TOM PARKER, Administrator
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
On January 19, 1984, Tom got down on his knees in his one room apartment and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Tom had spent the previous 20 years of his life bound to drug addiction and criminal activity, which led to numerous incarcerations starting at age 14. Tom first heard the Gospel message from a man who assisted David Wilkerson with a Boston Crusade. He came every week to share the Gospel at a federally funded therapeutic community in Boston where Tom spent 14 months.
Tom accepted Christ and moved in with this man and his family and for the next six months, they drove to nearly every Teen Challenge center on the East Coast and ministered to the students in the Teen Challenge program.
In August 1984, Tom began working at Teen Challenge New England. Tom attended Teen Challenge Institute (later known as YCIBI) in Sunbury, PA where he earned a 3 year Diploma in Bible and further discipleship in his faith. After graduation, Tom returned to work at Teen Challenge New England and earned a BS Degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 1989, and an MA Degree in Counseling from Liberty University in 2002. In 1995, Jesus blessed Tom with his beautiful wife and best friend, Shirley (who is now with the Lord).
For the past 30 years, Tom has served at Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey where he is currently the Administrator. Jesus miraculously stepped into Tom’s life when he was utterly lost and without any hope and gave him a new heart and a new life, which Tom will never, ever forget! Tom wants everyone who comes to Teen Challenge to know if Jesus could do this for him, He can do it for you too!
To contact Tom Parker: tparker@tcnewengland.org
Rachel Manzo, End Addiction Administrator
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Rachel has been involved with Teen Challenge her entire life. She has been doing outreaches with her church since the age of six with Teen Challenge in the Chad Brown Projects of Providence, Rhode Island. As a teenager she began volunteering her time and photography skills at a number of events for the Rhode Island Women’s Campus.
In 2006, she graduated from Eastern Nazarene College with a B.A. in Sociology, and a minor in Psychology with a Criminal Justice emphasis. In 2015, Rachel completed her certification with Life Purpose Institute as a life coach. She has over 10 years experience in sales and public speaking.
Her passion and gifts from God have lead her to minister to hurting people both in the U.S. and overseas. She loves being used by the Lord and seeing lives changed! She feels blessed to be a part of Teen Challenge and join the fight to End Addiction!
To contact Rachel Manzo: rmanzo@tcnewengland.org
Scott O’Neil, Resident Life Administrator
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Scott went from a New England high school shot put champion to another statistical number of New Hampshire’s drug epidemic. At age 18 he was pursuing his dream of wanting to become a professional athlete when he started using cocaine in college. A few short months later, Scott was fully addicted to heroin and crack. He spent three years in a cycle of addiction until he hit his low and someone told him about Teen Challenge. In 2011, Scott walked through the doors of Teen Challenge highly ambitious to change his life, but had no idea that Jesus was going to change it for him. Scott graduated in 2012 and served at Teen Challenge New Hampshire as the Academic Coordinator and the New England Academic Facilitator for three years before joining Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey as the Student Life Administrator.
To contact Scott O’Neil: soneil@tcnewengland.org
Colton Simmons, IT Administrator
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Colton joined the staff of Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey in June 2014 and has since moved into the position of IT Administrator. With years of technological experience, ranging from software development to computer maintenance, he brings knowledge prowess to Teen Challenge. His heart for the Lord and helping others is a huge factor in his service at Teen Challenge. Colton is also a full time student and husband. His hobbies are in photography and in the arts.
To contact Colton Simmons: csimmons@tcnewengland.org
Finance
OSCAR CRUZ, Vice President of Finance
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Oscar Cruz serves as the Vice President of Finance of Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey and the Director of the Teen Challenge Brockton Men’s Campus. Oscar has been involved with Teen Challenge ministries for over 14 years. At one point, living a normal life was beyond his grasp, but through the power of Jesus Christ and the ministry of Teen Challenge, Oscar’s life was changed! Oscar was just 14 years old when his best friend, his dad, walked out the door. He had said he would leave many times before and that day he never came back. It was then that Oscar found drugs. By age 16, he was a full blown addict and by 18 years of age, he had a drug possession record and nothing more than a string of shattered dreams and relationships.
According to statistics, Oscar was not going to make it. In desperation, he cried out to God and sought help at Teen Challenge. While at Teen Challenge, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His life could have been considered beyond hope, but since coming to Teen Challenge, his life has been changed and his family has been restored from the devastation of addiction!
Oscar graduated from Southern California Teen Challenge Ministry Institute (TCMI) and completed his ministerial licensing studies from Global University. After graduating TCMI, Oscar served in inner-city missions at the Los Angeles Dream Center. Oscar previously worked in business as a licensed California Real Estate agent. Oscar’s life is now committed to serving the Lord and dedicated to the mission of Teen Challenge in New England. He finds great joy in seeing men set free from addiction. God has blessed Oscar with his wife, Allison and children, Kylie and Carter. As Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible!”
To contact Oscar Cruz: ocruz@tcnewengland.org
Diane Burgess, Finance Supervisor
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Diane was introduced to Teen Challenge in 1988 when her brother entered the program with a heroin addiction. Her husband Garry is a 1989 graduate of Teen Challenge Brockton and they have served together for several years in ministry at Teen Challenge Brockton and Brockton Assembly of God Church. Diane joined Teen Challenge New England Corporate Headquarters in 2002 as a member of the Finance Team and currently serves as Finance Supervisor. She will be completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology (May 2016) from Northeastern University.
Diane’s passion is to see families restored to life and health as her own family was through God’s redemptive power. Her favorite part of her job is being able to make a difference in people’s lives, whether it is in the daily tasks of administering finances for the programs or being able to encourage a co-worker or a student.
She and her husband also serve at Victory Assembly of God in Sharon, MA where her husband, an AG Minister, serves as the Associate Pastor.
To contact Diane Burgess: dburgess@tcnewengland.org
Meredith Jenkins, Finance Staff
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Meredith has worked for Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey for over 17 years in various roles including Choir Director, Admissions Coordinator and Director of the Rhode Island Women’s Program, as well as, Program Development for Teen Challenge Brockton. Currently she works part time in the Finance Department at the Corporate Headquarters. She has a sincere desire to see lives broken by addiction receive the second chance that only Jesus Christ can bring!
Meredith is married to a wonderful man, Craig, who is a Teen Challenge graduate and together they serve at the Brockton Assembly of God where he is the youth pastor. They have been blessed with three awesome kiddos – Jordan, Sophie & Ella.
To contact Meredith Jenkins: mjenkins@tcnewengland.org
Elizabeth Mayhew, Finance Staff
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
The first time Elizabeth had ever heard of Teen Challenge was when she was a student at then Zion Bible Institute, where she received her BA in Biblical Studies with a minor in music. Many of her fellow “Zionians” were from Teen Challenges all over the world. She saw so many lives changed; never did she think she would be working at TCNE and seeing even more lives changed through the power of God. In 2005, Elizabeth began working in the ministry of Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey as the assistant to the Finance Director.
Throughout the past 10 years, she has been blessed to be able to encourage and minister to the men and women of TCNE, and to be ministered to by them. Though her roles and availability have changed within the last few years, she is thankful to God that He brought her here, and that she can encourage and love those around her, while professionally doing her best for His kingdom. She is also blessed to be the mother of two awesome, beautiful little boys.
To contact Elizabeth Mayhew: emayhew@tcnewengland.org
Allison Cruz, Finance Assistant & Human Resources
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Allison has served in the ministry of Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey for over 10 years in a variety of roles including Executive Assistant to the President, Human Resources, Director of Outreach and Missions, Family Support and Mentoring. She currently serves part time in the Finance Department at the Corporate Headquarters in Human Resources and Finance.
Allison’s family was restored when her husband Oscar came to the doors of Teen Challenge for help from addiction over 10 years ago. Her heart is for others to find freedom from addiction and for their families to be restored!
She also serves as Founder and Director of Real Kidz Boston where she ministers to children and youth in the inner-city of Boston. Allison is married to her husband, Oscar, of over 15 years, and they have two beautiful children Kylie and Carter.
To contact Allison Cruz: acruz@tcnewengland.org
Sean Merrill, Community Relations Liaison
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Sean Merrill graduated from Teen Challenge Brockton in 2014. Sean was a licensed journeyman electrician with a wife, child, home and successful business. One day he took a pill that his younger brother Corey offered him. That one choice dramatically changed the next ten years of his life. After his brother died from a heroin overdose and with his life in a shambles, Sean cried out to God and ended up at Teen Challenge. Working in the Program Development office of the Brockton program while a student, Sean developed a heart to give back to the ministry that saved his life. Sean brings a high level of enthusiasm, precise detail and a tireless servant spirit to his position.
To contact Sean Merrill: smerrill@tcbrockton.org
Jeanne Rand, Reception
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Jeanne joined Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey in February 2015 as the Corporate Headquarters receptionist. She has been involved with Teen Challenge since February 2011 when her husband entered the Brockton center because of a heroin addiction. She is thankful and blessed that Christ has restored her husband and her marriage. Jeanne is grateful to TCNE & NJ and feels blessed to be a part of this ministry. She loves spending time with her two girls, dog and husband.
To contact Jeanne Rand: jrand@tcnewengland.org
