Luminaries

Empowering stories of individuals who are in a passionate pursuit of something greater than themselves sparking the fire of transformation in our communities and hearts with missions that positively impact the globe.

Dr. Rich Carney

The life and career of Dr. Rich Carney, Executive Director of Austin Bridge Builders Alliance (ABBA) is an incredible journey of faith, stewardship, and vision. We recently had the privilege of sitting down with Rich to hear his story of victory through faith.

  • During the month of April, All Things Faithful will explore the deep and rich connection between faith and purpose. We open the month discussing this topic with TJ Morelli, Executive Director, PIVOT Leadership and Business Ministry Pastor at Austin Ridge Bible Church. TJ and his wife, Rachel, have attended Austin Ridge since 2001. They have three kids, Jake, Emma, and Thomas. TJ grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation, TJ served as an Engineer Officer in the U.S. Army. After separating

  • The Refuge for DMST (Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking) is an Austin nonprofit organization with a very specific mission: to provide trauma-informed, long-term restoration shelter and services for girls, minors through age 19, who have been exploited through sex trafficking. Through strategic partnerships with law enforcement, churches, and community, The Refuge for DMST has been an instrumental force in tackling Texas’ growing problem of human trafficking. One of their core beliefs is that every survivor of sex trafficking has the potential to be a change agent in this world, and to become

  • The life and career of Dr. Rich Carney, Executive Director of Austin Bridge Builders Alliance (ABBA) is an incredible journey of faith, stewardship, and vision.  His reputation for mobilizing Christian and business communities in cities across North America has provided Rich a unique cross-cultural and organizational perspective to maximize excellence. We recently had the privilege of sitting down with Rich to hear his story of victory through faith.   all things faithful Thank you for sitting down with us today, Rich. Our followers may not know this but you're such a man

  • IMAGE CREDIT ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN/KUT Alan Graham is the president, CEO, and a founding member of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a social outreach ministry committed to providing permanent, sustainable solutions for the chronically homeless, with compassion, love, and dignity. Since 1996, Alan and teams of over 18,000 volunteers have delivered over 5 million meals with a side of hope to the homeless and working poor on the streets of Austin and have empowered other cities across the U.S. to do the same. Today, MLF is the largest prepared feeding program to the homeless and working

  • Heather Frierson is the founder of Created Woman, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps equip and empower women to recognize and embrace their God-given passions through resources and education. Heather and Rene sat down over coffee recently to discuss Created Woman and Heather’s ministry of helping women find relevant purpose in their lives ALL THINGS FAITHFUL: For our readers, tell us a little about Heather? HEATHER FRIERSON: I like to think I’m fun! I love wakeboarding, coffee, a really good laugh, real conversation, singing and dancing with my girls, and wearing a great pair of

  • Hope Smiles is a groundbreaking dental care and community development organization based in Nashville, Tennessee, providing emergency and comprehensive dental services in underserved communities locally, domestically, and internationally. The organization serves the uninsured, unemployed, oppressed, forgotten, and marginalized to not only rebuild teeth, but offer hope, love, and community.

  • CC4C is an Austin-based nonprofit that provides children with rare or undiagnosed conditions and their families in the Central Texas area with resources to help meet the child’s medical needs not covered by insurance or other financial assistance. Through community building, CC4C uplifts these children to bring joy and inspiration to their lives and gives families the support they need during the long journey to healing. It was a blessing to get together with Talaya, the Executive Director and Founder of CC4C, and hear her story of how her family struggle