OUR TEAM

Renewal Ministries Staff

Ralph Martin

President

Peter Herbeck

Executive Vice President and Director of Missions

Sr. Ann Shields, SGL

Speaker and Author

Pete Burak

Vice President of Renewal Ministries and Director of id

Gary Seromik

Chief Operating Officer

Chris Baker

Director of Operations

Laura Gurta

Product Manager and Administrative Assistant

Natalie Klackle

Missions & Conferences Administrator

Elizabeth Rzepka

Media Director

Heather Schultz

Editor

Emily Bachelor

Creative Director

Clare Campbell

Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Anilu Seromik

Product and Event Assistant

Photo of Renewal Ministries' Editor Heidi Bratton

Joseph Manni

Data Clerk

Annie Randolph

Distribution Coordinator

Dr. Mary Healy

Renewal Ministries’ Consultant

id STAFF

Pete Burak

Vice President of Renewal Ministries and Director of id

Chris Baker

Director of Operations

Rachel Herbeck

Director of Missionaries

Ava Marcarelli

Executive Assistant

Mary Rzepka

id Missionary

Harrison Raney

id Missionary

BE LOVE REVOLUTION STAFF

Debbie Herbeck

Founder and Director

Natalia Covington

Mission Coordinator

Kristen Arend

Development Director

Elizabeth Rouhana

Creative Director

Molly McCartney

Worship Leader

Emilie Stevenson

Social Media Manager

ZION STAFF

Steve Norman

Director of Zion

Harrison Raney

Zion Missionary

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POLICIES & DOCUMENTS

Ralph Martin

President of Renewal Ministries

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Ralph Martin is the president of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization. Renewal Ministries is the sponsor of The Choices We Face, a widely viewed weekly Catholic television and radio program distributed throughout the world, and engages in a wide variety of mission work in more than thirty countries.

Ralph is also the director of Graduate Theology Programs in Evangelization and a professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit (www.shms.edu). He holds a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum University in Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ralph as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, and he continues to serve in this capacity. Ralph also was appointed as a theological expert for the Synod on the New Evangelization.

He is the author of the widely read The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints, and many books on spirituality and evangelization, such as Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization, and The Urgency of the New Evangelization, as well as many articles in scholarly and popular publications. His most recent book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, examines the forces working to undermine the Body of Christ while also using both Scripture and Tradition to fortify the faithful.

Ralph and his wife, Anne, reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have six children and nineteen grandchildren.

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Peter Herbeck

Executive Vice President and Director of Missions

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Peter Herbeck is the Executive Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries. For more than thirty years, he has been actively involved in evangelization and Catholic renewal throughout the US, Canada, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Peter is the co-host of the weekly television show, The Choices We Face. He hosts the daily radio show Fire on the Earth. He is a frequent conference speaker. He co-authored his most recent book, Lessons From the School of Love: Cultivating a Christ-Centered Marriage, with his wife, Debbie. He has also authored When the Spirit Comes in Power, When the Spirit Speaks, and numerous booklets, and is a frequent contributor to Renewal Ministries’ popular YouTube channel. Peter and his wife, Debbie, have four children and eleven grandchildren, and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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Sr. Ann Shields, SGL

Speaker and Author

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Sr. Ann Shields, SGL, is an internationally noted conference and retreat speaker, and the author of numerous books on Catholic spirituality, including Deeper Conversion, To Be Like Jesus, and More of the Holy Spirit. She currently hosts the popular daily radio program Food for the Journey.

She is part of Renewal Ministries' leadership team and a member of The Servants of God’s Love, a charismatic religious community established in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan.

Sr. Ann was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Benedict XVI in September of 2012 for service to the Church. She also is a recipient of the Aggiornamento Award, given by the Catholic Library Association in recognition of outstanding contribution through her books and articles for the renewal of parish and community life.

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Pete Burak

Vice President of Renewal Ministries and Director of id

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Pete Burak is Vice President of Renewal Ministries and Director of id, the young adult outreach of Renewal Ministries. He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, and has a Master’s Degree in Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship, evangelization, and young adult topics, and he is the co-director of Pine Hills Boys Camp. Pete and his wife, Cait, have five children.

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Gary Seromik

Chief Operating Officer

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Gary Seromik is Renewal Ministries’ chief operating officer. He has worked with Ralph since 1972. Gary and his wife Anilu have four children and six grandchildren.

Chris Baker

Director of Operations

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Chris Baker, director of operations for both Renewal Ministries and id, has an Executive Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Benedictine College. He served as a FOCUS missionary, has led and spoken at retreats and large group gatherings for both high school youth and young adults, and helped create and implement a diocesan-level Leadership Institute for Young Adults for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Chris and his wife, Afton, have two daughters.

Laura Gurta

Product Manager and Administrative Assistant

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Laura Gurta is Renewal Ministries’ product manager and administrative assistant. She has worked for Renewal Ministries since 2009. Laura and her husband Chris have four children and eight grandchildren, and they live in the Ann Arbor area.

Natalie Klackle

Missions & Conferences Administrator

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Natalie Klackle is Renewal Ministries’ Missions & Conferences Administrator. Prior to joining the Renewal Ministries team, she worked as a youth and young adult minister, directed national conferences, events and pilgrimages for a lay-led ministry, ran an agritourism destination in West Michigan, and served as president of a small nonprofit. She has a BA in Political Science from Grand Valley State University and is currently pursuing a MA in Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Elizabeth Rzepka

Media Director

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Elizabeth Rzepka is Renewal Ministries’ Media Director. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Michigan State University, her Master's Degree in Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and completed the Intensive Program in Philosophy at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. She ran a small business for five years before transitioning to full-time ministry. Prior to coming to Renewal Ministries, she worked in parish, diocesan, and lay-led ministry in a variety of capacities, including youth ministry, catechesis, RCIA, pilgrimages, and national events and conferences.

Heather Schultz

Editor

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Heather Schultz is Renewal Ministries’ editor. She graduated from Hillsdale College, and has more than twenty-five years of experience in writing and editing. She and her husband Doug have five children and are active members of St. Mary’s Church in Pinckney, Michigan.

Emily Bachelor

Creative Director

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Emily Bachelor is the Creative Director at Renewal Ministries. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2004 with a BFA in graphic design and has been passionate about visual arts since she could hold a crayon. Her ministerial outreach has included Lifeteen, Pine Hills Camp, and the Marriage and Family Commission team at Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Emily and her husband Jeff have been married since 2005 and have one daughter.

Clare Campbell

Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Clare Campbell is the Renewal Ministries’ receptionist and data entry clerk. Originally from MI, she moved to ND in middle school and went to college at MI Tech and Washtenaw Community College. She graduated with her associate’s degree in accounting and now lives with her sister’s family in Chelsea. When she’s not working with Renewal Ministries, she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Anilu Seromik

Product and Event Assistant

Anilu Seromik helps Renewal Ministries with product orders and events. She also teaches Spanish and is involved in the middle school character formation program at a local Catholic school. She is married to Gary and has four children and six grandchildren.

Joseph Manni

Data Clerk

Joseph is Renewal Ministries' Data Clerk. He's currently working towards a degree in Data Structures and Computer Programming, and uses these skills to speed up certain processes around the organization. When he's not working, Joseph enjoys climbing, coding, and playing soccer.

Annie Randolph

Distribution Coordinator

Annie Randolph is the distribution coordinator for Renewal Ministries. In addition to sending out products, Annie helps at Renewal Ministries' events and ministers to middle school girls with BLR.

Dr. Mary Healy

Renewal Ministries' Consultant

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Dr. Mary Healy works with Renewal Ministries as a special consultant. She is professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and a bestselling author and international speaker. Dr. Healy is a general editor of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and author of two of its volumes, The Gospel of Mark and Hebrews. Her other books include Men and Women Are from Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body and Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World. Renewal Ministries has produced two CDs of Peter Herbeck's interviews with Dr. Healy, Does Jesus Still Heal? and Made for Relationship: A Biblical Understanding of Homosexual Behavior. Dr. Healy serves the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian unity as a member of the Pentecostal-Catholic International Dialogue. She is one of the first three women ever to serve on the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and is a consultor to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

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Rachel Herbeck

Director of Missionaries

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Rachel Herbeck is the Director of Missionaries for id. She received her BA in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has worked extensively in youth ministry and she speaks to youth and young adults at retreats, conferences, and events in the US and Canada. Rachel is passionate about life issues and has worked for multiple pro-life and political organizations both in Minnesota and Washington, DC. Before joining the id team, she worked for the Minnesota Catholic Conference, where she did outreach and lobbied on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Minnesota. She currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Ava Marcarelli

Executive Assistant

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Ava Marcarelli is the id Executive Assistant and is responsible for helping to oversee and execute all administration for id, including planning retreats and events. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2018 with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Literature, Writing, and History. Before joining id, she worked as a parish administrator in Jackson, MI and taught English to elementary school students in South Korea. She also volunteers with Be Love Revolution and works as the Pine Hills Boys’ and Girls’ Camps administrator.

Mary Rzepka

id Missionary

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Mary serves as an id missionary, supporting id’s young adult discipleship communities across the US and Canada. Mary has a Bachelors of Business Administration and Masters of Accounting from the University of Michigan. A few years into her career as a CPA, Mary felt called to a life of service, which led her to pursue a Masters of Public Policy at Duke University. After completing her MPP, Mary worked in the Washington DC area for three years as a government consultant. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she experienced the Lord calling her to return to her home state of Michigan and dedicate herself wholly to building the Kingdom of God, which brought her to the id ministry. Before joining the id team full-time, Mary volunteered with and supported several ministries including Pine Hills Camp, Lifeteen, id916, Be Love Revolution, and Walking With Purpose.

Harrison Raney

id and Zion Missionary

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Harrison Raney serves as an id and Zion Missionary for Renewal Ministries and has a Bachelor's of Science in Public Relations from Concordia University, Ann Arbor. He has served as both a missionary and staff supervisor for NET Ministries in Australia where he was actively involved in leading/planning retreats and speaking at various ministry gatherings for middle & high school students, as well as the mentorship and pastoral leadership for young adult missionaries. He's been married to his wife, Monica, since 2021.

Debbie Herbeck

Founder and Director of Be Love Revolution

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Debbie Herbeck has shared with many her personal journey of faith from Judaism to Christianity and subsequent entrance into the Catholic Church. For the past forty years, Debbie has worked extensively in youth and women’s ministry, speaking, leading mission trips, and mentoring high school and college age women. She has spoken at Franciscan University Conferences, Legatus chapters, and women’s events throughout the world. She is the founder and executive director of Pine Hills Girls Camp. Debbie is also the founder and director of the Be Love Revolution, a ministry that exists to help young women encounter Christ and be His love to all they meet.

She co-authored her most recent book, Lessons From the School of Love: Cultivating a Christ-Centered Marriage, with her husband, Peter. She has also written Safely Through the Storm: 120 Reflections on Hope, Firmly on the Rock: 120 Reflections on Faith, and Love Never Fails: 120 Reflections on Love. She and her husband Peter have co-authored a book entitled When the Spirit Speaks: Touched by God’s Word. Debbie is a frequent author and speaker for Blessed is She and contributing writer for Undone: Freeing your Feminine Heart from the Knots of Fear and Shame.

Debbie and her husband Peter live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and have four adult children and eleven grandchildren.

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Natalia Covington

Mission Coordinator

Natalia Covington works with Be Love Revolution to increase mission trips to Mexico City and Haiti, and on other local service opportunities for young women. She also individually mentors and disciples girls; helps with organizing and running retreats, events, and small groups; and is a long-time member of the Pine Hills Girls’ Camp Leadership Team.

Kristen Arend

Development Director

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Kristen Arend works as the Development Director for Be Love Revolution. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with her BA in Psychology. After graduating, she felt called to walk with the girls and young women that Be Love Revolution serves. Kristen has been involved with Pine Hills Camp and Be Love Revolution through high school, college, and beyond. She has helped to plan and spoken at many retreats, and she mentors high school girls. She loves spending time with joyful people and is passionate about walking with others toward Heaven. She and her husband Adam were married in 2021 and welcomed their first baby the following summer.

Elizabeth Rouhana

Creative Director

Elizabeth Rouhana is the creative director for the Be Love Revolution and serves as a counselor for Pine Hills Girls' Camp. She also helps plan and run events, speaks at retreats, and mentors young women.

Molly McCartney

Worship Leader

Molly McCartney is the Be Love Revolution’s worship leader. Molly recently recorded an album of Christian music entitled Lead Me, with themes of meditation and worship. Her desire is to spread the Gospel message and the love of God through music and ministry.

Emilie Stevenson

Social Media Manager

Emilie Stevenson is the social media manager for Be Love Revolution. She is currently a college student studying graphic design. Emilie also leads the junior Abide group, helps at retreats and events, and is a counselor at Pine Hills Girls Camp. She has been involved with Be Love Revolution since middle school. Emilie is grateful to be able to combine three of her favorite things in her work with Be Love Revolution: art, people, and Jesus.

Steve Norman

Director of Zion

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Steve Norman serves as the director of Zion, a high school boy’s ministry that aims to form young men into missionary disciples of Christ. Steve moved to Ann Arbor with his wife, Katey, and two children, Jeremiah and Kateri, from Stratford, Ontario. He served as a high school campus minister in Canada and is currently finishing his Master of Theology from the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO.