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MAY 1-3, 2025 | Swansboro | North Carolina
MEET THE RENEW TEAM
Speakers
Mac Powell
Mac Powell led the band Third Day to sell 10 million albums, win 4 Grammys (12 nominations) and 24 Dove Awards. He has been named Gospel Music Vocalist of the Year (Dove Award). Since then, Mac has enjoyed a successful run as a solo artist. He’s also had significant collaboration with other legendary Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. Mac and his wife Aimee have 5 children, two of whom are adopted. Mac and Aimee will share their call to adoption, and we will have the great gift of hearing Mac perform, including his powerful song, “Children of God,” which celebrates the story of our adoption into the Father’s kingdom.
Chrina Henson
Chrina is the founder and director of Generations-Home, a non-profit organization leading the adoption movement in the nation of Philippines, with a mission to end the orphan crisis through safe and loving families. Additionally, Chrina heads a local community of adoptive and foster mothers and actively participates in initiatives aimed at influencing legislative change in the Philippines, such the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act. In 2024, she was recognized by Vogue’s Raising Hope for championing social good through nonprofit work. Chrina Henson’s parenting story begins with deep loss, which God used to turn her from the corporate world toward a call to the orphaned and abandoned child. Chrina and her husband Jonathan are parents of four children: one who joined their family through adoption. Chrina will guide Renew parents on the journey of helping our children tell their story.
Peter Frey
Peter and his wife Mary are accidental YouTube stars, with 284K followers on their channel, “The Frey Life.” Their journey of standing in faith against seemingly insurmountable health challenges has inspired countless families. Then God called them into a new life as foster and adoptive parents, and they have two recently adopted sons. Peter serves as Associate Pastor of Waypoint Church, which has a mission to serve immigrants, refugees and foster and adoptive families. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div) and the University of Edinburgh (M.Th.) in Scotland. Peter and Mary are passionate about sharing the ways that God takes the most hard and hurtful things in our lives and redeems them for good. The Frey’s will share their testimony, and Peter will serve as the presiding pastor of Renew Retreat 2025.
Kimberly Scott
Kimberly is the Executive Director of Agape NC Foster and Adoption Services. She has worked with families and children for more than two decades as a licensed Clinical Social Worker and individual therapist for children and adults. She empowers individuals to overcome personal obstacles by utilizing evidence-based interventions while integrating faith into her therapy practice. Kimberly has a loving husband and four biological children and has been raising the child of a woman who is currently incarcerated. She will serve on a panel sharing approaches to birth family relationships.
Jeff Marburger
Jeff and his wife Mandy are the founders of One More One Less Project, to inform, inspire and intertwine the local church with foster care, reunification, and adoption. Through years of infertility, God cultivated something in Jeff that he never could have expected. While God blessed him and his wife with a biological child, the facts and mission of children in foster care were implanted in his heart, and fostering and adopting children was no longer a “back-up plan”. Jeff knew God wanted him to be involved in foster care and it has changed his life forever. Each child that comes into his home represents to him the meaning of true religion in its purest form, as he cares for their needs as if they are our own. Jeff studied at Liberty University and was formerly the Executive Pastor at Hope Community Church. Jeff is excited to minister to the fathers of Renew Retreat and remind us all of the call of Father that has been put on our lives.
Karla Marie Williams
Karla and her husband make their home in Michigan and are parents to six children adopted from foster care, and recently became grandparents to two infant boys. For the last ten years, Karla has conducted Trauma-Competent training through creating her own curriculum for foster & adoptive parents, social workers, and child advocates around the world. With the experience of teaching in several countries, cultures, and systems, Karla brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise as she ministers to the hearts of those who care for traumatized children. She is the author of numerous books on foster care, adoption, homeschooling and the work she has done across the globe. Drawing on her own experience of raising children with a history of adversity, Karla will speak into Renew Retreat by offering teaching on Secondary Trauma and how this can be healed in caregivers and parents.
Linda Stone
Linda believes that prayer is the most important thing we can do, and it is the greatest weapon we have. “Mama Linda” is a former foster mother, and has served as the lead of the Renew Retreat Prayer Team for the last four years. She has served in leadership roles for National Day of Prayer, Promisekeepers, Men at the Cross and others, including a ministry for at-risk, fatherless teens of Chicago. She is also a volunteer to teens at Western Guilford High School. She leads several prayer groups including for Prodigals, Youth and those battling thoughts of suicide. Linda serves as the lead intercessor for Renew, and prays for Renew families throughout the year.
Terri Marcroft
Terri is the adoptive mom of a young woman who is the love of her life. Terri’s hero is her daughter’s birthmother, who made an adoption plan while she was a senior in high school. In 2010, Terri learned that only 1% of young US women facing unplanned pregnancy choose adoption for their babies, while there are almost two million couples in the US hoping to adopt. Compelled to change this reality, she founded Unplanned Good, a national organization based in California, to encourage women facing unwanted pregnancy to consider making an adoption plan. Terri serves on the Board of Second Mothers, a non-profit that provides community, encouragement and resources to “second mothers” — those who foster, adopt or otherwise choose the beautiful ‘Mom’ title as they care for and parent children all over the world, and the author of two books about the intersection of pro-life and adoption. Terri will lead a panel discussion on relationships with birth parents from a variety of perspectives.
Susan Tebos
Susan is an author, speaker, mentor, wife to Mike, and mom to three internationally adopted children for the past 26 years. She’s parented through every age and stage as her kids are newly minted young adults just out of the house. When her children were in the sensitive teen years, Susan watched them struggle to navigate their feelings, find their voice to ask questions, and share concerns related to adoption loss that was surfacing. This led her to conduct interviews with international, domestic and foster to adopt teenage and young adult adoptees from around the country who were willing to explain how they navigated the teen years and loss. Thirty-four of these interviews appear in her book, We’ve Been There: True Stories, Surprising Insights, and Aha Moments for Adopted Teens. For Renew parents, Susan will help us understand what teens need and how to emotionally support them during this sensitive season of self-discovery.
Thomas and Gaile Osborne
Thomas and Gaile have adopted 5 children from foster care and currently have taken in a new medically fragile infant. They have fostered over 30 children in the past 14 years. Gaile’s passion is helping other families focus on resilience, creating changes through advocacy to systemic challenges and coaching parents and school systems when supporting children with trauma. Gaile is a native of Alamance County and lives in the Asheville area. Her desire to get help for her children—adopted from significant trauma backgrounds and medical fragility—led her to a full-time career as an advocate for children with disabilities. Before becoming an advocate, Gaile spent 18 years as a special education teacher in North Carolina. She has her master’s degree in special education from UNC-Greensboro with a focus on emotionally disabled children and currently holds NC teaching certification in four areas. Thomas owns his own electrical company in the Asheville area. Thomas and Gaile will share their approach for keeping their marriage strong through the storms of foster care and adoption.
Aundrea Sterling
Aundrea and her husband Gary have been foster parents in Arizona and North Carolina, fostering over twenty children, and adopting two of them. As a family, they felt a special call to infants born drug addicted and this became the focus of their ministry. They were certified in emergency placement, often receiving infants directly from the hospital who were requiring round the clock medical care due to withdrawal from drugs and alcohol. Through this experience, Aundrea interfaced with many families caught in the cycle of addiction and incarceration. Aundrea has four adult children and one still at home. She is certified in TBRI and TBRI Train the Trainer, and has over a decade of experience as a homeschooler, day care director and office manager. Aundrea will contribute to a workshop about birth family relationships.
JOYCE KOO DALRYMPLE
Joyce is a pastor, speaker, and podcast host. She leads Refuge for Strength, a women’s ministry focused on spiritual formation and listening to God in community. She is on the teaching team for Church360, a collection of house churches in the Wheaton area. A former television journalist and attorney, she frequently guest preaches at local churches and speaks at women’s events and retreats. Joyce is the author of Women of the New Testament Bible Study. She received a BA from Stanford University, a JD from Boston College, and an MDiv from Metro Atlanta Seminary. She and her husband, Tim, have three daughters, one who was adopted, and live in Wheaton, IL. Joyce will lead our “Strengthening Women” session and also present new curriculum materials designed especially for Second Mothers.
Leeann Hale
Leeann married her college sweetheart the summer after they graduated. She went on to teach for five years as a special education teacher in a local public school, and now enjoys the privilege of being home full-time with her boys. Leeann is the author of two books, “Sowing in Tears: A Mother’s Sorrow in Infertility and Joy in Adoption” and “Sowing in Tears 2: When Brokenness Becomes Beauty” and donates 100% of the proceeds to waiting families pursuing adoption. As an adoptive mom, she is burdened to help educate women on the importance of loving and leaving space for birth families while promoting unity and compassion through the adoption process. She enjoys speaking and sharing her story of God’s faithfulness of how we can walk the road of brokenness with confidence that one day He will make all things new.
TERI FROMAN
God broke Teri’s heart for the orphan during the adoption journeys to Russia and China for her children. She is committed to God’s calling on her life to ensure children’s voices are heard and families are equipped to provide loving homes to God’s children. She brings over 28 years of experience in leadership from both the secular business world and church ministry. Teri is an Executive Minister and completed her Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served as an Orphan Sunday coordinator, founding member of Hope 1:17 Orphan Ministry, and board member of Both Hands Foundation. She and her husband Ryan and their children make make their home in mid-Tennessee.
Keith and Tanya Fortier
Keith and Tanya live in Apex, NC with their six children. Keith works for Agape of NC, building a network of people who will live sacrificially and give generously to protect the children who are most vulnerable in North Carolina. He is passionate about calling the people of God into foster care/adoption and providing training and support that makes it sustainable. Keith became a TBRI Practitioner, a Behavioral Health Partner, and ran support groups for foster & adoptive parents. Tanya is a social worker with Agape, supporting families. Being a part of these sacred spaces with others on this wild and crazy mission of fostering and adopting continues to be one of their greatest privileges.
TRENT TAYLOR
Trent entered foster care at the age of four due to domestic violence, extreme neglect, and sexual abuse. After traveling a painful journey through the foster care system, Trent was adopted at the age of nine and came to dramatic levels of healing from his traumatic past. Trent, who is now 23 years old, has devoted his life to helping others find healing. Trent is a mentor and public speaker and has authored and published two books. Trent recently graduated from Arizona State University with a 4.0 GPA with a B.S. in Family and Human Development. Trent is CEO and Co-Founder of Watch Me Rise in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Trent is a trauma consultant and serves as a TBRI Practitioner, Life Coach, Educational Therapist, mentor, and parent trainer. Trent gives all the glory to God for his healing and strives to be a light in the darkness.
RENEW Retreat
Retreat Team
Malen Papadopoulos
Malen was born and raised in the Philippines. She was called as a missionary to Costa Rica in the 90’s, then God opened the door for her to serve in various churches in the US. While serving faithfully in churches with walls, she asked God intensely “What else, Lord?”. That’s when God spoke to her and brought her to James 1:27! She moved to the Philippines together with her family to serve as an orphan advocate in 2011. She served as the Philippines Orphan Sunday Coordinator for Christian Alliance For Orphans, CAFO, for more than a decade. She also served as the Vice President of Philippines Without Orphans. She is married to a Greek American and has a biological daughter and an adopted son with special needs. Malen coordinates Connection and Prayer elements for Renew.
Genia Holder-Cozart
Wife, mother, grandmother, dog mother and all out worshiper of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ best describes Genia. She and her husband have five children and one grandson. Genia studied at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC and Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA and Academy of Arts in Sacramento, CA. To say that Genia loves worship music is an understatement. She has performed with many choirs and has toured abroad singing with Eric Dozier and One Human Family, leading the album title cut, God Is Good. Prior to serving as Choir Director at Waypoint Church, Genia served on the Worship Team at Summit Church. She has led worship at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist and copious other churches and community outreaches for more than 20 years! Genia will serve as Worship Leader for Renew.
Ruthie Gomez-Stuart
Ruthie and her husband Tom became foster parents in 2018. They both had careers in the Military. She retired from the Army and Tom is retired Navy. In 2012 they married and moved to beautiful Emerald Isle from Northern Virginia. Besides her voluntary service with the Armed Forces, she’s also volunteered for many organizations; Breast Cancer, ALZ, Sea Turtle Patrol, White Oak Elementary and Backpack Friends and other small entities. Together they opened their home to serve precious foster children in their county. She is blessed and grateful that God has led her to this paradise where he has given us a home to share, a church family, and the freedom to serve Him! Ruthie is our local coordinator for the Renew Team.
Laurie NardoKundst
Growing up in a Christian family that rarely attended church, Laurie knew she wanted strong church support for her family. Members at Swansboro UMC, Laurie took her first yoga class as her children left home and she found it fed her both spiritually and physically. In 2019, she finished her career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the following year completed yoga teacher training. She discovered the teachings embedded in yoga philosophy lined up with my Christian values. She is also the leader of the Stephen Ministry at SUMC, ministering to widows and others in need. Her classes include gentle movement which allows space to take in the full expression of Christ’s love for us all! She hopes her classes will nourish your mind, body and soul!
CHRISTIAN and karol BERROSPI
Christian and Karol started their foster care and adoption journey in California where they adopted their youngest child. In 2020, they moved to North Carolina and continued fostering. They started and are leading the foster ministry in their church. They founded Foster Connect, which plans and hosts events for foster & adoptive families to build community and connections. Karol was born in Guatemala and Christian in Peru. Because of their connection with the Latino community, they are always looking for opportunities to encourage Latinos to become involved in the foster community. Karol and Christian serve for outreach and logistics for Renew.
PAULA DROEGE
Paula is mother of three adult biological children as well as “second mother” to three young men she and husband Tom adopted as older teens and young adults. Paula also has seven grandchildren. Early in her Christian journey Paula spent two years in Mexico and Honduras, doing mission work where the Lord impressed on her heart a burden for the poor and the orphaned. For the past 10 years Paula has volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem for children in foster care. She is treasurer for the nonprofit organization, Second Mothers, as well as for Child Evangelism Fellowship. She serves as the financial coordinator for Renew.
JOHNSTON MOORE
Johnston has been married to Terri since 1988, and together they have seven children (five girls and two boys); all of whom were adopted through the Los Angeles County foster care system. John enjoyed a career in Hollywood in film & TV production before becoming fully immersed in adoption and foster care ministry. He is a freelance writer and consultant, and speaks regularly -including at Focus on the Family’s Wait No More. Currently, John, Terri, and their youngest three daughters live in the Richmond, Virginia area, where they are members of Redeemer Anglican Church. Johnston has served on the Renew planning team since its inception, and is its beloved annual MC.
ANASTASIA MEENACH
Anastasia is a digital media designer and military spouse. Her husband, Jett, serves in the USMC and is frequently deployed. Together they have three children, including a 13-year-old they adopted through foster care, a four-year-old and a two-year old. The Meenach family resides in Lawrenceville, GA where they have a small, suburban homestead including goats, chickens, dogs and a cat. They are active in their local church. Anastasia serves as graphic designer, photographer and social media coordinator for the Renew Planning team.
JERRY and Jodi TUCKER
Jerry and Jodi have a family that has been blended in all possible ways. Presently, nine young adults call them Mom and Pop, along with a growing army of spouses and grandchildren. Their family includes bio kids as well as domestic and international adoptees. Jodi is the author of three books, including Second Mother: A Bible Study Experience for Foster and Adoptive Mothers, and Healing for Every Heart in Adoption: Redemptive Strategies and Prayers for Adoptive Parents, Adoptees and Birth Parents. Jodi is the founder of Second Mothers, a ministry for women who serve vulnerable children as well as Renew Retreat. Jerry is the CEO of Treasured Property, a real estate company that gives back to help every child have a home. Jerry and Jodi founded Renew Retreat in 2021.
natalie giduz
Natalie has her masters in social work and works as pediatric medical social worker at UNC Chapel Hill. She is passionate about caring for the vulnerable, whether that be supporting at-risk families through her job or supporting foster and adoptive parents at church. She is a member at Waypoint Church where she serves in the buddy ministry. In her free time Natalie enjoys practicing Spanish, swing dancing, playing board games with friends, and listening to audiobooks. She serves as administrative and logistics coordinator for Renew.
May 1-3, 2025
SWANSBORO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SWANSBORO, North Carolina
See you at the beach!
MAY 1-3, 2024 | SWANSBORO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | SWANSBORO, North Carolina