I served faithfully as a layman for many years before answering a call to ministry and going to Bible College in 1993. I earned my BS in Church Ministries in May of 2000 and served as an associate pastor for over 11 years before “hitting the wall”. I felt empty and dissatisfied; and I did not want to live in my “roller coaster religion” any longer. I resigned my position with nowhere to go but to my knees.

That’s when Jesus showed me the true meaning of His Grace! I was brought into something that I never experienced before and my heart craved for more! Now I know who I am in Christ; a son of God, unconditionally loved, forgiven completely, and accepted just as I am. I am a new creation IN Jesus. He speaks to me, He leads me, He comforts me; He is LIFE! My Life. It is my passion to bring this message of Life in Christ to all who will hear.

 
Education and Training
BS in Church Ministries

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
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Curt Chandler

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor,Mentor 

 
About Me
Saved at 8 years old I did not begin to walk with Jesus until 1998 after attending a 3-day renewal weekend. I learned about grace then and it transformed me, but I continued to work hard at achieving acceptance and worth by being successful at business or a “good” Christian. Getting the right job, house, car or behaving well, was never enough or never lasted long and I was always left with doubt, regret and remorse that I could not sustain righteousness.
My wife and I have been married for 42 years and 18 of those were spent dealing with drug addiction in our daughter. Thanks to God’s grace she is fine now and is living a fruitful productive life. We have been leading small groups and consulting with Families of Addicts for over 10 years.
My journey to Grace Ministries began in the fall of 2018. I wanted to become a Christian Counselor to help families and parents at a deeper level. I found Grace Ministries and the Exchanged Life model through friends at church.
After attending the Encounter, I began to take hold of my Identity and who God says I really am. Continuing the EDC (Equipping the Discipleship Counselor) training I finally received the gift of Grace and I am a new man the old has passed away. The freedom that brings, allowing me to be me, because God shares his righteousness with me in Christ, is something I want to help others come to know.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [a]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Christ lives in me and I am free to be me and that is enough. I know I am loved, accepted, worthy and secure in Christ.
Ephesians 2: 5-7 even when we were dead [f]in our transgressions, made us alive together [g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
My purpose for counseling comes from 1 Peter 4:10, Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
I am excited to help you find the Freedom that God’s grace brings.
My specialty is serving families that have a loved one struggling with addiction

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
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Kim Kelley

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
God used the broken places and painful circumstances of my life to open myself up to Him, and to experience the fullness of life in Him!

It is now my joy and passion to walk beside others as they travel this road to experiencing the peace, rest and freedom of life in Christ!

Though, saved at nine years old, I was in my thirties before painful circumstances in my family and marriage brought me to a place of seeking out who God really was for myself. Knowing about Him was no longer enough, I needed to know Him for myself.
There is a huge difference in knowing about someone and truly knowing them. I needed to know Him and know that He knew and cared about me!

In looking at and studying His word for myself, I was stopped on John 10:10 “There is a thief (an enemy) that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

I understood the destruction of the enemy in my life but . . .
“Where was this abundant life?”

I certainly wasn’t experiencing it in my life, but I knew His word was true, so somehow I had missed it.

At the same time, I had been invited, by a friend, to a Grace Ministries conference at her church. It was there that God began to reveal to me this abundant life. It came in exchange: my doing life in my own strength to my receiving life in His!

I had been trying to keep my life together for so long, out of my own strength. I was exhausted and simply couldn’t do it anymore, not to mention I hadn’t been doing a very good job of it as well.
Little did I know, that was the best place that I could have been. In that conference, God began to reveal to me the meaning of Galatians 2:20a: “For I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ in me.”

Therein, was the answer to all my searching for the abundant life!

Life wasn’t about me getting through the storms and circumstances of life on my own or in my own strength. It was, instead, knowing and entrusting that Christ came to do it for me, through me. Abundant life comes in knowing and trusting Him for my needs, not me having to control life and meet them, myself.
This was what I had been missing, not me but Him in me! Jesus, my life source, my strength, my need meeter. . . My very
Life!

Has life circumstances and pain brought you to a place of brokenness? Are you searching for freedom from the lies of the enemy and the heaviness of life?

Are you, like I was, searching for abundant life?

If so, I would love to walk with you in the good news of His abundant life!

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
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Hannah Kimbrough

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
I love connecting with others and seeing God at work in this world. While I have always had a heart for missions and ministry, I have not always understood the difference between striving and rest. I grew up in a loving Christian home and heard from an early age about God’s love. I received Christ very young and quickly determined to prove I was worth it.

Living under the pressure to perform, I channeled my energy into service for God. My deep love and curiosity for other cultures led me overseas where I served with a team for many years. It was during this time overseas that much of my personal paradigm fell apart. I discovered the futility of self-effort and the incredible joy of seeing God transform lives. I was putting an all out effort into working for God, which of course led to failure and disappointment. Through a season of darkness I encountered God’s love on a new level and began to discover what it means to receive. He invited me on a journey to let go of striving and to learn to operate from a place of rest.

As I learn to draw from Him as my source, I love to share the joy of rest with others. I am passionate about sharing the good news of God’s grace and seeing knowledge become a reality in people’s lives.

I received my M.A. in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University in 2016 and I am thrilled to serve as a discipleship counselor at Grace Ministries.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes…” Isaiah 54:2

 
Education and Training
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University

 
Languages Spoken
  • Chinese
  • English
 
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Michelle Morris

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counseling Supervisor,Discipleship Counselor,Trainer 

 
About Me
Michelle is passionate about sharing her journey from a striving perfectionist to resting in her identity in Christ. Her tumultuous journey through pregnancy loss, infertility, and divorce became the stepping stones to experience the profound love of God in the midst of heartache and loss. Her desire is to guide others in their own journeys through brokenness to find the joy, peace and rest that is only available in Christ.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Michelle relocated to the greater Los Angeles area in her twenties. Almost two decades later, she accepted God’s invitation to explore Southern living in Marietta, Georgia. Her favorite activities include hiking, kayaking, learning, traveling, and teaching personal defense.

She received her M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Luther Rice University and Seminary with an emphasis on the Exchanged Life Model.

Psalm 18:33-34 He makes my feet like the deer, and sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 
Education and Training
Masters in Christian Counseling

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
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Pam O’Gwin

 
GMI Staff Role
Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Trainer 

 
About Me
I was raised in a Christian home and became a believer when I was 8 years old. I always went to church and I knew the Bible stories and all of the hymns. I had the knowledge of God's love and Christ's sacrifice on the cross. I learned as a teenager that Christ came "that I might have life and have it abundantly" which prompted my mission to achieve that abundant life by doing all of the right things.

After I was introduced to Precept Bible Study in my early twenties, I realized that God's Word really did give life. The Word of God came alive to me as never before. I learned about the character of God and the promises of God. I tried so hard in my own strength to live out what I read in Scripture. I really loved the Lord and I wanted to be pleasing to Him.

I married at a young age and we had two great boys and I felt so grateful and blessed. During the 17 years of marriage I tried very hard to be the best wife, mother, Christian, daughter, friend, neighbor, and tennis player! All of this effort of striving for the abundant life started to get me down and I became depressed because I felt like I could never measure up to MY standard. I had set the bar so high I could not attain it and I didn't know how to rest in Christ for His strength. I felt like everything was up to me to figure out and live out. The result was depression and divorce.

During this time of grief, God showed me that He didn't want me to work at having an abundant life, He want to be my Abundant Life. God began to heal me and teach me how to accept His invitation to "come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest..come and learn from Me...and you will find rest for your soul."

As time went on, I experienced God's call to vocational ministry, so another journey began. After completing seminary I prayed for God's direction. I knew that I wanted to be part of a ministry that taught believers and seekers how to discover and accept Christ for their very life. In 2004 a friend of mine told me about Grace Ministries International (GMI), so I looked them up and discovered that their passion and mission was also mine.

I attended a conference, a workshop, and met with several of the staff. I immediately knew that this was where God was calling me. I interned with GMI in the fall of 2005 and joined the staff in August 2006. It has been an amazing journey and God has guided me every step of the way. I have learned and am learning more of God's faithfulness, truth and love as He leads me in relationship with Him and the people He brings into my path. This life is a life I could never achieve on my own. He alone is the One who meets our need for love, acceptance, worth, and security. He alone is worthy of praise!

 
Education and Training
Masters Christian Education-New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Bachelor in Business Administration-Shorter College

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
Pamela-Pernell-86f59cffe6b45e5c34699e1f23ada106.jpg
Pamela Purnell

 
GMI Staff Role
Discipleship Counselor 

 
About Me
I was born and raised with my three brothers in North Carolina in a Christian family. The church was the center of our religious training and social life. I became a Christian at the age of 7. Since we went to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening, until I moved away to go to college, I thought I knew God, Jesus and the Bible pretty well. I learned that God had done his part in sending Jesus to save us from our sin and going to hell after we died, and now I should be able to live a life pretty much free of sin and full of abundant life.

After graduation from college, I went to work for IBM. And it really does stand for “I’ve Been Moved”. I started in Raleigh North Carolina, moved to Washington DC, then to Seattle Washington, and then to Atlanta GA. When they wanted me to move to NY, I finally said I am done with moving.

But I did have an interesting career. The general areas of IBM that I had various jobs in were in Direct Sales as a Marketing Rep, (and yes, I did wear a pinstripe suite and scarf bowtie), Marketing Management, Headquarters Marketing, Human Resources as a People Development Manager for the South East, and Education and Training.

While I did have good jobs and some awesome opportunities to work with great people, when I got to Atlanta, I was beginning to get “burned out”. I began to ask myself and God was this all there was to his promise of abundant life? The life I was living was not easy and light, but hard and exhausting, with no rest in sight. I was going to Dr. Stanley’s church at the time, and was encouraged to check out Grace Ministries, which I did.

And I began to hear about God’s Grace, how He loved me just for who I was, not for what I should/could do for Him to earn his love or blessings or prove my worth. Now, that was different from my previous understanding, and the seed was planted.

After retirement from IBM, I went to Charis Bible College here in Atlanta. Charis is the Greek word for Grace. From GMI and Charis I learned that God is more interested in an intimate relationship with me than my keeping the rules. So much so, that He has come to join Himself with me, so that we are One Spirit…as in a marriage. I am the Bride of Christ…and you are too. He exchanged my life of trying to measure up to the law, and gave me His life of Sonship. It is this loving relationship and gift that he desires each of His children to know and live in.

After graduating from Charis Bible College, I began to volunteer at GMI, and now am a Discipleship Counselor and Conference Speaker communicating this gospel of God’s love and grace, which is really, REALLY good news!!

 
Education and Training
 

 
Languages Spoken
 
IMG_7779 2 (1).jpg
Lori Sargent

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Discipleship Counseling Supervisor,Discipleship Counselor,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
Lori's personal mission is to educate, equip, and encourage others towards abundant life in Christ. Her passion is that women will know their true identity, worth and value in Christ, and then experience His transforming power in their daily life.

Lori was born in Georgia and also spent a lot of her time in South Carolina. She has been married for 31years and has 2 grown daughters, who both reside in Nashville. One of her favorite things to do is hike and tent camp, and you can often find her on a trail or next to a stream in the Georgia mountains. Lori also enjoys gardening, spinning, reading, drinking coffee and cozy blankets!

Lori has been a part of the Grace Ministries Family since 2014, where she received her Discipleship Counseling Training. She spent two years as the Director of the Relationship Center of Bartow Family Resources, and recently returned to Grace Ministries to serve as Interim Director of Counseling, Discipleship Counselor and Teacher.

As a 2021 Graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Lori has a passion for leadership development and building team connections, as well as walking Counselees through the Grace Ministries Counseling Process, and journeying with others through grief, trauma and difficult relationships.

 
Education and Training
Kennesaw State University - BS Psychology, 2021

 
Languages Spoken
  • English
 
2019 headshot.jpg
Vernon Terrell

 
GMI Staff Role
Administrative,Conference Speaker,Discipleship Counselor,Facilitator,Mentor,Trainer 

 
About Me
As a product of Grace Ministries International back in the 1990s (trained through First Baptist Church of Atlanta counseling program), I learned the truth of God's grace and freedom in Christ. I started my own ministry that I ran for 30 years while at the same time working in the corporate world. I've had the opportunity to speak, teach, and minister to many around the world. I volunteer with a high school student ministry, coach special-needs baseball (Miracle League), and partner with other ministries to proclaim the truth that sets free.

 
Education and Training
BBA, Georgia State University

 
Languages Spoken
  • English

Copyright © 2021 by Grace Ministries Internatioinal, Inc.