Love INC Board

Teri Rose,
Executive Director
Love INC of Eagle River, Alaska

Although I carry the title of Executive Director for Love INC of Eagle River, my prayer is to be a servant - a servant of Christ and a servant to our neighbors in need. I served for nine years as the Executive Director of Child Advocates, a multi-award winning agency, including “Best in Texas”. It was a mission, and I can’t take the credit for what God did there, and will do here, at Love INC of Eagle River. I left Texas to take the title of military wife. I found out, at the altar, on my wedding day, that we were moving to Alaska. We fell in love with this beautiful area, however, the military required us to leave, but God called us back. My husband, Jason, now serves full-time in the Alaska National Air Guard. We’re proud to call Eagle River our permanent home!

Another title I carry is “Mommy” to my wonderfully busy, two young children, Elijah and Ziona. In my thirst to be a good mother and wife, God placed me in many different churches in our community for Bible studies, Christian conferences, and programs such as Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), Moms In Touch, and the Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) at Fort Richardson.

I am very thankful to be serving with Christ-lead volunteers. I have seen God transform not only the person you help, but also YOU, as a volunteer, and your situation. When you are using your talents to honor God, you will look forward to the day that you get to help a neighbor in need. And amazingly, your day-to-day problems that often weigh you down, somehow feel lifted, maybe because you released those burdens to God. God did not design us to carry our own burdens, but to give them to Him, and to be willing to accept and help others. He often works through others, and He can work through YOU!

Reverend Gracie M. Jackson, BSOE, M.Div
Board Secretary
Pastor of Missions and Women’s Ministries
Eagle River Missionary Baptist Church

I am a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary and Wayland Baptist University. Outreach ministries have always been my passion. Love INC is a community ministry that involves the church and community, which fulfills the mission of the body of Christ. I am excited about this ministry to know that more people will have a personal encounter with Jesus by calling into the Clearinghouse. I raised my two children in Eagle River, Russell and Rodney. I believe my family would have greatly benefited by Love INC, if it had existed in our community at that time. I am a retired grandmother of six grandchildren, who looks forward to serving God even more in our community. On the Love INC Board, I chair the Prayer Committee, and I am also the board secretary. I serve on the Nominating Committee and the Personnel Committee. I pastor a new church fellowship in my home - Grace Community AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church.

William (Bill) N. McCay,
Board Member

I retired from the US Air Force in 2005 after serving over 20 years and have owned Greatland Christian Cache, with Connie, my wonderful wife of 23 years. Although the world considers us owners of the business, we gave to God what was already His from the beginning. Even though I am the one filling a board position, Connie and I are united as one. We became involved with the development of Love INC of Eagle River from the start, because it promotes a spirit of unity among God's people that we believe is essential. We cannot wait to see how God uses it and all of us to transform lives in our community. I have served as treasurer for the Love INC Board and chair of the Finance Committee. My church home is King’s Way Ministry Center.

Wendy Cleveland,
Board Chairperson
Love INC of Eagle River

I have been married to John for 27 years, and we are both teachers. I teach Kindergarten at Homestead Elementary School in Eagle River, and John teaches band at Gruening. Our church home is Peter’s Creek Christian Center. We have 3 children, who are now young adults (Hillary, Ryan, and Abi.) Abi and her husband Steven have blessed us with a precious granddaughter, Briana. We love being grandparents!

I serve as Administrative Secretary on the Alaska State Area Team for the ministry of Aglow International, a Christian women’s ministry. I have a small weekly Aglow group, “His Hands,” where I teach praise and worship songs in sign language to girls and women. Aglow is where I developed my heart for unity and outreach, which was a perfect fit for launching the ministry of Love INC of Eagle River.

I have been involved with Love INC since the inception, as we prayed to develop this ministry. I believe that Love INC is already changing the face of our community. As our partner churches and volunteers unite together to reach out and help our Neighbors in Need, the love and compassion of Jesus Christ is released. I am so excited to continue to serve, and to see just what God is going to do through the ministry of Love INC of Eagle River!

Kevin Dougherty,
Board Vice Chairperson

My wife Doreen and I have three children, and we have lived in Eagle River for 25 years. We are members of St. John’s Orthodox Church, and are truly thankful for the life Christ provides us. We also believe that Christ has called us to love our neighbors in need. I am semi-retired after 25 years as an attorney for the Alaska Laborers. Today I am active in my Church and the Pregnancy Center in Eagle River. I serve on the Love INC Board as Vice-Chair, and head up the Personnel Committee. I look forward to the help we can provide to the people in our community through Love INC!

June Sobocinski,
Board Member
Resource Development Committee

I work with many non-profits and community partners as Vice President of Community Action with United Way of Anchorage. Prior to United Way, I was a Director at Catholic Social Services. My professional background also includes over 10 years teaching high school and college students, and 5 years of for-profit management. My husband Michael and I have been married for 27 years and we have 2 sons. Chris is an adult living in Denver, and Jeremy attends Chugiak High School. Two golden retrievers complete our family. I became involved with Love INC of Eagle River as a board member and the Chairperson for the Resource Development Committee. It has been a joy for me to follow God’s call by supporting this ecumenical ministry, which He is using to mobilize and unite His Church to care for those in need right in our own community. My church home is Skyline Family Fellowship.

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Karen Pedersen,
Board Member
Finance Committee

I have a Bachelor in Business Administration and Accounting, with over 20 years of accounting experience in for-profit and non-profit organizations. I am a member of Community Covenant Church, and I have served on their Missions Task Force and with Kids on the Rock. I believe that helping those in need is mandatory for living a Christian life. A Christian leader should have vision of the future, excellent ethical standards, and daily study in the Bible. Unity is important because it keeps us focused on Christ and prevents conflicts among Christians. On the board of Love INC, I am on the Finance Committee and I do payroll for our staff.

Lisa Munson,
Board Member

I am a long time resident and business owner of Accurate Framing Systems, LLC, in the Eagle River area. I am married to Robert Munson, and have two children, Rachael and Estevan Padilla, and I am Nana to two grandsons, Christian and Hayden. My church family is with Eagle River Missionary Baptist Church. I currently participate in our women’s mission, senior center outreach, and media ministries at my church. My positions with Love INC include Prayer Partner, Board Member, and Chairperson of the Nominating Committee. I love the Lord and believe in the mission statement of Love INC, helping churches help people, AND bringing people to the realization of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by testifying and sharing the good news of the Holy Scriptures. Other ministries include riding along side other motorcycle believers spreading the gospel, and outreach to the homeless.

Charie McCurtain,
Board Member

I spent my first 25 years in Oregon before moving to Alaska and making Eagle River my home. I have raised two sons in this wonderful community that we call “home”. Through the years, I have served as PTA President at Ravenwood Elementary and Gruening Middle School and have served on several different Anchorage School District Committees (revising school boundaries, naming the new schools, reviewing curriculum, making recommendations for capital improvements and more). I have also served on several Boards for different hockey organizations. I am an infamous “Hockey Mom” and I treasure all that title encompasses, including serving as Team Manager for the last sixteen years. I am currently a Trustee for the Chugiak Eagle River Foundation. My church home is Community Covenant Church.

I believe that God has given each of us gifts, and when we use our God-given gifts, we have the opportunity to bless others nearly effortlessly. The critical component is matching people’s gifts with those people that are in need of that particular blessing. This can appear to be an impossible task and a logistical nightmare, which it is, when it is separate from God. But when God is involved, the details are insignificant.

I remember reading about Love INC’s inception and praising God for its mission! I am delighted and excited for the opportunity to serve and be a part of such a God driven ministry! I take my responsibility as a Love INC Board Member seriously, and I commit to seeking God for His direction, wisdom, and Will in every decision I am called upon to make. I thank God in advance for all of the God stories He plans to make happen through Love In the Name of Christ, and I am eager to serve the community of Eagle River.

Father Bob Young,
Board Member

I am the pastor of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church here in Eagle River. We were one of the first churches to partner with Love INC. I help families and individuals dealing with substance abuse issues. My vision is for a Detox Treatment Center in the Eagle River Area. I believe unity in the body of Christ is important for more prayer power leading to more volunteers and financial resources. A Christian leader is a person who, when alone, is comfortable in and with his walk with God.

Marguerite Culhane,
Board Member

I was born and raised in Anchorage, and like many Alaskan families I was sent to a Catholic boarding school in California for high school. I graduated from Seattle University in 1964, and then got a job in Washington D.C., teaching elementary school in the shadow of our nation’s capitol building. Teaching and working in Washington D.C. is an education in the disparity of economics within our nation. After two years, I changed careers and went to work for an airline. Seventeen years later, I came back to Alaska in 1983. I built my house in Eagle River and joined St. Andrew Parish. Since then, I have taken long distance learning courses through Gonzaga University and scripture courses through the Newman Center at Alaska Pacific University. This has been very helpful in my ministry, working with the RCIA and the Reconciling group at St. Andrew. Love in the Name of Christ is an answer to a prayer. This witness of Christian unity has given me great hope that someday, we will be united again in the name of Christ.

Pastor Rod Poepping,
Board Member

I live in Eagle River with my wife Diane and our two children: 14-year old son, Michael and our 9-year old daughter, Lucy. We moved to Alaska in October of 2007 from the Seattle area. While in Seattle, I was bi-vocational for many years, working full time as a commercial electrician, as well as serving in full time ministry on staff at a church in the Snoqualmie Valley. I was called into professional ministry four years ago and received my ordination in March of 2007 with The Christian and Missionary Alliance. I served as an interim pastor for several months before interviewing for a full time pastorate. As the senior Pastor at Alliance Christian Fellowship, outreach is a top priority for me, so when I was approached to join the Love INC Board, I jumped at the chance. I am excited to be a part of a ministry that will pull together its resources to change the community we live in for Christ.

Ruth Doubek,
Board Treasurer

Leonard and I have lived in Eagle River for 31 years, raising our four grown children here, moving from Minnesota 34 years ago. We are both retired from the school district, where I was a teaching assistant for nineteen years. Children, especially high maintenance ones, have been my passion, as we were also foster parents for several years. We were blessed to have been able to adopt our youngest daughter, when we realized she perhaps would become a "throw away child.” When Love INC presented at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, I found the avenue to help me practice and give to what I so deeply believe, helping our backdoor neighbors, before venturing into far away lands. I've done numerous and varied volunteer jobs, but this one seems like the most exciting and rewarding. I am not sure where all this will take me but I believe that, with the help of the existing board and faith in God's direction, I will be the one who is helped the most.

Stacey Pratt,
Board Member

My husband Dana and I moved to Alaska in 2003. Shortly after arriving, we made our home in Eagle River. In January of 2004, we welcomed our son Max into the world, and our lives appear to have picked up speed ever since. One year later, a blessed friend of mine asked me to join her in attending a Bible study at Community Covenant Church. By month four of the study, I accepted Christ as my Savior. Three months later, I was baptized in Green Lake on Elmendorf AFB. I just praise Him.

In 2007, my husband retired from the military, and as dutiful parents, we planned on moving closer to family. However, it became very obvious that God had other plans for us. He made it very clear that our calling is here in Eagle River, Alaska. As we committed to His will, we felt the peace that can only come from the Lord as well as His calling on us to pursue the missions he had set aside for us.

Love INC is one of those missions. I feel so blessed to be a part of this young, yet vital, organization within our community. I so look forward to watching it grow under God’s care, and seeing the upcoming fruits of His labor of love. As the Bible states, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11 NIV). And I trust with all my heart He will!