About Us

Find Hope, Help, & Recovery

Awake Ministries was established when two organizations in Shelbyville, Kentucky with similar goals came together. We knew that by uniting, Open Door of Hope and the Serenity Center food bank could be more effective in serving our community.

We are a non-profit organization that offers services and resources that facilitate lasting recovery from the hurts, habits, and hang ups of life. Every resource that we offer is at not cost to the people that we serve. We are completely reliant on the faithfulness of God and funding from our community to continue in this work.”

By offering support where needed, our goal is to encourage and assist members of our community, from children to seniors. It is our privilege to help unite the community in service and purpose, loving and ministering to one another.

2022 Board of Directors

Jonathan Hale

Chairman

Jonathan Hale respects the Christ-centered mission of Awake Ministries and counts it a privilege to volunteer, as he continues to see lives changed through the power of Jesus Christ. A Kentucky native, Jonathan is a business owner and civil engineer, operating an engineering consulting firm and construction company in central Kentucky. He, his wife Ashley, and their five children live in Shelby County and attend Heritage Christian Fellowship.

Beth Watts

Vice-Chair

Beth Watts is the Secondary Curriculum Specialist at Christian Academy School System and has been a high school teacher for 18 years. This calling has allowed her to live her passion of raising up the next generation of authentic believers and living a life of service to others. She has been married to Bill for 33 years and they have four adult children and eight grandchildren. After 24 years of military service that included 18 moves, Bill and Beth moved from Washington DC to Shelby County in 2008. They actively seek ways to connect people to Jesus and to one another through small groups, mission trips and various ministries in the community. They are members of Southeast Christian Church.

Tammy Thomas

Treasurer

Tammy Thomas is the Senior VP/Director of Affordable Housing at CUB Bank in Shelbyville. With a background in affordable housing for over 35 years, Tammy has a passion for helping others both in their physical needs and their spiritual. A native of Monticello (Wayne County), KY, Tammy and her family have lived in Shelbyville since 1990. She and her husband Tony are active members of Simpsonville Baptist Church. Their daughter, Madison, lives in Memphis and works as a teacher for special needs adults.

Adam Raymer-Brown

Board Member

Adam Raymer-Brown joined the board of Awake ministries after working with them for four years providing IT support. He has lived in Shelby county for 15 years and is the owner of Raytech Services, an IT firm that services the technology needs of the community. Adam believes strongly in serving as an act of worship and is excited to add value to the board.

Johnny Pittman

Member

Johnny Pittman is the Workforce Development Officer for Oxmoor Auto Group. In addition to serving on multiple boards and in organizations on advisory roles, he is the current chair of the Youth subcommittee for the KWIB (Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board). Johnny’s addiction story is of deliverance and redemption through Christ by grace, and he is excited to serve and witness the real life changes happening through Awake Ministries. He and his wife Kelley live in Sligo and have been married for 29 years. Together, they have four children and three granddaughters.

Staff

Stephanie Dillon

Executive Director

Stephanie’s first experience with Awake was in 2016 as a volunteer, teaching classes and sponsoring female residents. In 2020 she became the Fundraising Director and then stepped into the Executive Director role in August of 2021. Stephanie is also the Executive Director of Acts Mission, an international missions organization in St. Mary, Jamaica. She is an army veteran, military wife, navy mom, and a mother to twin boys. Stephanie is the leader over a disciple making and house church movement in Shelbyville, Restoration House Ministries.

Marcia Mitchum

Director of Operations

Marcia has served in various capacities since joining the Awake Ministries staff in 2017 – Director of Women’s Ministry, Executive Director, and currently works in her gifts as Director of Operations.
She also sits on the stateside board of Acts Mission International, building U.S. partnerships and funding for the ministry of Acts Church in St. Mary, Jamaica.

Marcia and her husband, Gary, are the proud parents of two daughters and Oma and Papaw to five beautiful grandchildren. They attend Southeast Christian Church.

Gerald Sebree

Director of Food Distribution

Before coming onto staff at Awake Ministries, Gerald was a volunteer at our Food Distribution Center for over 13 years. With more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing and human resources, Gerald’s hard work and dedication to community are seen throughout the food bank operations. Gerald is a member of Southeast Christian Church where he serves in numerous capacities.

Chris Banta

Director of Men’s Housing

Chris is a graduate of Henry County High School and attended Lindsey Wilson College. Through his own struggles with addiction, Chris’s passion has become helping others. He finds joy in being able to do that at Awake Ministries, the place where he found a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Chris is a member of Drennon Christian Church and is a part of the Emmaus community (walk 167).

Amanda Murphy

Director of Women’s Housing

Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Mandi Murphy has made her home in Shelbyville after graduating from the Awake Ministries residential recovery program in 2019. Mandi has a powerful testimony of redemption and restoration. She is the mother of 4 and is a member of Heritage Fellowship Church in Cropper. Mandi’s passion for the Lord and what He has done in her life fuels her to set the captives free.

Kevin Warford

Ministry Assistant

Kevin Warford served in various volunteer capacities at Awake Ministries before joining the team as a part-time Ministry Assistant. He retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice in 2016 after 38 years of state government service. Kevin serves as a Bible study teacher and as Chairmen of the Deacons at Highland Baptist Church in Shelbyville. He shares life with his wonderful wife, Melinda (Lindy).

Sam Beals