Staff
Dottie Hinesley
Schools-Network Coordinator, and also serving as our Brazoria-Galveston County Coordinator (Goal is to become full-time)
In 1981, Dottie joined Camp Peniel, as Girls Chaplain at the Harris County Youth Village, ministering to delinquent youth. In 1984, the ministry merged into Youth for Christ, where Dottie was assigned as a staff chaplain at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center until late 2000.
In 1991, as part of her YFC ministry to develop student leadership and open doors for local youth pastors, Dottie started the Pizza@Lunch program at Pearland High School. She also coordinated Pearland's Baccalaureate services until 2010, enabling Pearland's churches to "bless" hundreds of high school graduates each year, and reach out to their families. Also, as part of her YFC ministry, Dottie served the Pearland Ministerial Alliance, as their liaison with the local youth pastors.
When YFC/Houston closed in 2008, Dottie continued her ministry under Cross in the City, continuing to serve the Pearland students through the Christian clubs. In July 2013, CITC closed due to finances.
In September, 2013, Dottie joined YSN/TheNet, expanding her ministry to schools by helping connect school-based Christian clubs and outreach programs throughout our nine county area. Her primary focus for now, is on the Brazoria and Galveston County's school districts. As an active member of the National Network of Youth Ministries, Dottie assists in identifying, connecting and encouraging area youth workers. She is also serving as the nationally recognized "ESES County Strategist" for her two counties.
Dottie and her husband Dean, live in Alvin. They have three daughters, now adults.
Note: Dottie is also serving on our board of directors, to fulfill our required three-member board. She may resign that position, when more board members are in place.
John Butler
Executive Director (full-time)
After John's honorable discharge from the US Army in 1970, he began serving with Camp Peniel, overseeing their ministry in two facilities operated by the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. In 1984, the ministry merged into Youth for Christ/Houston, where it grew to a ministry serving in seven juvenile correction facilities, until 2000.
From then until early 2008, under YFC, John served in Houston's "community transformation" efforts. City-wide efforts such as the "Houston Profile Project" and "CityFest", were valuable opportunities for helping connect local churches with community-based outreach programs. When YFC/Houston closed in 2008, John began developing YSN/TheNet, while also serving part-time with Cross in the City, and as an elder in his local church for six years. In 2012, John left CITC to spend more time developing YSN/TheNet. As an active member of the National Network of Youth Ministries, John is serving as the NNYM Metro Coordinator for the Greater Houston Area. John is also serving as the nationally recognized "ESES Metro Strategist" for our area.
In 2019, John was asked to also volunteer with the NNYM National Team, as the "Juvenile Justice Ministry Network Coordinator". The role is to help recruit state coordinators for the "Every Youth Every Facility Coalition". The mutual goal is to identify and support ministry leaders in every juvenile correction facility, in all 50 states. Those efforts are now overlapping work to reach kids-on-probation, who are atttending our public schools.
John and his wife Sandy, live in Houston, near Hobby Airport. They have been married 50+ years, have two grown sons, two faithful daughter-in-laws, twelve wonderful grandchildren, and one sweet granddaughter-in-law.
Networks Coordinator (Part time)
Goal: Add when person and funds are available
As more youth ministry networks are discovered, new ones are started, and training begins for the Network Leaders, a part-time Networks Coordinator will be needed to continue finding and serving the networks. Starting with 25 hours per week, the Network Coordinator's time can increase, as funds become available. As with all new staff, the Networks Coordinator will be expected to raise support for at least 50% of their salary and payroll taxes.
Leaders Coordinator (Part time)
Goal: Add when person and funds are available
As youth workers develop programs that are too large for their one local church to oversee and fund, the youth workers typically try to develop partnerships with other youth workers and agencies. This stage of their growth as a leader, is very challenging. Often the needs, challenges and mistakes, will discourage a youth worker from continuing their efforts. Encouragement and support can make the difference between failure and growth. While our networking efforts will identify resources, a Coordinator will be needed to ensure the individual attention is given to these leaders. As with all new staff, the Coordinator will be expected to raise support for at least 50% of their salary and payroll taxes.