Leadership

Don Nordin has more than 38 years of experience as a lead pastor. He is married to Susan Ashcraft Nordin and together they have two grown children and five grandchildren. Don and Susan oversee CT Church in Houston, a multi-cultural and multi-generational congregation, which has grown to encompass six campuses under their leadership. Pastor Nordin also holds a bachelor of ministry degree. His apostolic anointing and pastor’s heart motivate his visionary leadership.

Pastor Nordin’s denominational peers have elected him to a host of leadership roles during the course of his pastoral ministry. These include various executive level positions and committee chairmanships, including the position of CEO for Project Hope and Saving Grace in 2014. Pastor Nordin is an entrepreneurial leader. Donors have committed tens of millions of dollars to kingdom projects under his care.

Pastor Nordin’s two books, “Working at God’s Altar” and “The Audacity of Prayer,” have inspired thousands. He is the founder and president of Global Ministries Network (gmnonline.org) which credentials ministers and oversees the work of member churches.

Pastor Nordin travels extensively conducting revivals, altar worker training seminars, board and staff training, teaches on effective church structures and much more!

Each year Don and Susan host Empowerment Conference at CT Church. Empowerment Conference is a top-tier preaching and resourcing event. It draws hundreds of ministers from all over the world. Empowerment Conference features some of the premier speakers in today’s Pentecostal circles.

Michael Vecchio has served as the COO for Project Hope and Saving Grace since 2017, and has been in full-time ministry since 2013. Michael previously served as the Executive Director for Project Hope, as well as the Marketing Director for Project Hope and Saving Grace. He graduated from the program of Long Island Adult & Teen Challenge, New York, in January 2013 and endeavors to see men and women experience the same freedom from addiction that he has. Michael serves together in ministry with his wife, Jessica, and they currently reside in Houston, TX.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Blake has been in ministry for over 30 years and is a teacher of the Word and a gifted administrator. He has served on staff at churches in Arkansas and Texas in almost every role except Lead Pastor.

Blake currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for CT Nation in Houston Texas. Blake is a graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia Arkansas and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in management and a minor in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in secondary business education.

In June 2003, Blake and his wife, Susan, started LBP Management LLC. A consulting firm that specializes in nonprofits. As it expanded in 2019 the name was changed to Paul Consulting Solutions, LLC. Blake and Susan’s bonus daughter joined the business in 2019 also and now works full time helping our clients. The emphasis of the business is to come along side Pastors and ministries in the areas of finance, bookkeeping, management, administration, ministry development, event planning, and volunteer assimilation. We currently serve many clients in roles from Outsourced CFO to recruiting and placing volunteers. Blake and Susan love the opportunity to partner with ministries and help lead them to become excellent.

They have had a friendship with Jay McSwain, the founder and author of PLACE Ministries, for over 15 years and the opportunity to teach the PLACE curriculum in churches, district offices, events, and most recently in prison. In the first year of teaching PLACE at Christian Temple, Susan and her team placed 164 new volunteers in ministry. PLACE is a game changer if you need more volunteers involved in ministry. Blake and Susan are also certified facilitators with Marriage on The Rock by Jimmy Evans and XO Ministries.

Blake and Susan live in Pearland Texas. They have two sons, Caleb and Joshua. Caleb is married to Randi Lynn and they have 3 sons and live in Pearland Texas. Joshua is married to Hunter Raine and they have one son and one daughter and live in Plano Texas.

Jessica Vecchio currently serves as the Corporate Trainer for Project Hope and Saving Grace Women’s Home. She has previously held the positions of Corporate Marketing Director, and Executive Director. In 2020 Jessica helped to pioneer Saving Grace Women’s Home in Baker, FL, before making the move back to Houston, TX. Jessica has a passion for those that are lost, as she has also experienced freedom from a decades long addiction to drugs and alcohol. She works alongside her husband, Michael, and desires to train up the next generation of leaders in recovery ministry. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her dogs; Lola and Allie, and her cat’s; Amelia, Autumn, Maisy and Baby G.

My name is Tabitha, I’m from Russellville, KY and I’m 44 years old. Before knowing my heavenly father, I was in a 10 year drug addiction and was facing a 5 year prison sentence. But God had bigger plans and opened the doors for me to enter a long-term, faith-based program called Teen Challenge, back in 2011. The program was very structured which helped me become more disciplined and be able to focus on having a personal relationship with God. In 2012 I graduated the program, and God continued to bless me because of my dedication and faithfulness to him. My relationship with my son was restored, which I had lost due to my addiction and it was like no time had passed. Currently I am the corporate intake director of all 5 women’s centers of Saving Grace. I owe God everything, and I will serve him the rest of my life on earth.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1Peter 2:9

Kayla Hulett serves as the Corporate Marketing Director. She currently oversees many aspects of ministry teams and marketing for the ministry – Kayla graduated from Teen Challenge Women’s Ministry in Mississippi in 2013 and has continued with a career in recovery ministry.

As a graduate, she has a passion for seeing the lives of the students in the program restored. She has seen Acts 16:31 play out in her own family. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” Her ongoing determination and relentless faith have led to the salvation of her family. As a result, she has custody of her little sister and her father has come to know Christ as his personal Savior.

When not at work, you will likely find Kayla enjoying time with her husband, Donovan Hulett and their girls, Rylee Grace and Baylee.

Chelsea Hernandez is the Executive Director for Saving Grace Texas. She has served in ministry for over 10 years and has been on staff for over 5 years. She has worked in several different areas of our ministry including; finance, public relations, marketing, and admissions. Her goal and mission is to help the women at Saving Grace find their identity in Christ. Chelsea also has a husband who works alongside her in ministry, and together they have one baby girl, Abigail.

Her life verse is Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Kelli diTrapano was rescued from the grips of addiction in 2015 and went into full time ministry after graduating from Adult and Teen Challenge of Knoxville. She served as the education director for three years, followed by intake director, public relations outreach coordinator, and program director. The opportunity opened up for her and her family to relocate and become executive director at our Mississippi center in September of 2021. Her husband Zach works alongside her in ministry. After experiencing redemption and restoration through Jesus, her mission is to see others receive that same freedom, healing, and walk out the calling and purpose in their lives.

Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Deanna is a mom of three amazing children, Austin, Adriana and Ashley, who are a huge part of her story! She is a 2012 graduate of Pensacola Teen Challenge where she served on staff as the Education Coordinator for 3 years. Her heart to serve the Lord sent her abroad and she served as a missionary overseas under Reimagine for approximately 3 years.

Before joining the team at Saving Grace, Deanna previously served on staff at the San Antonio campus of Adult and Teen Challenge, leading the Marketing and Development Department.

In May of 2021, Deanna relocated to Baker, Florida where she served as the Executive Director for two years. In her time in Florida she was instrumental in building what has continued to be a thriving program. In May of 2023, Deanna finished her commitment in Florida and returned to the mission field, helping to start a program for orphaned children in Peru.

In April of 2024, Deanna answered the call to come back and serve at Saving Grace, this time as the Executive Director in Brandon, MS.

Deanna knows that it was her relationship with her Lord and Savior that transformed her heart and mind and wants to share that same gift with ladies that are still struggling. She desires to see women walk out freedom from all life controlling struggles and be healed at the root.

Laura Kilgore graduated from Adult and Teen Challenge in Springfield Missouri in 2020.

Sensing a call to ministry, she worked faithfully as a marketing Director until recently being promoted to the Director of Saving Grace, Arkansas.

Laura has a passion for seeing women experience the peace and freedom of God.

She is married, is currently working towards her bachelors degree in business from Missouri State University, and a licensed minister through GMN.

I graduated from Adult and Teen challenge in Knoxville, TN, back in 2021 where I was radically changed and delivered from a 10 year drug addiction through Jesus. Upon completion, I dedicated my life to full time ministry helping others find freedom through a faith based program. I have a true passion and drive to see those struggling and lost find their peace and true restoration through Jesus, just as I have!!

After formally becoming the Marketing Director at Saving Grace TN, the doors opened up for me to become a Co-Director. In my position I am given the opportunity to build a deeper relationship with those I serve. I am married to a wonderful God fearing man who is a program director for a men’s faith based recovery program and shares the same desires to serve in ministry. We have one amazing 11 yr old daughter that loves Jesus and we’ve been blessed with a little boy on the way that is due in December 2023.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take”.

I have been redeemed, transformed and set free. I have a college degree in Business Management and HR Management. After college I spiraled into a ten year drug addiction. In 2018 I went to a program called Teen Challenge where I was radically changed and delivered. I am now a Co-Director for Saving Grace in Knoxville, TN. My passion is to help other women break free from addiction, and to empower, equip and achieve all that God has in store for them.

I enjoy spending time with family, building relations, and the beautiful outdoors. I have a wonderful husband and family who fully support me and encourage me to be the best I can be.