In Memoriam: Alisa Evans
Alisa Evans faithfully served as the Exective Director of Alive at Last from 2014 until her passing in 2020.
While Alive at Last began under another name in 2011, it was through Alisa’s vision and leadership in 2014 that the organization was reborn, renamed, and branded as Alive at Last. Her dedication and passion built the foundation of what Alive at Last is today, and her legacy continues to inspire the mission.
Alisa’s lasting message:
“Carry on for the work of the Lord for there is still much to do.”
ALIVE AT LAST LEAD TEAM
Gwen Miller, Executive Director
Gwen is the Executive Director of Alive at Last. She has a passion to empower and equip women to live truly free and fulfill their God-given purpose. That passion led her to volunteer as a mentor with Alive at Last in 2016. Gwen has served on the Board of Directors of Alive at Last. Then she was hired as the Community Engagement Director in 2019. Her role included training and engaging volunteers and ministry
Gwen married and began a shared journey in pastoral ministry with her husband in1988. She and her husband have four young adult children whom they homeschooled.
She has a
Dr. Lynnette Simm, Mentorship Director
Dr. Lynnette Simm, with degrees in psychology and education, has worked as a college professor,
She is the author of And the Day Came, an
Married nearly twenty-five years, Dr. Simm, her husband, Madison, and their two amazing daughters live in North Dallas, Texas. She currently works as a Life Mentor, helping young women and couples struggling with current and past sufferings by bringing her experience, training, and blessings from the Lord.
Natalie Merrill, Small Groups Director
Natalie has been a volunteer with Alive At Last for 2 years prior to becoming Director of Small Groups. She grew up as a missionary child. Natalie was born in London England and spent a lot of her childhood in South America.
Natalie knows what it is like to be church hurt, she made a lot of bad decisions growing up. However, through it all she had a lifetime of being molded by the Lord. Our Father has shown her how to overcome with patience and endurance, in relationship with Him.
She received her BA in Business Marketing after 12 years of study. She married the love of her life at the age of 40 and had her miracle child at 46. She found her Hope in Jesus and she knows you can too. Her heart goes out to you.
She sees you as God’s Beautiful Creation and asks God daily to use her for His Glory.
Ashley Garcia, Communications and Marketing Director
Ashley Garcia is passionate about storytelling and using creativity and strategy to share stories that bring hope and healing. As the Director of Marketing and Communication at Alive at Last, she helps shape the organization’s vision through meaningful, mission-driven communication.
Ashley earned her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Texas State University and spent eight years in Chișinău, Moldova serving as a missionary. While in Moldova she helped plant a student ministry and church plant. Ashley also mentored and discipled dozens of young women and helped them find their God-given purpose. Her experience in Moldova deeply shaped her heart for people and strengthened her belief in the power of stories to connect, restore, and transform lives.
For Ashley, storytelling is one of God’s greatest gifts She believes wholeheartedly in using her voice and work to proclaim God’s glory, reflecting the words of Psalm 96:3: “Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.”
Board of Directors
Barry L. Gordon, Chairman of the Board
Barry has been on the Board of Directors since the beginning in 2011. He has been either vice chair or chairman of the board all these years. He served three terms as the elected mayor of the City of Duncanville, Texas, 2018 through 2024. He was the president of the board of directors for the Duncanville Community and Economic Development Corporation before becoming mayor. He is an active member of the Rotary and Lions clubs of Duncanville as well as serving on the board at his church and another nonprofit ministry. Barry maintains a consulting practice in strategic management for entrepreneurs and plays saxophone in his church worship band. He serves as the development officer for the Dallas/Ft. Worth Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. As of August 2025, Barry and his wife Marlyse will be married 54 years. Marlyse continues to make and lead missions trips to India for 16 years, as well as other missions trips to Mongolia, Kenya, Mexico and Haiti.
Barry spent 33 years with an agency in the Department of Defense, retiring in 2003 as a senior vice president with SES equivalency. He and his family moved 14 times with the DoD and lived overseas in England, Turkey, and Germany. In 2004, he became a management professor at what is now Nelson University, formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU). He later became an associate professor and chair of the business department. Retiring from SAGU in 2013, Barry went on to be an adjunct professor there and at Tarleton State University. He continues to serve on the Nelson University Business Department Advisory Council. He earned a BA degree in Russian from the University of Arizona, a MBA in industrial management from the University of Dallas and completed all doctoral course work and partial dissertation in management science from Walden University.
Delanna Hess
Delanna Hess currently serves on the Board of Directors for Alive At Last, where she acts as a liaison between partner organizations, helping to bring in new volunteers and provide training and small group communities. She has been a dedicated Board Member for the past three years and has a long history of service with the ministry.
Prior to joining the Board, Delanna served as a Volunteer Coordinator and as a Small Group Facilitator and Trainer, equipping others to walk alongside survivors in their journey of healing. Her leadership has been marked by a consistent willingness to serve in whatever capacity is needed, always with a heart for restoration and hope.
As a Certified Life Coach, Delanna guides individuals and organizations to embrace God’s purpose for their lives by transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Her faith-centered coaching emphasizes surrender, wisdom, and perseverance, encouraging others to find peace in the present while holding firmly to eternal hope.
Beyond her ministry and coaching, Delanna enjoys an active family life with her husband, Kenneth C. Hess. Together they share the joy of a blended family with five adult children and five grandchildren. She finds refreshment in gardening, painting, and traveling, which inspire her creativity and keep her rooted in gratitude.
Jeff Seeley, Treasurer
Jeff is pleased to join the Board of Directors of Alive at Last to lend his many years of financial experience to the organization. He is a graduate of Drake University with a BSBA in Accounting and is a Texas CPA. He has been the CFO of a specialty manufacturing company in the semiconductor industry for the last 8 years, having also worked as a financial professional in the construction, distribution and retail industries.
Jeff has been a member of his local church for over 35 years having served many roles including Chairman of the Elders and Treasurer. He is currently serving as a leader in their Christian 12 step program called New Life (Regen), helping people to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. He is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren. He spent over 20 years coaching youth baseball, basketball and football.