Zookeepers Ministries wouldn’t be possible without the incredible team of ladies God has brought together for the purpose of reaching women. Several of them have been with ZooKeepers from the beginning and are impassioned to see God bring Hope, Help and Harmony to Women’s Hearts and Homes!
Board of Directors
Vice President of Operations
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Tami serves on the Board of Directors and is Vice President of Operations for Zookeepers Ministries. In addition, Brenda says, “She is absolutely my right arm! Her name should appear on the cover of Living in a Zoo? right alongside mine!” She has spent hundreds of hours praying, editing, brain storming, researching Scripture and encouraging Brenda in the task to which the Lord has called her.
Tami has been with ZooKeepers ever since that first prayer meeting in 2001 when Brenda called her friends together saying, “I need you. You won’t believe what God is calling me to do.” After hearing what the ministry was all about she climbed on board with Brenda and has ridden over every bump in the road right along with her. As a matter of fact, Tami is one who named the ministry “ZooKeepers”.
As well as teaching the Living in a Zoo? study, Tami is trained as a Precept Bible Study leader. She has taught ladies Bible studies for over twenty years leading groups in several different areas of North and South Carolina. She is currently serving as Women’s Ministry Director at Life Community Church in Jamestown, NC where she and her husband, Darin, co-teach the MarriedLIFE Sunday School Class, a class full of young couples raising families of their own.
They’ve been involved in couples ministry for most of their married lives and are founders of Happily Ever After, a ministry dedicated to training and teaching couples God’s plan for marriage. Humor is definitely a factor in their own marriage. When asked how long they’ve been married, Darin’s typical response is, “10 wonderful years – 24 total!”
Tami’s primary passion in life is to know God and encourage other women to pursue a relationship with Him through His Word. She has experienced God’s faithfulness in the healing of a broken marriage and the return of a prodigal son.
Tami is available for speaking/teaching events and is willing and available to God to minister to women out of her own experiences as a wife, mother, mentor, and friend. You may contact Tami at: tami@zookeepersministries.com
Board of Directors
Administrator
Debra is the valued administrator of ZooKeepers Ministries. She too has been with us since the very first meeting when this ministry was but a prayer. Her sweet, efficient, loyal, talented, always smiling face is the one you will encounter if you have any questions related to administration. We don’t even want to think about what this ministry would be like without her organized self! Her sweet spirit spills out all over everyone who crosses her path.
She has been married to husband Arnie for twenty-five years and has three children and one grandchild. Their oldest, Jessica, is married to Nick and they have one daughter, Maddie. Danielle, is a college senior at North Greenville Christian University and son Alex, is in 7th grade. Debra is a successful homeschool mom, having homeschooled all three of her children and loved every minute of it!
Debra has been on staff at Life Community Church in Greensboro, NC as Nursery and Preschool Director for the last five years. She worked for many years in children’s ministry before joining the staff and has also worked with Ladies’ Ministry as administrator and on various special projects.
She is a true example of a Titus 2 woman, mentoring many of the young moms in her church. Her example of motherhood is legend and she is also a great example of what a homeschool Mom is all about.
For any questions concerning administration, bookkeeping, or product ordering, you may email Debra at: debra@zookeepersministries.com
Military Ministry Assistant
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Beverly Lussi recently joined ZooKeepers Ministries in our Ministry to Military Women. We are all excited for the opportunity to minister to military families and Beverly is a great asset in this endeavor. She works alongside Rita Reid, Military Ministry Administrator to help bring Hope, Help and Harmony to women who have given so much to our country. She is also a writer for the ZooKeepers Daily Dose of Encouragement.
She has been a stay-at-home mom for most of her 34 plus years of marriage to her best friend, Emory. Having moved 15 times during those years and with another move coming up soon, Beverly’s life has been anything but dull. She considers herself to be a very ordinary woman that has been blessed to be on an extraordinary journey with God. Some of that journey has included being a youth director, a house-parent at a children’s home, a home-school teacher for over 12 years, Sunday School/Bible study teacher, Women’s Ministry Leader, Worship Leader/praise team member, EMT, and even a volunteer fireman. Whew! She certainly understands what living in a zoo is all about!
As a pastor’s wife (and I might add, loving it immensely) for over 15 years serving in Missouri and Wyoming, Beverly’s journey took quite an unfamiliar turn when her pastor husband became a Navy Chaplain in 2001. With frequent moves being a part of the military life, Beverly has her own women’s ministry she calls WOW MOM Ministries – Women Of the Word, Mentors On Mission. She is available for speaking/teaching events, women’s retreats, or just one-on-one ‘let’s get together’ time.
Beverly and Emory are currently living in Jacksonville, NC, serving at the Marine Corp Air Station New River. They have three grown sons, all of which have served or are presently serving in the armed forces, a daughter in her first year of college, three Spartan daughter-in-laws , and seven delightful grandkids! Life doesn’t get much better than that!
For more information on ZooKeeper’s Military Ministry you may email her at: beverly@zookeepersministries.com
Military Ministry Coordinator
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Rita’s heart’s cry is, “I love the Lord; He heard my cry.”
Her whole life is a testimony to the life changing power of Jesus Christ and His Word. Her desire is to share His love and grace to other’s far and near and to help bring hope, help and harmony to women’s hearts and homes. That is what led her to become selected as the National Military Ministry Coordinator for ZooKeepers.
Rita was first introduced to Brenda and ZooKeepers in 2005 while she and Desmond, her husband, were stationed in Greensboro, NC. They started attending Life Community Church where Brenda attends. Shortly thereafter Rita signed up for the Living in a Zoo? study. Soon she began to see the Lord use the nine principles taught in the study to do incredible things in her own heart and life and she was hooked. Since that time it has been her heart to share those life changing principles with other women facing the incredible challenges of military life.
Since becoming part of the ZooKeeper’s Team, Rita has traveled to Colorado and Nicaragua with Brenda helping to establish ministries and Bible study groups.
She has worked with base Chaplains to reach out to women and families in the military, set up a system where DVD classes are done in small home group settings to offer privacy, support and encouragement as they deal with the stresses of family life in the military. ZooKeepers is excited about the opportunity to give back to those who give so much to our country.
Rita has been married for sixteen years to Desmond, an officer in the United States Marine Corps. She has had over twenty years’ experience with the Marine Corps, to include active duty service. She is the mother of their young daughter, Joanna, who is the image of her mother, in looks and personality!
They are currently stationed at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA, and are active members of Community Christian Fellowship Church. Rita is involved with the local Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) ministry aboard the Post in Carlisle. She has worked as Assistant Activities Director for seniors at Assisted Living Communities in North Carolina. She is a natural organizer and brings her talent to ZooKeepers with enthusiasm.
We are blessed to have Rita on our Team. You may contact her via email at: rita@zookeepersministries.com
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Holly Barber came onboard the ZooKeepers Ministries Team as a writer of Daily Dose of Encouragement. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom of three rambunctious
little boys, Holly taught school and loved every minute of it. She wasn‘t thrilled with the initial call to quit her beloved job, but was thrilled with the opportunity to homeschool her own boys. Major changes soon followed with her youngest son‘s battle with cancer. She really connects with her readers on matters of living with struggles in the real world. Holly is heavily involved with MOPS and is available for speaking at your MOPS event.
You may email her at: holly@zookeepersministries.com.
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Tracey Dedona’s heart beats in unison with the mission of ZooKeepers in her passion for ministering to women, especially to single moms who so desperately need someone to teach them about God’s purpose and provision for their lives. Tracey serves as Bible Study Coordinator for Women’s Ministry at Life Community Church in Jamestown, NC and also regularly teaches Scripture Memory Classes there. Her most recent class is none other than…Living in a Zoo? by Brenda Lancaster!
Tracey is wife to Bruce and mother to Summer, KJ, Bella and Olivia. Summer is a sophomore in college; KJ is a senior in high school; Bella (8) attends Caldwell Academy in Greensboro, NC and the youngest, Olivia (4) attends ‘big girl’ school, too. To say that Tracey knows what ‘living in a zoo’ is like would be a more than fair statement! As a veteran mentor mom for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Tracey shares this as her best advice about raising children – “Don’t try to do it without God. I’ve raised small children on my own and I’ve raised small children through a relationship with Christ. It can be a Zoo either way but I want my Zoo to have eternal rewards!” Having done it both ways fuels Tracey’s passion to help women to learn from her mistakes. Armed with a genuine faith in Christ and a firm grasp on Biblical principles, Tracey is ready to do battle for the lives of those God places in her life. Regardless of the audience (from her own family to a stranger on the street), Tracey consistently points people to the truth of the Word of God as she teaches, encourages and trains others to live out the precepts found in God’s Word.
Tracey and her husband Bruce are partners in every sense of the word: marriage, parenting, business and ministry. They are business owners in the Greensboro area and agree that God has given them their very own mission field right in the heart of their community.
Zookeepers is excited to see just how God is going to use Tracey in all of our lives! You may email her at: tracey@zookeepersministries.com
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Amanda Dodson is a wife and mother. She has been married for 14 years and has three children ages twelve, nine and one. She and her husband are actively involved at Life Community Church in High Point, NC.
Amanda is a freelance writer and contributor to The Stokes News and The Weekly Independent. She has also been published in six Chicken Soup for the Soul books and has articles featured in women’s magazines. She is passionate about writing words that encourage and strengthen mothers. One of her life verses is Col. 3:4 (The Message) “Regardless of what you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
During the week, she can be found homeschooling her children. On any given day, she is likely relearning her States and Capitals or doing long division (but with a calculator this time around).
You may email her at: amanda@zookeepersministries.com
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
At the young age of 8, Lucie and her two sisters Leslie and Lori lost their mother unexpectedly to death. Lucie and her sisters were raised by their father. He remarried for a brief 5 years which resulted in the addition of their brother John and stepsister Paige to the family.
Although Lucie always felt the hand of God guiding and watching over her, it was not until age 20 that she moved into the home of a godly woman named Joann, who mentored her in the Word of God. Not only did Lucie accept Jesus Christ as her Savior, but also as Lord of her life. It was during that time Lucie came to love her Savior and was introduced to her husband of 23 years, Dr. Adrian Harris.
Lucie has spent 14 years serving as pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader at Clifton Road Baptist Church and presently at Good Shepherd Church in Greensboro, NC. Lucie’s accomplishments include being the founder and leader of Designing Women For Christ, Inc; a writer and fundraiser for ZooKeeper’s Ministries, as well as lead and spoken at numerous women’s conferences and retreats.
Lucie has the gift of encouragement. Since the age of 17 she has experienced chronic pain which was diagnosed at age 28 as caused by Interstitial Cystitis. Lucie has provided care, love and support to her husband through two episodes of cancer. She feels blessed to report Adrian has been cancer free for 10 years from 3rd stage colon cancer and 5 years from bladder cancer. It is through these experiences God has given her compassion for those that are sick and hurting.
The loves of Lucie’s life are her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her family and her little Yorkshire Terrier, Sissy. Her passions are seeing others come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and teaching the Word of God. Through the teaching of numerous bible studies, she has seen women grow to reach their potential in Christ. Her main desire is to serve God in whatever capacity HE chooses for her.
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
Chelsey is the daughter of Mike and Kelly Murphree. Her family moved to Jamestown, North Carolina in the summer of 2000 and that is where they currently reside. Chelsey grew up in the church. After years of being the “good kid,” she realized that wasn’t enough. Chelsey accepted Christ at 12 years old at a youth camp. Since then, God has rocked her world in many different ways, but she is thankful to continue seeing His incredible providence in her life.
Chelsey is currently a student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is majoring in Human Development with a minor in Journalism, with hopes to be a counselor…one day! She attends Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, where she serves as a staff intern for the youth ministry. Working with middle and high school girls has slowly become one of her passions, so it is such a blessing to have a job where she is able to do just that! Tuscaloosa has become like home to Chelsey and while she is here, she is simply trying to live out the story of God and be a vessel of His love to those in this community.
Writer for Daily Dose of Encouragement
God extended His grace to me and began His work of redemption in my life when I was saved on March 17, 1976, at age 13. At that time I was living in my hometown, Farmington, New Mexico, with my mom and step-dad, who were deeply scarred victims of dysfunctional homes, as were my brother and I. God’s sweet grace carried me through the deep waters that rage in homes where poverty, alcoholism, fear, and pain victimize parents and children whom God loves and longs to save.
I was born in 1962, graduated from high school in 1980, and was blessed to attend Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Church Education/Youth and later my master’s degree in English at Missouri State University. While in Bible College, I met the man I later married, and we have served the Lord together, now, through three years of dating and 26 years of marriage. We are blessed beyond measure with two terrific children who are both adopted and are the sunshine of our lives.
We have been blessed to serve the Lord on the pastoral staff of three churches over the years, to delight in the ministry of working on the administrative staff and later teaching various classes at our beloved alma mater, and now to serve in the United States Navy, with which my husband is a Chaplain. In our ten years of active duty we have served in six billets: California, Italy, Sicily, North Carolina, and now Maryland. God has carried us through six deployments, three of which involved my husband’s serving in combat zones; and we have been blessed to enjoy incomparable adventures in our various places of ministry, specifically in Italy and Sicily.
In the recent years we have walked the deep valleys of saying uncertain good-byes to my parents, as they passed from life here on earth. My mother passed while my husband was deployed, the most painful and challenging experience of my life.
Today the work of redemption continues in our lives and in the lives of our children, as my husband serves as the Command Chaplain for NAS Patuxent River. I have been blessed to teach the great Truths of the Word of God over the years, and have particularly enjoyed writing Bible studies for various groups. It is my current joy to share with the ladies of our chapel, as we are growing in our study, “Making the Connection,” which I am writing as we proceed.
Our son is 14 and an active Boy Scout and a hoot to raise. Our sweet daughter, and avid reader and horseback rider, is 10. We are blessed to have two children who love the Lord and have zeal for life. As changes are in view for us, we look forward with awe, waiting to see what God will do next in our not-so-typical journey of life as He continues His merciful plan of making us look like Jesus. 
Spanish Ministry Administrator
Maria came on board with ZooKeeper’s in 2009 during the publication process of the Spanish version of Living in a Zoo? and boy was she a God-send! It has been amazing to watch how the Lord has brought team members at exactly the right time!
Her sweet sprit and love of the Lord and Kingdom work is contagious to all around her. She had a heart to bring the message of Living in a Zoo? to Spanish speaking women all around the globe.
She was an editor and proof reader for the Spanish Version translated for the Spanish website, Daily Dose of Encouragement devotionals, emails from Spanish speaking countries, and will travel with us on our mission trip to El Salvador in the spring of 2010 where the Zoo will be introduced for the first time.
She was born in Brazil and moved to New Orleans with her parents and three sisters when she was 14 years old. Both parents are Greek. Maria speaks 4 languages – all spoken at home (Greek, Portuguese, Spanish and English).
She has been married to Carlos for “26 wonderful years”, having met him in New Orleans after his family moved to the US from El Salvador during the Civil War in that country. They have a son – Lucas Gonzalez who is 20 years old. They have lived in Greensboro, NC for 14 years.
Aside from her work with ZooKeepers, Maria has worked with VF Corporation (Wrangler) for 10 years as Sales Coordinator to Hispanic retailers.
She has taught Sunday school classes to children and adults and coordinated children’s church. For the past 8 years she has been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at Life Community Church. At the time she moved to America her parents could not speak English, which is why she now has a heart to teach others the language to better equip them with daily life in America.
After years of feeling God’s call on her life, she and Carlos accepted an invitation to the Hispanic Church in New Orleans, and on that Sunday, she knew where she belonged. Two Sundays later they both accepted Jesus into our hearts and lives and got baptized. One month later she was teaching second graders Sunday School and continues teaching children to this day.
When asked what drew her to ZooKeepers Ministries, she says, “Besides Brenda begging…. (just kidding!!) What drew me to ZooKeepers is that – I love the Lord and it’s very hard to tell Him ‘no’. Philippians 3:10 says My determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person. Also anything that has to do with women interests me.” Reach the Moms, reach the children!
For questions concerning our Hispanic Ministry, you may email Maria at: maria@zookeepersministries.com
Media Coordinator
Faithe Thomas joined ZooKeepers Ministries in 2010 to help with all things media. Faithe started out as our publisher, but once she saw the heart of this ministry and felt the tug from the Lord, she climbed on board. Faithe sees her main role as “the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). We define that role as handling the website, videos, publishing, and online marketing.
After serving for 6 years in Africa as a missionary and managing director of an indigenous publication center, she returned to the USA and continued her publishing efforts. The Master Design (est 1986) publishes books for churches and ministries. Brenda contacted The Master Design in order to publish some of the material for ZooKeepers. This began the growing relationship between the two ministries.
Faithe married later in life in 2004 to Kirk. They both run businesses from home. One of Faithe’s favorite part of life is homeschooling their daughter who was born in 2006. The Thomas family makes their home on 7th generation family land in Kentucky.
To contact ZooKeepers with questions concerning media, you may email Faithe at: faithe@zookeepersministries.com
