Staff
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Brad Carter
I ventured to Abilene to attend Abilene Christian University in 1997 after growing up in a small, college town in northwest Tennessee. After completing undergraduate and graduate education, I worked coordinating Chapel Programs at ACU for two years. I then made a transition into church ministry at New Life Church in downtown Abilene. While working as associate minister at the church, I began to study and learn about community development and renewal from a variety of sources.
Through efforts of finding partners and opportunities in Abilene, I discovered Connecting Caring Communities in 2005 and took a trip to Shreveport with a great group of interested leaders. I returned inspired and led efforts at my church and through volunteering with CCC to help implement the strategies and efforts in Abilene. When the position for executive director reopened in 2007, I decided it was time to work full-time with CCC in community renewal.
Since then, I continue to learn, meet new partners and caring people, and be renewed myself in this great work. Through these various positions and times of growth, I have been supported, encouraged and accompanied by my wonderful wife, Rachael, and in recent years by our daughters Ellianna and Caroline.
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Stephanie Fletcher
Growing up in Europe and then St. Louis, Missouri as a missionary’s kid, I guess I should have known I would end up back on the mission field one day. When I came to Abilene Christian University I never thought it would be here that the Lord would be bringing me to start a marriage, family and my work as a missionary.
I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science and started working at the Hendrick Health Club. I loved my job and loved helping people physically. Soon after my graduation in 2001, I got engaged to my wonderful husband Lee. We were married in 2002 and were blessed with our first child, Sofia in March of 2005.
At this point the Lord started tugging on my heart and I knew I wanted a job that let me be at home more but at the same time would involve my family in ministry. This is where the Friendship House came into play. This was such an exciting opportunity and I’ve loved every bit of it (ok, well there’s been some hard days, like any job.) We were blessed again with our second child Maddox in March of 2007. We have grown to love this neighborhood and our other 20 kids that we have now been blessed with have embraced our family.
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Danyel Rogers
I grew up in various places around Texas as a pastor’s kid. I graduated from high school in the Houston area and then moved to Abilene to attend college. I earned my BA in Church Ministry and Leadership in 2002, then married my best friend, Brandon Rogers shortly after graduation.
We began working as volunteers with community renewal here, took our first trip to visit Community Renewal in Shreveport, and then in 2004 moved in to the North Park Friendship House.
I became the Community Coordinator, while Brandon began working in computer technology at Hardin-Simmons. I graduated with my Masters in 2005 in Family Ministry and Counseling, and then Brandon and I had our first child, Mya in April of 2007. We enjoy working at the Friendship House because it is a practical way for us to live out our faith.
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Lori Thornton
I grew up in the busy Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex where there is always a lot going on. In 1995 I followed my family’s tradition of attending Abilene Christian University, where I played drums in the Big Purple Band, met and married my wonderful husband Michael (also a drummer), and earned a degree in All-Level Art Education.
I had the pleasure of teaching elementary and secondary art at Abilene Christian Schools for three years while finishing college. In 2001 I began employment with a very unique art museum, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) in downtown Abilene, where I enjoyed six years of working with America’s premier children’s book illustrators.
Then the Lord led me to CCC. I feel so blessed to be involved with this amazing organization and the people who make a real difference in the lives of others! I continue to teach art lessons to willing learners, and have recently illustrated a children’s book written by a dear friend, Deborah Strickland - we are now working on the sequel!