Sue Baumgarten has been involved with LifeHouse since 1992. She first served on the board of directors in 1993, then moved into a staff role, serving as the housemother from 1995 to 1997. Sue served as President of the LifeHouse Board from 2005 to 2011. She has served on the boards of Carolina Creek Christian Camp, The Forge for Families, Inc., National Christian Foundation and the Refuge Community Development Center. Her gifts and talents are in connecting people, encouraging others, and development. She and her husband, Gil, have three grown children. First Presbyterian has been their “mother church” and they currently attend Seven Mile Road Church. Sue has a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree from Stephen F. Austin where she majored in Marketing and Management. Sue recognizes the work she’s been involved in at LifeHouse for all these years has been fulfilling a call from God on her life, and it is with great humility and honor that she moved into the position of Executive Director in March, 2014.

EMAIL sue.baumgarten@lifehousehouston.org

Meredith’s career in non-profit began as an intern at American Cancer Society-Austin while attending school at Texas State University. Her mom passed away of breast cancer at the age of 11, so she knew she wanted to do her part in joining the fight. She ended up graduating and working at American Cancer Society-Houston from 2007-2010. During her time there she managed six different special events that included galas, golf tournaments and fashion shows. She was given the American Cancer Society’s “Rising Star” award at the national level for her work in fundraising. In 2010, she was offered a position at the corporate office of Goodwill Industries of Houston handling the marketing and media relations as well as serving as the official spokesperson for the enterprise. Her heart is for the broken, lost, and fatherless. She feels a close connection to the LifeHouse residents through experiencing many of her own life struggles at an early age and seeing the healing that comes from trusting the Great Redeemer, Jesus. Meredith has been involved with LifeHouse since 2010 through the “Celebration Dinner” and now uses her gifts to serve the ministry full time.

EMAIL meredith.phillips@lifehousehouston.org

Valerie is a ten year veteran serving life affirming organizations in Houston, Texas. Her service began through volunteering at Harkins House Maternity Home in 2005. After graduating from Texas Woman’s University and becoming a Licensed Social Worker, Valerie was promoted to Social Services Director at Harkins House. Following the untimely death of its founder and closure of the ministry Valerie began serving with The Source for Women of Houston as the Northeast Center Director. After 12 months of prayer, Valerie felt the Lord calling her to return to service in a Maternity Home once more. Valerie joined the LifeHouse of Houston team in December 2014 as the Director of Social Services. She provides case management and support to residents of LifeHouse creating their exit plan upon the birth of their baby. Valerie also manages LifeLine outreach ministry, providing case management for women of the Houston community who are pregnant, have children in their custody, or are at risk of an unintended pregnancy.

EMAIL valerie.harkins@lifehousehouston.org

Dawn Schauweker started volunteering with LifeHouse over 20 years ago. Among other things, she served on the Special Events Committee before joining the staff as the Director of Administration in 2012. She has a passion for the ministry along with skills and insight that make her a wonderful addition to the team.

EMAIL dawn.ghormley@lifehousehouston.org

Erica is originally from Baton Rouge, LA and has lived in Houston for the past 6 years. During her time in Baton Rouge she attended Bethany World Prayer Center where she came to know Christ in 2003. She then went on to attend MTI: School of Ministry where she graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Humanities/Ministry Studies. While in school Erica was involved in Youth Ministry as a Youth Leader for 7 years, she also served on the Worship Team for 3 years. Being involved in Youth Ministry changed and challenged Erica in so many ways, and opened her eyes to the many issues that young women everywhere face on a daily basis. Once she moved to Houston it was quite the challenge to find a church that would resemble where she worshipped at home, but after one visit to Hope City, she knew that’s exactly where she needed to be. Erica began operating in her Administrative gift early on at Hope City as the Admin for the Greeter team. This involved scheduling 85-100 greeters for all weekend services every week! She has always been very passionate about worship and after about a year of being the Greeter Team Admin, Erica moved on to join the Hope City Worship team where she leads worship during the weekend services. She believes that her heart for Youth & Young Adult ministry coupled with her Administrative gifting will be the perfect blend for her position at LifeHouse.

EMAIL erica.brue@lifehousehouston.org

Sandra found her way to LifeHouse as a volunteer in 2012. She taught a life skills class and immediately fell in love with the residents, the mission of LifeHouse, and the depth of the ministry’s passion for Christ. She was so moved by the experience that she decided to go back to school to obtain her Bachelor’s of Science in Human Services. Not long after graduation, Sandra was thrilled when asked to join the staff at LifeHouse of Houston. She currently serves as a coach for the LifeHouse residents aftercare program, LifeLine. This role is particularly special to her as she was adopted at six weeks old by two loving Christian parents. She accepted Christ as her Savior when she was eight and attends Second Baptist Church. Sandra occasionally thinks of her birth mother, and says if she could say one thing to her it would be, “Thank you for choosing life, it’s been a lovely one.”

EMAIL sandra.fox@lifehousehouston.org

Amy has been a resident of Katy for over 15 years and has raised two children in Katy schools. She serves as a team leader for Katy Young Lives, a ministry for teen mothers and is enrolled in Inspire Women’s Leadership Academy. Amy is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern who enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, families, and couples. She has a B.A. in Communications from Hawaii Pacific University and an M.A. in Counseling from LeTourneau University. As a Crisis Center Advocate with Katy Christian Ministries, Amy has facilitated teen groups within Katy ISD's Parenting Education Program (PEP) and at the district's Opportunity Awareness Center. She also served as part of a team, providing 24-hour sexual assault services to Katy and Memorial City Memorial Hermann Emergency Centers. Amy is passionate in her work with teens, couples, and families. Her specific interests include, but are not limited to depression, anxiety, women’s issues, trauma and abuse, ADHD, family systems, parenting and relationship skills. Her experience includes direct counseling services to individuals, couples and families, as well as support group facilitation, crisis management, and advocacy in domestic violence and sexual assault. She also loves Jesus and serving the women at LifeHouse!

EMAIL amy.warren@lifehousehouston.org

Hilary, first and foremost, is a follower of Jesus Christ, and believes her mission is to learn to love others as Christ loves His people. As a counselor, she strives to support her clients through developing a personalized plan for hope and healing. A graduate of Baylor University and The University of Houston, Hilary specializes in working with clients diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, depression, trauma, behavior disorders, personality disorders, and other challenges. Hilary's experience includes working for HCA hospitals, Hope Psychological Services, The Children's Assessment Center in Harris County, and The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston. Hilary is married to Tom, and they have a dog, Maizie. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, cooking, painting, exercise and spending time with her husband and family.

EMAIL hilary.duffy@lifehousehouston.org

Marcos and Julie Leon have been married since 2011 and have two children together, Hannah (born in April 2013) and Lucas (born in Aug 2015). When Julie and Marcos first met, they connected quickly around their desire to love and serve God and others with their whole lives. They have since been seeking to join God where He is already at work as a family, which eventually led them to say "yes" to being house parents at Lifehouse. Before they met, Julie, a native Houstonian, was a teacher and also worked in Indonesia with street children. Marcos, originally from Ecuador, has a background in hotel management and has worked for Faithwalking/Mission Houston since 2007. He has a daughter named Alexa who was born in 1995; she is currently studying international business at Northeastern in Boston.

EMAIL julie.marcos.leon@lifehousehouston.org

David and Ruhamah’s lives started together on September 1st 2002 in Florida. They were both praying diligent that God would grant them the “desires of their hearts” - a Christian spouse who had the desire to serve God wherever they were called. They were married in Florida December 21st 2002. David was widowed in 2001, Ruhamah was divorced for over 20 years and was waiting for the “Godly man.’’ They relocated from Florida to Texas November of 2008. David worked for Siemens Westinghouse in Florida for 19 years as a design drafter before coming to Texas and continuing the same line of work. After the company went out of business, David was hired as facilities manager at their church, Parkway Fellowship in Richmond. Ruhamah has a background in nursing from her native country, Jamaica. She started her own company in Florida in 2002 called “Content Family Home Care’’ to take care of the elderly in the confines of their homes. The company continued in Texas until 2013 when she realized that God was calling her into service. Ruhamah began volunteering in Deltona Florida in 2003 with the local pregnancy resource center as a peer counselor/mentor and continued in Katy Texas from 2009 to 2011, then started again in 2013 for the next two years. It was while she was at the pregnancy resource center in Katy when she felt the strong urge to fully commit to the call of ministering to homeless pregnant women. Ruhamah and David are fully active in their church, Parkway Fellowship. They both lead small married groups. David leads a men’s small group on Saturdays. They are both also involved in the prayer ministry. David and Ruhamah have six grown children (one adopted) and eight grandchildren.

EMAIL ruhamah.david.rylander@lifehousehouston.org

Janet and Bill seek to please God as humble followers of Jesus Christ. They are best friends, married for life and enjoy worshipping and serving others together. They are blessed to be parents of three adult children and to be grandparents as well. Janet and Bill are challenged by the quote, “Two things upon this changing earth can neither change NOR end; the splendor of Christ’s humble birth, and the love of friend for friend”. They pray that Christ alone will increase as they decrease in the work the Lord allows them at LifeHouse.

EMAIL janet.bill.white@lifehousehouston.org