What brought you to Release Ministries: I was part of the founding group in 1994. In 1997 I became Chaplain of the Douglas County Youth Center serving in that capacity for 2 years. I have served as the Executive Director since 1999. God’s call on my heart was to serve those youth that are fatherless in every sense of the word.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: The best part is to see youth grasp truth about their value to God and the future they may have with Him.

Donna Saffles, Administrative Assistant
With the ministry since: 2010
What brought you to Release Ministries:  God’s direction and my heart to serve Him wherever He leads me to serve.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: While I don’t work with at-risk youth directly, I do support those that do. It has been a joy to meet others on staff, hear their testimonies, and get to know each one individually. I look forward to seeing how God will change and use me as a result of my connection with Release Ministries.



Institutional Staff

Ron Smith, Chaplain at Douglas County Youth Center
With the ministry since 2006

What brought you to Release Ministries: After receiving salvation while in jail myself I knew from that point that God wanted me go back into the same environment that he had brought me out of. I became a youth ministry worker in several different churches. God laid on my heart that the youth were the next generation of believers.  After the Lord relocated my family to Omaha Ne. in 2005 I met Sandra Preston who introduced me to Release Ministries…The first day I went into the youth center as a volunteer I knew this was it, the place where God sent me.
Best part of your service to at-risk youth: The preaching the gospel to the kids, seeing youth give their lives to Christ regardless of their personal struggles.

Karen Anderson, Discipleship Coordinator/Leader at DCYC
With the ministry since: 2008

What brought you to Release Ministries: It started with a prayer, asking God where He specifically wanted me to serve Him. I have a passion for young people to know who they are in Christ, and to know with certainty that God loves them. So God connected me to Release Ministries through a good friend, and He kept pulling my heart deeper into His heart for at-risk youth. My heart swells with love for these kids. They really are God’s precious treasures hidden in dark places.
Best part of your service to at-risk youth: Giving the youth the opportunity to know Jesus which will transform their hearts, and having the privilege to learn from and get to know the youth.

Ronald Sammons, Bible Study Coordinator
With the ministry since 2008
What brought you to Release Ministries: I was introduced to Bill Ellet in the spring of 2008, 8 months later with a strong desire to minister at risk kids I signed on as Bible Study Coordinator.  I ministered to groups of boys at DCYC and also have met with and trained many fine, dedicated leaders and teachers.
Best part of your service to at-risk youth: Is teaching the boys groups and illustrating a point (with a drawing) only to have one of the boys want to keep the picture I drew.  I am able then to add scripture to remind him of God’s word.  They are encouraged after these bible studies but I am more encouraged.



Homes Staff

Garrett Swanberg, Director of Residential Care
With the ministry since: 2002

What brought you to Release Ministries: I have always enjoyed youth ministry but I never set out to work with at-risk youth. I was just a college student attempting to follow Christ. I began as a bible study leader and mentor at D.C.Y.C. After two years, my wife and I had the opportunity to become house parents at the first Release home. Five years later I was offered the opportunity to oversee the houses. There is something about the youth we work with that keeps drawing me to them.
Best part of your service to at-risk youth: I love building authentic relationships. Relationship is a core value that permeates every level of our organization. The genuine relationships that we offer to the youth are something we experience every day as staff.

Jay Ferguson, House Parent, Boys Home
With the ministry since: 2009
What brought you to Release Ministries:  I needed employment and wanted to be used by the Lord.  This was not what I had expected the Lord to call me in to, but He did.  He has been growing me and healing me while at the same time using me to grow and heal the youth I minister to.
Best part of your service to at-risk youth:  It is amazing to see some of the changes these youth have undergone.  It takes a lot of commitment, strength, and courage to learn and live a new way of life; one that is often at odds with old friends and/or family.  But these guys do it.  I don’t think any of us who have not been through it could truly grasp what battles they are experiencing on a daily basis.

Kristina Ferguson, House Parent, Boys Home
With the ministry since: 2009

What brought you to Release Ministries: The opportunity to work with my husband and to guide and love teenage guys who need “one more chance” to tell their story and make positive changes in their lives
Best part of your service to at-risk youth:  The best part of serving my guys is by being a mom.  I have an opportunity to show them how to live successfully and independently in a safe and loving environment.  It blesses me to watch my guys make the small and large milestones.

Mark G. Collier, Assistant House Parent, Boys Home
With the ministry since: 2008
What brought you to Release Ministries: A member at my church, walked up to me and handed me a flyer. She told me she had been praying and felt like the position on the flyer would be good for me. A couple of days later, I called Release Ministries and spoke with Bill and we met to talk about the position. I was definitely interested, but did not want to change careers and didn’t think a position with Release would pay the bills. A few weeks later, I met with Garrett, the house parent for the boys home and then went and spent an evening at the home.
That night two of the guys living in the home, began to share with me what the house meant to them. They both shared that the house gave them the opportunity to get jobs and go to school and work towards becoming independent, and that there was no way they could do those things without living here. I knew at that moment I had to take the position.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: The best part of what I do is being able to help the guys break out of the pattern that they are in and see that they can learn the necessary skills to find work and be independent.

Dan Durham, House Parent, Girls Home
With the ministry since: 2008
What brought you to Release Ministries:  Pam and I had been Foster Parents for about 13 years. We decided to get out of foster care because of the changing needs of our family. Still feeling the call to work with at risk kids, Pam noticed in the church announcements a need for house parents at Release Ministries. We both decided this was an the opportunity we wanted to work with kids and meet the need to minister to our family also.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: Seeing that moment in the youth when you begin to realize they trust you (an adult in authority). This opens up so many doors to minister to them.
Pam Durham, House Parent, Girls Home
With the ministry since: 2008
What brought you to Release Ministries:  I started with Release Ministries after Danny and I had been foster parents for about 13 years.  We had been out of foster care for about 2 years and I started praying about what God wanted me to do. When I saw the insert in our church bulletin about the need for house parents for the girls home I knew it was what I was supposed to do next.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: The best thing about working with the youth is when they really get who Jesus is and that he loves them no matter what.

Jamie Halsey, Assistant House Parent, Girls Home
With the ministry since: 2009
What brought you to Release Ministries:  My life needed to change.  I saw an advertisement for girls home assistant and I felt God leading me to apply.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: Working with the girls, hands down.  Hearing their stories, walking beside them through struggles and victories is the best part of my job.



Mentoring Staff

Woody Winchell, Director, Mentoring
With the ministry since: 1999

What brought you to Release Ministries: I taught and coached at-risk youth at inner city alternative high school where God gave me a heart for these kids. The Lord put me in touch with Bill Ellett, our hearts were knit and Release brought me on board to develop and direct the Mentoring Ministry.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth: Knowing that the seeds we plant and water will be used by God to change hearts and lives, bringing Him pleasure as the kingdom is increased.

Sandra Preston, Mentor/Volunteer Coordinator
With the ministry since: 2003
What brought you to Release Ministries:  My Sunday School at the time Teacher (Curtis Evans) was mentoring with the ministry at the time and thought I would make a good volunteer as well so he referred me to the ministry to become a bible study leader and later Bill Ellett as me to come on as a part-time staff member as the Family Helps Coordinator.

Best part of your service to at-risk youth:  Seeing how God connects these unique youth, volunteers, and staff together to form purposeful and loving relationships and also to see how God through His Holy Spirit uses these relationships to bless, transform, grow and change so many of lives, not just the youth but also the volunteers and staff.   I am a witness to how it has affected my life in each of those areas but not just that but knowing in my heart that I strongly believe in our new theme questioning (‘What if it were your child’) because to be honest they are mine I have a biological son that use to be one of them and now I have many son’s and daughters that God uses me to help reach and touch their lives.

Marcus Brown, Mentoring Coordinator
With the ministry since: 2008
What brought you to Release Ministries: I was attending a church service; 3 years ago that Woody Winchell spoke at, presenting the opportunities to get involved with Release Ministries. I was consumed and flooded with the Holy Spirit after that presentation. I had no idea what it meant, why it shook me so much and what God wanted me to do? I quickly got involved as a mentor, giving back to a community, “I once took from” during my earlier years as a young adult and many run-ins with the law. I have a wide variety of history with the justice system and I can 100% relate to these youth.
Best part of your service to at-risk youth: When I hear their stories, see their pain and understand their longing for change; I know exactly what they need. They need Jesus Christ changing them from the inside/out and a lifelong commitment to our Lord.