Leadership Team

STAFF

Executive Director

Teresa McBean is the minister of NorthStar Community (“NSC”), a position she has held since 1999. NSC is a recovery ministry established as a division of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, on the principle that people can be restored to health in every dimension of their lives through Christ. NSC seeks to serve the addicted and their families as they pursue restoration by finding their way back to God. NSC provides resources that equip families with the necessary skills and tools for their journey, encouraging them along the way. Teresa is also the Executive Director for the National Association for Christian Recovery, an organization providing training, resources and hope to those interested in serving addicts and their families through Christian recovery ministries. Teresa’s first book on the subject of recovery ministry and the local church, Bridges to Grace, will be released in June 2011 through Zondervan Publishing. Teresa is a graduate of the University of Virginia and a certified biblical counselor. She and her husband, Peter, have been members of Bon Air Baptist Church for more than thirty years and have three children.

Senior Consultant

Matthew Russell is currently a visiting scholar at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Divinity in the Psychology and Religion Research Group (PRRG). His research interests include narrative construction, counter narratives of women’s redemption from trauma, recovery from dependency issues and dynamics of healthy spiritual communities. He holds a Masters in Theology from Fuller Seminary (1998) and a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University (2010). From 2008-2010 He was the Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery at Texas Tech University. In this position he consulted with faculty and administration at institutions of higher learning to establish Collegiate Recovery Communities in North America. He is an ordained United Methodist minister and before pursuing his research interests established Mercy Street, a spiritual community in Houston Texas for recovering addicts and ‘spiritual refugees’.

Creative Arts Director

Andy Gullihorn (www.andygullahorn.com) is a gifted singer, songwriter, guitarist and humorist. He is a regular and much-loved presenter at NACR sponsored events. He has released four albums: “Room to Breathe”(2004), “Reinventing The Wheel” (2007), “The Law of Gravity” (2009) and “Christmas” (2010). As he says so eloquently on his web site: “He now spends his time playing concerts and house shows across the country, accompanying other artists on the road, and providing his three kids with plenty of stories to tell their counselors in 20 years.” Definitely a good fit for the NACR

Director of Development
Jean Estes (see below for photo and bio)

Managing Coordinator
Linda Strawderman

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pieter Van Waarde President of the Board Pieter is a pastor, author and friend of spiritual seekers. He has served the Woodcrest Chapel congregation as Sr. Pastor since the summer of 1994. Pieter has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Master’s degree in both Business Management and Biblical Studies. At his core, Pieter’s passion is walking the path with people. He is a gifted communicator and writer, and has a real knack for connecting the principles of scripture to the challenges of everyday life. Piet is the Executive Director and Senior Consultant for Team Building Resources LLC. He has published two books, Building Ministry Teams that L.A.S.T. and Unsettled. Piet’s passion for recovery comes partly from his own struggle against drugs. Pieter and his wife Carol, have three children: Pieter, Mallory, and Curran.

Joe Owen Vice President of the Board Joe began practicing law in 1976 after receiving his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Richmond, where he was a scholarship football player. Joe’s early athletic experience continues to impact his life. For over 35 years, he volunteered his time with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), serving as State Chairman and a member of the National Board of Trustees and on the local FCA at Armstrong High School. Having served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and as a member and past president of the Midlothian, VA Rotary Club, Joe stays active in local and national activities. He is currently the Chairman of the Drug Court Foundation of Chesterfield County. The Drug Court offers people with drug addictions that have been charged with a drug or larceny offense an opportunity to get intensive addiction recovery treatment and stay out of jail. Joe is passionate about his work in addiction recovery and equally passionate about helping his clients restore and recover their lives during often difficult situations that have put them in the legal system. His leadership experience and personal passions uniquely qualify Joe to serve as Vice President on the Board of the NACR.

Jean Estes Treasurer Jean has served as a trustee for the William and Mary Foundation, an organization charged with maintaining and growing the assets of the Foundation which are currently over five million dollars. She is also working on William and Mary’s Campaign Cabinet, planning their next capital campaign. Jean believes that there is no greater opportunity in life than the privilege of giving to others. Jean and her husband Rob lead by example, giving generously of both their time and resources to further the mission of the NACR, as well as working in their local community through their church, NorthStar Community. Jean and Rob have two joyfully married adult children and two grandchildren.

Ron Hall Secretary of the Board Ron Hall loves his job as Pastor of Encouragement at Christ’s Church of the Valley in San Dimas, CA. He especially appreciates the work of Celebrate Recovery – a relative newcomer to the various life coaching and counseling ministries that Ron supervises at CCV. As a therapist and pastor, Ron values the work of recovery in its various forms and the process of spiritual formation. His advanced degrees in Psychology and his M.Div. from Fuller qualify him for his role, but it is his heart for hurting people that makes him such a vital asset to NACR. He has a wife of more than twenty five years and one son.

Tom Kragt Tom is presently serving as the Interim Senior Pastor & Minister of Recovery at EverGreen Ministries in Hudsonville, Michigan. He is responsible for Interim Leadership, Teaching, and Recovery.  Tom holds a BA from Spring Arbor University and a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. Tom has 27 years of pastoral experience serving churches in Indiana and Michigan.  He also served as a Substance Abuse Therapist for Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI. With the help of many people, he has developed Bridge to Life Recovery Ministries, a 12 step ministry that reaches out to hurting people in church and the larger recovering community. EverGreen is host to 14 different 12 Step Meetings each week. He is a frequent speaker at area colleges and seminaries.  Tom has been married to Carolyn Bush Kragt for 33 years. Tom and Carolyn have been blessed with 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Dale Ryan Dale has been on the faculty of the School of Theology of Fuller Seminary since 1993. He is Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry and Director of the Fuller Institute for Recovery Ministry. He gained ministry experience as pastor of care and fellowship at Whittier Area Baptist Fellowship in Whittier, California. Dale also serves as the CEO of Christian Recovery International, an organization helping the Christian community become a safer and more accommodating place for people recovering from addiction, abuse, or trauma. Dale has written several books, among which are Soul Repair: Rebuilding a Spiritual Life (co-authored, 2008), Letting God Be God (2001), The Twelve Steps: A Spiritual Kindergarten (1999), and Life Recovery Guides (1994). Dale’s experience, strength and hope for recovery both personally and organizationally is simply invaluable.

Gregg Taylor Gregg is Pastor of Mercy Street, a community in Houston that creates a safe place for the hurting, the lost, and those seeking to experience the radical grace of God. The unique community of Mercy Street reaches out to people in recovery from addiction, bad church experiences, and recovery from anything that has left them bruised and battered and broken. Gregg works tirelessly on the NACR Consulting Team. Gregg and his wife Amy have four children.