Our staff is committed to nurturing a culture of personal responsibility, self-discipline, respect and love for self and others. But first and foremost, they focus their energies on helping our residents reap all the benefits of our programs and services.
-
Mark Devanney, Executive DirectorFor the last two decades I have worked in some capacity for nonprofit organizations that focused on meeting the needs of our neighbors. Being a man in recovery for the last 11 years, it only seemed fitting to apply my unique set of skills and lived experience to help others struggling with substance use disorder. I earned a Master of Business Administration from Asbury University in 2020 and was ordained as a Minister of Religion by The Salvation Army in 2016. While living in New York, I saw first hand the impact recovery organizations such as Reviving Lives Ministries has on the life trajectory of those struggling with substance use disorders. Anyone desperately seeking the help they need to get out of the shackles of the disease of addiction deserves every opportunity afforded to them no matter when they start asking for it.
My wife and three children made the move to New Bern, NC from way upstate New York in April of 2021. Since then, we have not looked back, we enjoy all that New Bern, Craven County and Eastern North Carolina have to offer us. When I am not in the office, I enjoy a good book while sitting on the front porch in the cool of the evening, or taking the family to any of the wonderful parks or the beach for a time of fun.
- Photo provided by Emily Saunders Photography (C) 2023
-
Laura Lefler, CPSS, Care CoordinatorWorking helping others, especially those with substance use disorder, is a passion of mine. I am a certified Peer Support Specialist and a WRAP Facilitator and Teacher. I have been in recovery from substances since May of 2017. Working a 12 step program has been a vital part of my own journey, and the way Reviving Lives Ministries (RLM) prioritizes the steps is nothing short of amazing; the transformation I get to witness is humbling and miraculous. When I'm not working with the incredible men we serve at RLM, family time keeps me grounded. My partner, son and I love spending time with our families and visiting the beach. I have been a dedicated member of the RLM family since July of 2022 and look forward to what we will achieve in the years to come!
