Staff

Our staff at Awake Ministries is devoted to serving individuals and families in the community. With hearts desiring to love and minister to others, this dedicated group of people works tirelessly to fulfill the call to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a hurting world.

2019 Board of Directors

Kevin Goss

Secretary

When I crossed the threshold of the Open Door of Hope men’s house, I entered a broken man. I was longing to end a decades long drug addiction that had almost cost me everything. I knew God was real being delivered from an accident that left me paralyzed, but my relationship with the Lord was still distant. With a family at home and the weight of the world on my shoulders, I knew something had to change.
Awake Ministries gave me the priceless opportunity to sit still and learn the Word of God through the Gospels. It changed my heart and my life forever. My starving soul received what it needed so desperately through the amazing people who poured life into me.
I was given the chance to create the IOP program and oversee the men’s house after completing the program. It was an honor to help others as I was helped.
Today, I am humbled to serve on the board of directors. It is my honor to continue to serve the place that changed the trajectory of my life, to keep spreading the Good News and to give hope to those who need it most. People like me.
Lee Murphy

Chairman

Lee Murphy has been part of the Board at Awake Ministries since 2014. A native of Shelby County, Lee is a local businessman and real estate agent with Torrey Smith Realtors. He is a firm believer in giving back to the community, and serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity as well. He, his wife Sarah, and their son reside in Shelbyville.
Jeff Reynolds

Executive Director Emeritus

Jeff has long been involved with Awake Ministries and served as Executive Director for two years. A local businessman and farmer, Jeff has a heart for the lost, desiring to bring the good news of the Gospel to those at home and abroad. He, his wife Robin, and their daughter live in Shelbyville and attend Heritage Christian Fellowship, where Jeff serves as the Director of Missions.
Jim Smith

Board Member

In addition to serving on the Awake Ministries’ Board, Jim Smith is a founding member of Open Door of Hope. As a realtor and local businessman, Jim is active in community service, and serves as a deacon at Highland Baptist Church. He and his wife Teresa have been married for over forty years and enjoy spoiling their eight grandchildren.
Jonathan Hale

Vice-Chair

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 Principal Civil Engineer and business owner who works in Shelby and the surrounding counties. He, his wife Ashley, and their five children live in Shelby County and attend Heritage Christian Fellowship.
Joanna Lynch

Board Member

Joanna Lynch is the Director of Grants and Contracts at Jefferson Community and Technical College. With a broad knowledge of economic and community development, she has been instrumental in facilitating financial and other assistance to Awake Ministries. Joanna attends Southeast Christian Church where she is active in children’s ministry.
Tammy Thomas

Board Member

Tammy Thomas is the Senior VP/Director of Affordable Housing at CUB Bank in Shelbyville. With a background in affordable housing for over 30 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 is a senior in college at the University of Memphis.
Beth Watts

Board Member

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 32 years and they have four adult children and six 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.

Staff

Marcia Mitchum

Executive Director

Marcia Mitchum has served in various capacities since joining the Awake Ministries staff in 2017 – Director of Women’s Housing, Director of Operations, and most recently being named Executive Director. She also sets on the stateside board of Acts Mission International, building U.S. partnerships and funding for the ministry of Acts Church in Port Maria, Jamaica. Marcia and her husband, Gary, attend Southeast Christian Church.
Jennifer Beagle

Director of Transitional Housing

Jennifer Beagle is our Director of Transitional Living. She comes to us from Gainesville, FL with much experience in addictions, trauma, and transitional ministry. Jennifer was led by God out of a 20-year drug addiction, having a story that truly is miraculous. She now has a deep passion to set the captives free from all forms of abuse and addiction. Jennifer has appeared on Christian Television Network, in multiple national magazines, and has won the Nation’s highest FBI award in Washington D.C. for community leadership. Her greatest aspiration is to educate society, the system, and the church that not only can people overcome addiction, but they can become who they were originally created to be.
Gerald Sebree

Director of Food Distribution

As a volunteer at our Serenity Center for over 13 years, Gerald also serves as a Lay Counselor for Awake Ministries. With more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing and human resources, his hard work and dedication are felt throughout our organization. Gerald is a member of Southeast Christian Church where he serves in numerous capacities.
Alyssa Hickey

Director of Women's Housing

Originally from Red Oak, IA, Alyssa moved to Shelbyville in 2001. This graduate of Shelby County High School has a passion to help others and obtained a degree in Medical Assisting from Brown Mackie College. As a single mother of three, Alyssa’s struggles led her to the Inpatient Program at Awake Ministries. Finding strength and wisdom in Jeremiah 29:11, her heart’s desire is to do for others as God has so lovingly done for her.
Philip Nelson

Director of Men’s Housing

Although his life has taken him around the United States and to several countries around the world to serve the Church in varying capacities since 2005, Philip came to Kentucky in 2016 to further his training as a worker in the Lord’s harvest. By God’s gracious hand, he has led him to Shelbyville where he lives with his wife and son. His passion is to see Jesus Christ transform the lives of all people through preaching, teaching, and counseling from the Word of God. He is a member of Highland Baptist Church.