Meet Our Staff
Pamela Phipps, Executive Director: Pamela has been on staff at Grace House Ministries as the Executive Director since July of 2010. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Clark Atlanta University with plans to become a lawyer. Now she is an advocate for girls! As Executive Director, Pamela is responsible for managing and directing all affairs of Grace House Ministries which include: Board Governance, Community Development, Programs, Personnel and Financial Management. She is no stranger to Grace House, in 1994 Pamela started volunteering as a tutor and mentor to the girls. Pamela shares similar sentiments with Mama Lois, like teaching girl’s etiquette, correcting grammar and posture; ultimately preparing girls to be well rounded Godly individuals.
Pamela’s favorite scripture is John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. One of her favorite quotes is from her dad “Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.” The other is "The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides," an excerpt from “Beauty Tips” by Audrey Hepburn. Pamela loves spending time with her husband Bennie and their two boys Douglas and Stuart. Valerie Gerber, Development Director: Valerie Gerber began working as the Development Director at Grace House Ministries in January of 2009. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Auburn University and worked with King’s Ranch for a while before coming to work at Grace House. Valerie raises the funds and awareness for Grace House that support this ministry. She generates and supports all the grants, grant reporting, events, letters, newsletters, contribution letters, and website content through the development department.
Valerie was first drawn to Grace House when she visited a staff devotion one morning. “I knew God was doing something special and meaningful in this ministry,” Valerie says, “I knew I wanted to be a part of it.” When she isn’t working in the office, Valerie enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and daughter, Jaylyn. She also enjoys spending time with their two dogs: Cassie, a pit bull, and Mr. Pickles, an English bulldog. Arlene Godwin, Education Coordinator: Arlene Godwin gained her experience in education through teaching mathematics for a number of years. When she heard about Grace House, she wanted to invest in the lives of the girls living here. She volunteered as a tutor in 2002 for a period of time before she began working for Grace House full-time as a house parent in 2003. In 2011, Arlene took on the position of Education Coordinator. Under her leadership in this position, all residents have the opportunity to attend private Christian schools in the Birmingham area. In addition to being the liaison between Grace House and the schools our girls attend, Arlene is responsible for tutoring, economic literacy, extracurricular activities, and service learning projects.
Arlene has a Bachelor of Science in economics at Florida A&M University. One of Arlene’s favorite quotations inspires her best effort forward each day says, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” (Nelson Mandela) Amanda Phillips, Clinical Director: Amanda began working for Grace House in 2011 and is a new addition to the Grace House team. As Clinical Director, Amanda is responsible for providing support for our residents and clinical advice to house parents. She attends all of the girl’s Individualized Service Plans (ISP), treatment and discharge plans, and devotes herself to promoting a healthy living environment for all of the girls at Grace House. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla., and a Masters of Social Work from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y.
Amanda was originally drawn to Grace House from a desire to be used in a more clinical setting. As she progressed through the interview process, Amanda realized how much this ministry meant to the staff and community—she felt it was a ministry truly ordained by God. She is thrilled at the prospect of working with our residents who need “extra love, support, guidance, and grace.”
One verse from the bible that encourages Amanda daily is Romans 12:2—“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Amanda loves this verse because she believes this kind of transformation is contagious when our hearts are full of Christ’s love.
Patty Cusick, Clinical Coordinator: Ericka Frye, Administrative Assistant:
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