Contributors

• Viki Rife serves as Executive Director of Women of Grace USA — Viki served Women of Grace USA as Director of Girls’ Ministries as well as Communications Coordinator for over ten years before becoming Executive Director in August of 2014. Over the years she has been involved in various areas of children’s and youth ministries in addition to women’s ministries. A writer and editor, she is a co-author of the Heroes Who Live On series, written to inspire children through the biographies of faithful men and women of the Brethren movement. She also serves as the editor of the Women’s Spectrum magazine. She grew up in Argentina, where her parents were missionaries with the FGBC, and finds many opportunities to use her Spanish to translate books and as a speaker to women’s groups. She and her husband John, a Christian counselor, live in Warsaw, Indiana. 

• Janet Minnix serves as President Emeritus of Women of Grace USA– Janet has served in national Women of Grace offices for 27 years, including 14 years as national president. In her local church she plays keyboard with the worship team, chairs the Missions Commission, and co-leads the women’s ministry. She also serves on the Grace College and Seminary Board of Trustees. She takes a special interest in women’s Bible studies and in mentoring and discipling younger women. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, travel and spending time with her grandchildren. She and her husband Odell, a retired air traffic controller, have two sons and three grandchildren. 

• Cassie Rayl serves as Communications Assistant and the coordinator of the Released! blog — Cassie has been writing for Women of Grace USA since 2013 and has graduated with her degrees in journalism and Biblical Studies. Cassie and her husband, Peter, are currently embarking on their journey through Seminary. When Cassie is not working on writing projects, she assists Peter with their church’s youth group. She can almost always be found with a smile and a story, but strives to draw people closer to the Lord through her writing. Cassie and Peter live in Winona Lake, Indiana.

• Melissa Kreis serves as an intern for Women of Grace USA. She graduated from Grace College in 2014 with degrees in Biblical Studies, Counseling, and Educational Ministries. Originally from Dalton, Ohio, she now resides in Warsaw and works with the college scholarship program and nonprofit grant cycles at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Melissa serves as a children’s Sunday School teacher at her church and enjoys mentoring a college student through Grace College’s Women’s Mentoring program. Melissa is passionate about ministering to women and enjoys writing to communicate biblical concepts. She is excited to see how God will grow her heart for Himself and for ministry through her role at WGUSA.

Women of Grace Board Member Contributors:

• Cathy Simms serves as Secretary at Women of Grace USA — Cathy works full time at Grace Church of Wooster as an administrative assistant in Grace Kids. She has been married to Scott for 31 years. They have two sons and two delightful daughters-in-law. Cathy enjoys spending time with her husband, other couples, friends, and family. She also loves to read and spend time in the kitchen.

• Cindy Bushen serves as the treasurer at Women of Grace USA — Cindy is a bookkeeper at Grace Brethren Investment Foundation. She grew up in a rural setting and enjoys “domestic” projects, including knitting, crocheting, quilting, gardening, sewing. She also enjoys reading and sharing with other women, as well as teaching craft skills to girls. She has been very involved with Women of Grace in her local church. She says, “I feel women play a very important role in the life of the church. I hope that my involvement in WGUSA will help me channel down to the local level the future vision for women in the church.” Cindy and her husband Art have two daughters and one granddaughter.

• Sharon MacMillan serves as the Director of Spiritual Life at Women of Grace USA — Sharon served on the Vision Committee for Women of Grace for three years and is presently director of Mission on the board, seeing many of the visions realized. Sharon is married to Pastor Robert MacMillan from Tracy, California and has four children and one grandchild. Sharon teaches piano to several international students, which is her passion in ministry. She works with Women of Grace in the area of Spiritual Life, where women are encouraged to live out their God-given mission.

• Sue Knight serves as the Director of Leadership Development at Women of Grace USA — Sue has been married to her husband, Dave, for over 40 years. Almost every one of those years has been spent in some form of ministry. She has always endeavored to come alongside her husband as he attended Bible College, taught for many years in a Christian school, and began ministry as a Youth Pastor in what was then the Temple Hills Grace Brethren Church in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Upon following God’s call to move to Osceola, Indiana, Sue has found herself being stretched to an ever-deeper relationship with Christ. While she now finds herself back in the workforce full-time, her heart’s desire remains to minister to women and challenge them to a more intimate relationship with Christ.

• Jennifer Fretz serves as the Director of Community at Women of Grace USA — Jennifer is married to her husband Andy and is a stay-at-home mom. She’s involved in various activities at her church and with her MOPS group. She also is a director with The Pampered Chef. Andy and Jen Have three children Jennifer shares, “I see my role on the board as a tool to help bridge the gap between the generations, helping Women of Grace to challenge and inspire young moms, marrieds, teens to be empowered to minister to their churches and communities.” 
• Rosa Munoz serves as the Director of Ethnic Ministries at Women of Grace USA — Rosa was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and is the oldest of seven children. She moved to the USA thirty-one years ago. She served as a church planting wife with her husband, Jesus G. Munoz, in the Tampa, FL, area with FGBC Hispanic Ministries for almost fourteen years. In 2012, they moved to Atlanta, GA, to work with Encompass World Partners. Rosa’s passions are teaching and mentoring children and women. She also enjoys playing piano, crafts, sewing, reading and cooking. One of her next project is to have a women’s sewing group in Doraville, GA, area with the opportunity to witness and made Christ known to these ladies. Rosa’s background offers a unique opportunity to help the board know how to minister to women from various ethnic backgrounds. 
• Nicole Miller serves as the Director of Girls’ Ministries at Women of Grace USA — Nicole is the director of Girls’ Ministries’, and has a passion to see girls and women grasp who they are in Christ. Nicole joined Women of Grace USA in 2003 on a volunteer basis and became the first Girls’ Ministry Coordinator in 2009. Since then, she has been serving as a member of the SMM cabinet and writing Girls of Faith curriculum for junior and senior high girls. In addition to writing curriculum, she works to communicate with churches the need to reach their girls, as well as helping equip leaders in Girls’ ministry. Nicole also has a deep desire to cast a vision for the Christian community in what it means to reach Girls for Christ. Nicole lives in Syracuse, Indiana.

• Tabby McMonagle serves as a contributing author to Released! for Women of Grace USA– Tabby lives in the greater Washington D.C. area, and has been married to her husband, Rob, for thirteen years. They have three beautiful children ages eleven, eight, and six. In addition to volunteering with the hospitality team at her church, she also serves as the Give-It-Away Coordinator. She loves people, values relationships, and thrives in encouraging others and praying.

• Samantha Freds serves as a contributing author to Released! for Women of Grace USA– Samantha is originally from the East Coast, and moved to Indiana to pursue a degree in business management and administration. After four years in the corporate world, she accepted God’s call to full-time ministry. She is currently working through seminary classes at Grace. Samantha loves working with children and has served in various children’s ministry roles including as a current volunteer with Women of Grace’s SMM program and as an elementary basketball coach. She has a developing heart for soul care and women’s ministry and is thrilled to see how God will use her for His purposes. Samantha and her husband, Derek, currently live in Warsaw, IN. 
• Maria Houston serves as a contributing author to Released! for Women of Grace USA--Maria lives outside of Frederick, Maryland with her husband, daughter, and their unexpected dog. She enjoys teaching children, reading fabulous books, and trying new delicious recipes. Most of all she loves finding humor in all things and making others laugh.

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