Dan BoeckDan Boeck served as the Church Partnerships Coordinator with CTPM for three years before accepting the Executive Director role. Before serving with CTPM, he served in pastoral ministry for 27 years. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute, with graduate work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Liberty University, Dan has a passion for seeing that God’s heart for the oppressed is accurately reflected in situations involving domestic abuse. Dan and his wife, Shannon, recently co-authored the book Domestic Abuse and the Dechurched to encourage the church in this.
Joy Forrest is the founder and executive director of Called to Peace Ministries. She is the author of Called to Peace: A Survivor’s Guide to Finding Peace & Healing After Domestic Abuse and the Called to Peace Companion Workbook. Joy holds an M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been active in counseling ministry since 2005. She has been an advocate for victims of abuse since 1997 and is a certified advocate with the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Joy is a contributor to DivorceCare’s recovery support group curriculum, the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship’s Counseling Care for Domestic Abuse videos, and Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse(Chris Moles, ed). In her spare time, she loves traveling and spending time with her family– especially her 11 grandchildren.
Sandra PierceSandra is a child of God, a loving wife, and a mother. After graduate school, Sandra worked in the mental health field. Sandra feels blessed to be able to support Called to Peace Ministries (CTPM) while sharing God's love and healing. Sandra manages CTPM's everyday operations. She assists with the organizational structure of CTPM's programs, donor relations, and internal processes.
She and her husband have one son and a cat.
Mary GiffordMary's passion for development comes from a deep desire to see Jesus heal and restore hurting and broken people. She comes to Called to Peace Ministries with 20 years of prior experience in ministry, nonprofit fundraising, and nonprofit consulting, having worked locally and internationally. Mary has a bachelor's degree from Florida State University in political science. She is married to her wonderful husband and is a mom to four boys. She and her family attend the Summit Church in Raleigh.
Diana FiesDiana stumbled upon Called to Peace Ministries (CTPM) while seeking answers and wasn't satisfied with what the world was saying about domestic abuse. CTPM was a breath of fresh air, placing her firmly on her healing path with Bible-based and trauma-informed teaching and content. Diana has been an advocate and small group leader with CTPM since 2019 and is thrilled to be able to utilize her professional skills with this wonderful organization. Her functions include financial bookkeeping, Emergency Fund stewardship, grant writing, and various administrative tasks.
Neil SchoriNeil brings 20 years of full-time pastoral experience to the CTPM team—including roles in family care, counseling, community groups, and assimilation. As the former lead pastor of Naperville Christian Church and later a pastor at The Edge Church, Neil has spent the past 15 years equipping churches to serve as safe havens for those in need. Holding a Master’s degree in counseling and possessing a deep commitment to advocacy, Neil is dedicated to bridging the gap between faith communities and survivors.
My passion for helping survivors of abuse comes from my desire to see the brokenhearted healed and set free. The loss of my sister because of a dating violence assault fueled my passion to do this work. I discovered CTPM after hearing Joy speaking on the radio. I have been a CTPM-affiliated advocate and support group facilitator since 2021. I have been involved in church ministry leadership for the past fourteen years and nonprofit ministry for four years. Before working in the nonprofit sector, I worked for the government for 33 years. I have a bachelor’s degree in social work from California State University Long Beach.
I live in California, and I enjoy gardening, walking with my dog, and spending time with my two adult daughters.
Melissa ParkerMelissa is a skilled facilitator with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit and human services. She specializes in volunteer management, team development, and community engagement. Driven by her love for Jesus, she is dedicated to creating inclusive and supportive environments. With a master’s in educational, school, and counseling psychology and a certification in health and wellness coaching, Melissa has led initiatives in education and organizational leadership. She is passionate about empowering others through empathy and practical support, which she looks forward to bringing to the clients and partners of Called to Peace Ministries. In her free time, Melissa enjoys singing, hiking, and playing board games with her husband and their three kids.
Lauren RoseLauren’s passion for supporting the vital work of Called to Peace Ministries was born from experiencing firsthand the life-changing impact of its resources and programs for survivors of abuse. She holds a degree in Biblical Counseling, is a certified life coach, and has over a decade of experience serving local and international nonprofit organizations through communications and survivor advocacy. Lauren is passionate about connecting survivors with life-changing resources while equipping churches and inviting supporters to partner in bringing hope, healing, and redemption.
She has one daughter in high school, and they attend Summit Church in Raleigh.
Susie HornerSusie resides with her family at a quiet mini-farm in North Carolina. She sought Emergency Medical First Responder training and has continued as a crisis "first responder" in many avenues encompassing oppression, mental health crisis, domestic abuse/coercive control, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse, anxiety, court support care, trauma, etc. She is a certified Professional Life Coach, Mental Health Coach, and Affiliated Advocate with Called to Peace Ministries. Susie passionately desires to see the church become the greatest vessel of hope and healing for the abused, oppressed, and voiceless.
Andre TurrentineAndré is a pastor and shepherd who desires to minister to God's people as Jesus does. He was on the Called to Peace Ministries (CTPM) Board of Directors and is now our G5 Abuse Intervention Course for Men Coordinator and one of our Church Partnership Liaisons.
Andre is a North Carolina Central University alumni who graduated with honors from the School of Business. He then attended Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, NC, and received a Master's in Divinity.
The Lord led André to focus on Chaplaincy and Counseling. This led him to serve as Chaplain for Inter-Act, a Shelter for Domestic Abuse in Raleigh, NC.
Jen Pirkle joined Called to Peace Ministries (CTPM) in 2022 as a volunteer and now serves as the Development & Marketing Coordinator and CTPM affiliated advocate. A domestic abuse survivor, she first connected with CTPM in 2021, taking a transformative step in her healing journey. Jen previously spent ten years as a missionary in Kosovo and the Philippines and then worked with U.S. nonprofits supporting foster children, refugees, and disaster survivors. She holds trauma-informed training from CTPM and Texas Christian University’s TBRI program. Jen lives in Georgia with her husband, two daughters and their puppies, Nala and Cosmo.
Jill MedinaJill is a follower of Jesus, a dedicated mother, and an advocate for healing. Driven by her own journey as a survivor of childhood abuse and intimate partner violence, she brings deep compassion and resilience to the CTPM team.
Jill’s path with CTPM began when she saw a post on Instagram while in an abusive marriage. After joining a support group, she was inspired to become an Affiliated Advocate so other women wouldn't have to walk alone. Now, as an Advocate Coordinator, she equips and supports volunteers walking alongside survivors pursuing safety and freedom.
A lifelong servant-leader, Jill has served her church for over 25 years as a Sunday School teacher and pianist, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology at Drury University. Outside of work, she enjoys art, performing at local spoken word events, and hiking with her children.
Chantal Young
Gabriela SilvaGabriela first connected with CTPM while seeking a brighter future for herself and her daughters after a difficult separation. Amid her heartbreak and despair, CTPM provided the emotional and mental support she needed. After attending her first CTPM Retreat, she began volunteering for Restore Groups, which restored her hope and purpose. Serving as a CTPM's CRM Manager & Restore Group Assistant has been a privilege for Gabriela as she embraces God's mission of healing. Gabriela worked as an IT Business Analyst and IT Project Manager for the private and public sectors. She dedicated 12 years as a homeschool teacher to her daughters.
Rebecca completed advocacy training through Called to Peace Ministries (CTPM) in 2021 and began volunteering with CTPM in 2022. She has served as an Advocate, a Church Partners liaison, and on the intake team.
Rebecca has worked as a newspaper reporter for over 30 years. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Jeff, and they have two young adult children and two cats.
My heavenly Father was so faithful in leading me to CTPM. They came into my life as I was seeking answers to so many questions I had before and after leaving the destructive marriage I was in. I've taken the advocacy course they offer for the last three years to become better educated and equipped as I come alongside women who have or are walking a similar path to mine. My position with CTPM is assisting the Advocacy Team with administrative tasks.
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, taking walks, sitting by Lake Michigan listening to the soothing sounds of the waves and soaking in the warm rays of sunshine, weekend camping trips, traveling, visiting over coffee, and listening and caring for the unseen and unheard. I also enjoy tutoring children with learning styles that are often so misunderstood.
Cheryl Bennett serves as the Church Partnership Administrative Assistant at Called to Peace Ministries (CTPM). She completed CTPM’s Advocacy training in 2021 and began serving as a Church Partner Liaison in 2022. As a survivor of a twenty-year abusive marriage, Cheryl has personally experienced the support CTPM provides, including having an Advocate, attending a small group, and seeing her husband engage in the G5 men’s ministry while they were still together.
Cheryl brings years of experience in administrative support and business management to her role. Her mission is to help equip churches to effectively support victims of domestic abuse and their spouses through education, training, and relationship-building.
Cheryl lives in Acworth, Georgia, and enjoys hiking, swimming, and snorkeling in her free time.
Andrea MartinAndrea Martin serves as the Executive Program Assistant with a heart for creating organized, thoughtful, and welcoming ministry experiences. Her first two years with CTPM was in the role of Retreat Coordinator and in addition to event planning, she also brings extensive experience in nonprofit management, organizational communication, CRM and administrative systems. Andrea is passionate about supporting trauma-informed, Christ-centered ministry that helps women find hope, healing, and practical support. She enjoys bringing clarity, structure, and care to behind-the-scenes details so ministry teams can serve well.
Kamilla BoeremaKamilla lives in Chattanooga, TN. In 1981, she graduated from Tennessee Temple University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a minor in Bible. 1985, she earned a Master's Degree in Education Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 1981, Kamilla started a small business called Daily Distribution, which currently has 26 employees. In 2015, Kamilla was privileged to begin serving as the Director of Women's Ministries at Grace Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN. Currently, Kamilla is an active CTPM Advocate. Kamilla is married with three adult children and nine precious grandchildren.
Danny PettersonDanny serves as the pastor at Second Parish Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Scarborough, Maine, where he has been in ministry since 2009 with his wife, Skye. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Covenant College and a Master of Divinity from Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Danny’s interest in domestic abuse emerged from his pastoral ministry work. This interest led him to the domestic abuse advocacy class through Called to Peace, where his understanding of the dynamics of abuse deepened. Through his studies, he was able to develop a seminary-level class on Domestic Abuse and the Church. Currently, he volunteers at Called to Peace Ministries with the Church Partnership Program and serves on the Board.
Matthew J. Pollock Matthew J. Pollock has served in Christian education for more than forty years and is currently the Head of School at Grace Baptist Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Before joining GBA in 2013, Matt spent twenty-one years in senior leadership at Clarks Summit University. He holds master’s degrees in Counseling and also Educational Administration and has a long history of developing young leaders through conferences, coaching, teaching, and mentorship. Matt and his wife, Rosemary, have four married daughters, all of whom are engaged in education, local church ministry, and global missions.. Their greatest joy is loving and investing in their ten grandchildren.
Winifred EreyiWinifred Ereyi survived a twenty-two-year abusive marriage. She is a certified Trauma-Integrated Brain Health Coach and Leadership Trainer. She is a passionate advocate and International speaker, serving on the national speakers bureau of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). She earned a B.Sc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master's in Telecommunications and Systems Engineering. She has founded two technology companies: eWirecommunications and its subsidiary, ThinkSTEM Foundation. eWirecommunications' vision is to empower leaders globally to solve intractable societal problems in their communities of influence.
Winifred Ereyi is the mother of two grown children: a son studying Computer Science at Stanford University and a daughter studying Software Engineering at Princeton University.
Jane LattaJane has a heart for hurting, confused women and experiencing the pain of betrayal and destructive relationships. In 2021, she attended her first Called To Peace Ministries (CTPM) retreat. This retreat forever changed her life and understanding of domestic abuse.
Jane is a registered nurse with a Master's in Health Administration who has worked as an executive and consultant in healthcare while navigating the challenges of her blended family. She is a certified life and leadership coach and leads a betrayal group at Summit Church.
"Married for 40 hectic years, I know from experience as a nurse, mom, and wife that we are beautiful, broken, and not alone. I am blessed with two gorgeous grandchildren."
Elysia Prendergast-JonesElysia Prendergast-Jones is the Managing Attorney for the Raleigh Office of Legal Aid of North Carolina. She works mainly in family law and domestic violence. She is an NC board-certified family law specialist. She serves on several Boards and Bar Association committees. She is also a law school mentor and mock trial judge through Campbell School of Law. She has always had a passion for helping people and volunteers at teen courts plus many other community organizations. Elysia has a degree from North Carolina Central University’s School of Law, a Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Webster University.
Jim UpchurchJim is a pastor at Christ Church in Wake Forest, NC, where he began serving in 2015. Jim was born and raised in Raleigh and has served in pastoral roles in North Carolina since 2005. He is a graduate of Campbell University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jim began learning about domestic abuse when he and his fellow elders experienced a case in their church. Since then, Jim has been involved with Called to Peace Ministries in various ways. He has received training through the Duluth Model, Called to Peace Ministries, and PeaceWorks and has served as a men's treatment group co-facilitator, church liaison, consultant, and advocate. Jim and his wife have two children.
Jessica FrankJessica is a counselor who primarily serves women, teen girls, and children who have experienced abuse and trauma. Before serving as a counselor, Jessica taught and mentored children and adolescents as an intervention specialist. She is a care coordinator in her church's care ministry. Jessica cares deeply about the mission of Called to Peace Ministries, has learned how to better care for those she serves through taking CTPM's advocacy course and she speaks at the retreat. She is married with a blended family of five children.
