Staff Information

Mark and Lynne Massey, Executive Directors
(BA Bible, Northland Baptist Bible College; MAT Biblical Counseling, Central Seminary, Minneapolis)

Mark andLynne Massey joined the Victory staff in 1995.  After serving as houseparents for 3 years, Mark was asked to take the director position.  So for the last 9 years, Mark has worked at administrating the ministry as well as being involved in the lives of the guys.  Lynne works alongside Mark, counseling moms, planning and preparing meals, and squeezing in secretarial work.  Both are involved in the ministries of their local church.  Mark and Lynne lead the Family Life Sunday School class.  Lynne sings in the choir, does special music, serves in the nursery, and organizes the “meals for those in need” program.  They have five children: Laura, Rory, Russell, Grace, and Emma.

Mark trusted Jesus Christ as Savior as a teenager and went on to grow in the Lord.  He served on a bus route and took missions trips to Mexico and Haiti that opened up his eyes and heart to the needs of the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.  After spending the summer of 1986 in Haiti he moved from North Texas back to his childhood home area in central Florida where he met Lynne.

Lynne was saved as a child and saw God work in her life through many people in her local church and Christian school.  She traveled a summer with the Academy of Arts drama team and ministered faithfully in her local church.  It was at her church during her senior year of high school that she met Mark.  After their marriage in May of 1988 they served together in their church in the children’s and teen programs.

After four years of ministering to teens and their families in various programs, Mark and Lynne believed that God would have them get more training and commit their lives to full-time ministry vocationally. In 1992 they moved to Wisconsin to complete their undergraduate training at Northland Baptist Bible College, both graduating with bachelor degrees in 1995.  Mark completed his Master of Arts in Theology/Biblical Counseling from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, MN in May of 2008.

Chris and Julie Baker, Residential Directors
(BS Education, Learning and Behavior Specialist 1; Julie, BA Psychology, MSW, Type 73 Certified LSW)

The Baker Family joined the Victory staff in 2011 as Residential Directors.  Prior to coming to Victory, Chris and Julie were members of Grace for Life Bible Church in Naperville, Illinois. They both ministered in church by volunteering for VBS, Kids 4 Truth, and the church cleaning crew. Additionally, they led the Wednesday night teen group and taught Jr. Church. Chris also participated in door-to-door and street witnessing, and he occasionally spoke at special church meetings and at a local homeless shelter. Julie enjoyed singing in the choir, performing special music, and cooking food for fellowship dinners. They have one daughter, Evelyn Grace.

Chris and Julie both came to a saving knowledge of Christ as adults. Chris was saved on February 23, 2008 after becoming convicted of his need for the Savior. He was 25 years old. Julie was saved at 26 years old on May 3, 2009 after Chris witnessed to her and recommended attending a Bible-believing church. They married in August 2009 and soon began serving the Lord as a married couple at Grace for Life Bible Church.

Chris has a B.S. in Education, Learning and Behavior Specialist 1 K-12. His certifications include: Illinois Teacher Certification LBS1 [Type 10, highly qualified in elementary self-contained (K-5 only)], Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and CPR. He has previous certifications in de-escalation, crisis management, and as an Emergency Medical Technician (2000-2004). He has worked as a special education teacher in a residential drug rehabilitation facility for students in 8th through 12th grade and in self-contained classrooms for 2nd through 8th graders with Emotional Disorders. Additionally, he was also a residential treatment specialist for children ages 5 through 13 with severe emotional and behavioral disorders.

Julie has a B.A. in Psychology and a Master of Social Work (MSW). She has a school service personnel certification (Type 73) in Illinois, and she is a licensed social worker (LSW) in Illinois. Julie spent a year as an applied behavior analysis therapist for elementary aged children diagnosed with autism. She practiced ABA therapy in homes, as well as in a school setting. Julie interned as a school social worker in rural Central Illinois. After earning her MSW, Julie practiced school social work for 2 years before “retiring” to be a stay-at-home mom.

Chris and Julie are excited to use their secular work experiences and certifications, coupled with Biblical wisdom and discipleship, to minister to the families God has given them to serve.

April Hobbes—Office Manager
BS Office Administration

Ben Hobbes-Counselor/Program Director
BS Church Ministries/Biblical Counseling

Dan Raught—Academic Administrator
BS Broadcast Engineering; MS Educational Administration, Bob Jones University.