PASCO MANZO, President
Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey
Since Pasco’s introduction to Teen Challenge thirty-five years ago, he has been actively involved and passionate about its mission. As the Chairman of the Board of Outreach Ministries Inc., he participated in the consolidation of the ministries that brought about what is known today as Teen Challenge New England, Inc. While traveling abroad, he played a supportive role on many occasions with Teen Challenge International. Having served on the Teen Challenge New England & New Jersey Board of Directors for many years, he is delighted to bring his experience in leadership, management and finances to his role as President.
His studies have earned him Master of Arts of Christian Ministries with a concentration in Culture and People distinguished with Summa cum Laude. He also received a Master’s of Divinity Equivalency from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He has taught over ten years as an adjunct professor and authored two books Urim & Thummim – Discovering the Will of God and Broken Flowers: A Commentary on the Tragedy of Sex Slavery in America.
Pasco established North Providence Assembly of God in Rhode Island in 1982 where he served as the Senior Pastor for 25 years and mothered seven church plants.
He served as a Presbyter and Alternate Presbyter for ten years for the Southern New England District of the Assemblies of God. He served with distinction at Northpoint (Zion) Bible College as a member of the Executive and Trustee Boards for ten years.
Pasco is the founder of Dream Again Ministries, d.b.a. Run For Freedom and an appointed U.S. Missionary Human Trafficking specialist with the Assemblies of God.
He has had the honor to minister for Jesus on every populated continent and has traveled to over 40 countries. He gives God ALL the glory for everything He has done!
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JACQUELINE STROTHOFF, Executive Director
Rhode Island and Boston
Twelve years of drug addiction drove Jacqueline Strothoff to participate in every rehabilitation effort presented to her as she desperately struggled to overcome her addiction. Those years were devastating as she was committed several times to psychiatric hospitals and incarcerated for criminal activities.
During one of those stays in a psychiatric hospital in 1974, Jacqui experienced a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Upon her release, she entered New Life For Girls, a one year Christian residential discipleship program in Pennsylvania. From there, she enrolled in a ministerial training program at Rev. David Wilkerson’s Twin Oaks Leadership Academy in Texas, where she met her husband, Bob. They spent the next several years working in Teen Challenge centers across the country and then settled in Springfield, Missouri where Jacqui earned a degree in social work from Southwest Missouri State College.
Jacqui has ably served the Lord in a variety of capacities in churches and ministries. Her life and testimony has impacted thousands of hurting lives. Today that impact continues as she serves Teen Challenge New England and New Jersey in a senior leadership role.
Jacqui is the proud mother of two adult children and the ecstatic grandmother of two adorable grandchildren.
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STEPHEN GADOMSKI, Executive Director
Maine and New Hampshire
Stephen Gadomski knows firsthand the power of God to transform lives. In 1989 he made a life changing commitment to Christ that turned him from drug and alcohol abuse and led him into a ministry that daily brings hope to those in the bondage of addiction.
Steve opened a Teen Challenge Crisis Referral Center in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1998 and eventually united in 2000 with Teen Challenge New England and New Jersey. A building was purchased in Manchester and a ministry began that serves as a lifeline for those needing help in that area.
Rev. Gadomski now serves as Executive Director for the Teen Challenge campuses in Maine, and New Hampshire.
Steve and his wife, Noreen, are the parents of four adult children.
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TOM PARKER, Administrative Director
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 last 20 years of his life bound to drug addiction and criminal activity, which led to numerous incarcerations starting at age 14. Tom had first heard the Gospel message from a man who had assisted David Wilkerson with a Boston Crusade who came every week to share the Gospel at a federally funded therapeutic community in Boston where Tom had spent the last 14 months.
After accepting Christ, Tom moved in with him 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 Administrative Director. For Tom, and many others in Teen Challenge, Jesus miraculously stepped in when they were utterly lost and without any hope. Jesus gave Tom a new heart and a new life, and that is something Tom will never, ever forget! This is the message to everyone who comes to Teen Challenge. If Jesus could do it for us, Jesus can do it for you!
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RICHARD WELCH, Executive Director
Vermont and Connecticut
In 1997 Richard Welch was desperate to change his life after years of drug addiction and alcohol abuse. Hopeless and destitute, he decided to give Teen Challenge a try.
At the Teen Challenge home in New Haven, Connecticut, Rick found new life and new purpose. Eternally transformed, he longed to bring God’s healing touch to those who are as hopeless as he once was.
In 2003, Richard was appointed Executive Director of the first Teen Challenge center in Vermont. Today, Rev. Welch oversees the Teen Challenge campuses in Connecticut and Vermont.
Reverend Welch attended Global University and is credentialed with the Northern New England District of the Assemblies of God. Rick and his wife Carrie live in Johnson, Vermont with their son, Timmy.