DENISE GUTTENBERGER

Born in Mobile and raised in New Orleans, Denise has three passions in her life…love of laughter, love of her family, and love of God’s Word.  After college, she spent time as a radio DJ and also a stand-up comedian.  In her twenties, a dynamic Bible study led by an insightful and faithful teacher started Denise’s love affair with God’s Word.

Denise felt a call to teach and has led Bible studies for the last 19 years.  Combining humor, Biblical insight and joy in her classes Denise has the ability to communicate the most difficult theological principles so all can understand and apply them to their personal lives in powerful ways. She currently teaches a weekly inter-denominational and inter-generational bible study and has been a keynote speaker for women’s conferences at several churches throughout the area.

DAWN MANN

Dawn remembers falling in love with the Lord as a young girl. In high school she met Tommy Mann, who later became her husband.  Admittedly shy back then, Dawn had no idea that the Lord would call her to ministry opportunities that put her in front of people speaking, but He has used her boldly through the years.

Dawn and Tommy came to Wilmington 28 years ago as the first Young Life staff in the area and enjoyed many years growing the ministry as well as their family.  They have three children -Thomas and Cody who have graduated college have careers of their own and Lydia, a high school senior.  Dawn felt privileged to be able to teach Bible at Hoggard High School for five years and now teaches 5^th grade at Cape Fear Academy.

Organizations serving women and children in need have a special place in Dawn’s heart and she has found great joy through the years in giving her time and talents as a board member to several of these in the Wilmington community.  Whether leading women’s or youth Bible studies or speaking at retreats and conferences, Dawn loves sharing her faith journey with others.

KAY HEIN

Kay lives in Wilmington, NC with her husband of 38 years, Reverend Steve Hein, pastor of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church.  She is the proud mother of three children and four grandchildren.  Kay has taught elementary school for over 20 years and currently teaches 5^th grade at Cape Fear Academy.

Steve and Kay share many passions - golf and the Pittsburgh Steelers among them.  But it’s their passion for missions that has sent them to Brazil and Africa several times through the years where they enjoy ongoing relationships with ministries in both locations. Kay and Steve led a group to villages in Malawi, Africa this past summer and are now looking forward to leading a Medical Mission Team to villages along the Amazon in July. 

A strong love of family has manifested itself over the years in the development of ministries that strengthen marriages and families.  Kay co-created the Mom’s Survival Class in 2001 and in 2008 helped develop the annual Marriage Retreat hosted by her home church.  Kay, along with Dawn Mann and Denise Guttenberger developed this annual women’s conference in 2002.

KATHY RISLEY

Raised the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister, Kathy admits she was more concerned with focusing on her friends and socializing than her faith growing up in Greensboro, NC.  But seeds planted by her parents were watered and sprouted when she and her husband Steve moved to Wilmington in 1998 and joined St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian.  Faithful mentors and strong Biblical teaching fed the hunger in Kathy’s heart that presented itself when she became a stay at home mom after a successful career in fundraising with the American Cancer Society.