Leadership

Our Founders

Mending the Soul was conceived in 2003 when Steve and Celestia Tracy and a handful of men and women met with a passion to comfort those broken by abuse. Because there were few resources available to address the complexities of abuse and neglect, Steve and Celestia published Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse to educate on the nature and effects of abuse, and the Mending the Soul Workbook to guide survivors through an interactive and integrated process of healing and forgiveness in community with each other.

Together, the Tracys co-founded and co-direct Mending the Soul, mentoring and supervising collaborative teams of writers, artists, musicians, educators, students, mental health providers, and business professionals who create the sustainable healing models and curricula for Mending the Soul Ministries for global application.

Steve and Celestia have three grown children, who, with their families, partner with them in ministries of justice and mercy.

STEVE TRACY, PhD

Steve is the President and International Director for Mending the Soul, and professor of theology and ethics at Phoenix Seminary where he has taught since 1995. He has also served as a church pastor for fifteen years. Steve’s research and writing are focused on biblical ethics, sexuality, and abuse. He received a B.A. from Arizona State, an M.Div. and Th.M. from Western Seminary and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the University of Sheffield (England) with a research focus on Pauline ethics. In addition to his domestic work, Steve, along with his wife Celestia, spend 4-8 weeks a year in East Africa coordinating and supervising international trauma training teams. Steve is the author of seven books and numerous book chapters and journal articles.

CELESTIA TRACY, MA

Celestia is the Resource Development Director for Mending the Soul. Celestia received her M.A. in Counseling/Psychology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and supported leaders and families as a professional trauma counselor for eighteen years. Drawing from twenty-five years of teaching and training experience in areas of abuse and healing, secondary trauma, intimacy and bonding, biblical sexuality, and soul care, Celestia ensures that all Mending the Soul curricula and trainings are psychologically informed and using best practice models. Celestia is the author of twelve books and workbooks.

Our Staff

Brent Young

SENIOR DIRECTOR DOMESTIC PROGRAMS, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Brent brings years of Corporate as well as Church experience to Mending the Soul. In the corporate world, he spent many years as a Creative Director managing communications and branding campaigns.

In the church world, he has served as Production, Creative, Communications, and Worship Pastor for churches in California and Texas.

Brent has been married to Melinda since 1989 and lives in North Houston.

Erin Pieratt

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Erin earned her Business Administration degree from Seattle Pacific University, where a nonprofit management class first sparked her interest in nonprofit work. Two decades later, she joined Mending the Soul, drawn by a growing passion for understanding how God created our nervous systems to heal and the importance of healing in community.

With a background in hospitality and healthcare—and over a decade of motherhood—Erin enjoys organizing the many moving pieces that support Mending the Soul’s mission of bringing healing from trauma and abuse in Jesus’ name. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon with her husband, two children, and an adorable puppy.

Danell Macy

TEAM ADMINISTRATOR

Danell grew up in missions, and has spent many years working in education and women’s ministry. She has a sincere interest in listening to and honoring people’s stories. This heart for hearing and valuing others’ experiences aligns well with the work of Mending the Soul. Danell lives in the Pacific Northwest where she enjoys all things outdoors, and treasures time with her family, including her four daughters and six grandchildren.

Phyllis Osborn

FACILITATOR COACH

Phyllis Osborn, a long-time MTS Facilitator and experienced Coach, is available to assist with any questions or challenges you may encounter as an MTS Facilitator. If you have not yet had the opportunity to introduce yourself to her, consider reaching out via email at phyllis.osborn@mendingthesoul.org. She would love to meet you and hear a little about your MTS story.

Fred Mugeni

AFRICA COORDINATOR

Fred holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology obtained from Makerere University. Since 2009, he has been involved in the design of different communication materials for organizations, both local and international. He enjoys sharing stories passionately through film and graphics.

Fred lives in Kampala, Uganda, with his wife Claire and their son Shammah. As a born-again Christian, he enjoys counseling and encouraging those in need and desires to see his community better.

David Mudeya

CONGO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ITURI-BENI

David lives in Beni in eastern Congo. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Theology from UCBC, where he had Dr. Tracy as a teacher and was introduced to MTS. He received much healing and comfort from the MTS model. He now trains facilitators of By His Wounds healing groups.

David is a pastor in the CECA denomination and oversees 20 churches. He is also the director of EAJ, a Congolese outreach to children. He is working on an MA in Christian Education at Westminster Theological College and Seminary Uganda. He is passionate about counseling, researching, writing, teaching, training for trauma healing, and Christian Education.

In his free time, he enjoys being with his wife Jeannette and their four children, playing music, singing, watching kids’ games, and gardening.

Moses Mawa

CONGO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR BUTEMBO, BASHU, AND LUBERO

Moses lives in Butembo City in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Moses holds a degree in Systematic Theology from the ULPGL in Butembo. Several years ago, Moses was introduced to MTS trauma resources, where he experienced personal healing. He shares with others the undeniable richness contained in By His Wounds and loves to provide healing from trauma to his Congolese compatriots.

Moses is a pastor in the CBCA denomination and Director of Evangelical Radio and Television. He is also an attorney and human rights defender, President of a non-profit association which campaigns for the vulnerable, and a board member of SHAMA orphanage.

His wife, Sifa (her name means glory), is an expert in gender-based violence. Together they have seven children.

Jean-Pasteur Katavo

DIRECTOR OF AFRICA TRANSLATIONS AND EMERGING LEADERS DEVELOPMENT

Katavo has served as the Church Educator for a Baptist denomination since 2000. Katavo holds an MA in French and African languages from Bukavu Teachers' Training College, an MA in Christian Education from Africa International University, a Graduate Teacher Diploma from the Evangelical Training Association, and a title of leader from Haggai Institute. Katavo is a founding member of Africa Speaks and African Perspectives, two nonprofits that strive for church growth and development.

After experiencing Mending the Soul for the first time in 2007, Katavo and his family said, “We can do the same!” Together, they founded Gratia Counseling Ministries (2007), Purpose-Driven Youth (2013), and Finney Musumba Bethany International Prayer Ministries (2022). Katavo also has initiated three evangelical radio stations. He enjoys ministering to difficult people and areas, translating MTS resources, and mentoring emerging leaders. He contributes annually to the church guides for sermons and discipleship.

Katavo, his wife, Daphrose, and four of their seven children live in Goma, Congo; the three older children study in Nairobi.

Our Board of Directors

Our Advisory Council

Magdalena Sánchez
is the executive director and co-founder of Resplandece International, an organization dedicated to the healing and restoration of victims of violence and abuse across 13 countries in Latin America and the United States. With over 30 years of experience in education, research, and community development, she specializes in designing culturally sensitive programs that address systemic barriers and foster resilience in underserved communities.

She holds a Ph.D. in International and Multicultural Education with an emphasis on diversity, gender studies, and research from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Fresno Pacific University, and a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Literature. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Latin American Theology.

Magdalena’s work with Resplandece International integrates the trauma-informed curriculum developed by Mending the Soul, equipping pastors and leaders to address violence and abuse in faith communities.

David and Abigail Kakeeto
are missionaries with and founders of Transformed for Life, a non-profit serving vulnerable people in Uganda for the last 16 years. TFL is also the umbrella organization for MTS in Uganda.  At TFL we endeavor to show and teach vulnerable people the love and hope of Christ and holistically empower them for a better future.  

Rev. Carmen Quinche
is a pastor who actively serves in her church and denomination. Since discovering Mending the Soul, she has been committed to guiding others through the healing process from abuse from a biblical perspective. She is the co-founder and Director of Operations of Resplandece Internacional, an organization dedicated to the restoration of victims of violence and abuse in 13 Latin American countries and the U.S.

Together with her husband, Leonardo, she pastors in California. She also collaborates with the Evangelical Covenant Church as a Resource Specialist for the Crescendo Ministry and assists in translating and editing Spanish-language materials.

Originally from Colombia, Carmen specialized in pedagogy during high school. She later obtained a degree in Systems and Computer Engineering from Universidad Distrital. She then earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry and was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church in the United States. She is currently pursuing studies in Spiritual Direction at North Park Seminary.

Carmen lives in Los Angeles with her husband. They have two adult children, and two grandchildren. Carmen enjoys spending time with family, gathering with friends and her church, hiking, walking on the beach, and serving her community.

Debbie Taylor
is a retired pastor and therapist. Along with her husband Mac, Debbie served in Costa Rica for 16 years with the Latin America Mission. She has worked as a pastor in two Covenant churches in the United States. As a counselor she has worked in two agencies and managed a private practice. In one of these agencies, she founded and directed a ministry for teen mothers for ten years. Now retired, she leads Mending the Soul in the Pacific Northwest conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church and collaborates with the ministry of Resplandece International. Debbie earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from Stanford University, a master's degree in Christian Studies from Regent College, Vancouver, Canada, and a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University.

Joshua Ortiz
is a Native American belonging to the San Juan Pueblo and Navajo tribes. Currently serving as the Dean of Men at Indigenous Bible College, he has a deep passion for teaching and discipling. His MTS journey includes co-authoring the "Native Mending the Soul" workbook and being a participant as a facilitator and survivor. Because of Christ and the healing he has received, he is dedicated to seeing his people restored.

In his personal life, he is happily married and continuously seeks to strengthen his relationships and grow spiritually, as well as physically, as he loves to lift weights!

Padraic Russell
is the Senior Director of Cloud Architecture at Oracle where he has worked since 2006. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from Southern Oregon University and an MBA with an emphasis in organizational behavior from Marylhurst University. Throughout his professional career, he's worked on video games, slot machines, telecom systems, and on the leading edge of technology. However, his real passion is for the fatherless, where he and his wife of 23 years have cared for children in the foster care system, expanded their immediate and extended family through adoption, and support multiple foster care and adoption ministries.

Padraic and his family of five, and one dog, reside in Tennessee after spending 25 years in Portland, Oregon area. In Tennessee, they're enjoying regularly seeing the sun between November and May, adapting to the periodic cicadas, and learning about all of the amazing things living in the south has to offer.