Who We Are
Biographical Sketch for
Kent Lucas, LCDC(i), Founder & Executive Director,
The Winner's Circle
Kent Lucas was born in Pensacola, FL, May 14, 1953. Raised in the church, coming to faith in Christ at the age of eight, Kent began sensing God's call to ministry as a teenager. He attended San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. He married Mary Kathryn Davidson April 12, 1974. In 1993, Kent was ordained as a deacon in the University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville, Texas.
During the years prior to entering full-time ministry, Kent was an entrepreneur and businessman, owing several businesses. Additionally, he worked in management positions with several other organizations including Trinity Pines Baptist Conference Center, Burger King Corp, and Adcorp.
In March of 1995, Kent participated in a Huntsville, Texas Bill Glass Weekend of Champions followed by other events. In 1996 Kent accepted the position with the Glass organization of Associate Director of Prison Ministries, and was ordained a Minister of the Gospel by University Baptist in Huntsville in May of the same year.
Kent developed the expanding Ministry's first long-range planning calendar. Drawing from founder Bill Glass' years of ministry experience in citywide crusades, Kent adapted that model for use in prison ministry events. The current manual being used by the ministry is, in large part, the work God accomplished through Kent, assisted by field staff. The number of ministry volunteers doubled in six years through this initiative.
In his time with the Glass organization, Kent organized and directed 110 major prison ministry events in 20 states. One of the highlights of Kent's leadership with BGM, when in 2003 he led the first BGM teams into Monterrey, Mexico. Eighty-five local volunteers were raised up (with over 50 trained and functioning mentors working in the juvenile prisons), who joined with 100 Teammates from the states. Prison events under Kent's direction have had access to over 350,000 inmates, with approximately 70,000 indicating some type of decision for Christ.
In 2001, working with a Harris County Judge, Kent developed a revolutionary new program to reach (first time offending) juveniles. The program, now called, Ring of Champions, is dependent on trained and certified juvenile mentors. A group of Corpus Christi friends of the Glass Ministries caught the vision, launching their own program in February 2002. Kent recruited former prison chaplain Ralph Mc Mullen to manage and direct the "Corpus Christi Model". By God's grace, the initial 20 trained, certified mentors have grown into 350 active mentors today.
Since inception, thousands of juveniles have come through the program. Many of these have trusted Christ, along with many parents of these young people. As of August, 2004, only 12 of the first 3,000 participants have recidivated. That is less than 1/2 of one percent! In 2003, the Ring of Champions was named by the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce the "Most Effective Community Program".
Kent leads the Winners Circle Juvenile Programs, Inc, from the home office in Huntsville, TX. He serves on the boards of the Alabama Criminal Justice Ministries Network and as secretary of the Board of The Coalition of Prison Evangelists (with members from through the world.) Additionally, Kent is active in his local community through his work in The Lions Club and the Walker County Sheriff's Dept. Citizens on patrol. He is also involved in his local church, University Heights baptist Church, where he serves as a Deacon and a Sunday School leader, and on the leadership team for the church's mens ministry.
Kent was included in the International Who's Who of Professionals 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, and the Cambridge Who's Who of Professionals 2009 and 2010 Editions. Kent return to college, working on a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor's License (LCDC) in 2010. He was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for Academic Excellence in Nov. 2010 and was selected to participate in the Lone Star College- Montgomery Honors Program in Sept, 2010. Kent is also a Certified Crisis Intervention Responder (CCIR), through the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA). Additionally, Kent is a certified instructor, through the Texas Dept. of State Health Services, for the Youth Tobacco Awareness program and the Alcohol Education Program for Minors.
Kent is committed to the fulfillment of our Lord's Great Commission, the edifying and building up the church in the world, living in the fullness and leading of the Holy Spirit, transferable tools and training, spiritual multiplication, blessing and praying for all Christian ministries and striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit among all believers. Kent, and his wife Mary Kathryn, reside in Huntsville, TX. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.
Biographical Sketch for
Teresa Schultz, Adult Programs Coordinator,
The Winner's Circle
Teresa Schultz is a recovering alcoholic/addict who has a passion for helping others find healing through God’s Word. Her experiences and insight offer a unique approach to facing life’s difficult circumstances. She has a passion for studying the Bible, writing what she learns and sharing with others. Teresa joined Winner's Circle full-time in January of 2011. She began the REACH Program in February and is currently working on grant writing, Anger Management classes, and other projects. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys writing, singing, playing drums and spending time with her family.