Our Team



Lysa TerKeurst

President

Lysa TerKeurst is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Uninvited and The Best Yes as well as 19 other titles. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa and her team reach over 2 million women through their First 5 app, over 1 million women through their daily online devotion, and thousands more through online Bible studies, social media, radio and more. As a speaker for over 40+ events annually, she is passionate about helping women uncomplicate the deeper truths of scriptures and connect the messy parts of life with the miraculous hope of God. Lysa lives in North Carolina with her family.

Glynnis Whitwer

Executive Director of Communications

Glynnis Whitwer is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as Executive Director of Communications, overseeing COMPEL, the First 5 app content, content for She Speaks Conference, and Encouragement for Today devotions, with over 1 million subscribers. She is the author or co-author of 10 books. She also served as the general editor for the NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible featuring 366 Proverbs 31 Ministries’ devotions. Glynnis has a degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Arizona State University and worked as a PR writer before joining the staff of Proverbs 31 Ministries in 1998. Glynnis and her husband Tod live in Glendale, Arizona. They have five young adult children.


Tracie Miles

Director of COMPEL Training

Tracie Miles is the Director of COMPEL at Proverbs 31 Ministries, and has been a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker and Writer teams since 2006. She is the author of seven best-selling books, Love Life Again (2018), Unsinkable Faith (2017), Your Life Still Counts (2014), 1st and 2nd editions of Stress Less Living (2012 & 2021), Living Unbroken (2021), Living Unbroken Divorce Recovery Workbook (2022). Tracie is a contributing author to the NIV Women’s Devotional Bible and the Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today Daily Devotional Book, in addition to being a monthly contributing writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today daily devotions. Tracie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and worked in human resources, operations management and corporate training prior to working in full time ministry. She has 3 grown children and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can connect with Tracie on her blog at www.traciemiles.com and all social media outlets.

Ruth Schwenk

Senior Social Media Coordinator

Ruth Schwenk is the Senior Social Media Coordinator of COMPEL and has been involved with Proverbs 31 Ministries in various ways since 2015. She is the founder of the popular blog, TheBetterMom.com, and co-founder, with her husband Patrick, of FortheFamily.org and the new podcast Rootlike Faith. Ruth is the trusted author of several books with HarperCollins Christian, including her new release with her husband, In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake, as well as The Better Mom Book and Devotional. She is also the co-author with Karen Ehman, of the best-selling devotional Pressing Pause and the award-winning devotional Settle My Soul. Ruth is a Michigan football super-fan, lover of all things HGTV and a self-proclaimed foodie. But her greatest joy is her family. She lives with her husband and their four kids in the dreamy college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.


Kate Shepherd

Project Manager

Kate Shepherd is the COMPEL Project Manager and joined the team at Proverbs 31 Ministries in 2021. With a passion for writing and a lifelong calling to elevate the voices of the women around her, she is beyond thrilled to be on the COMPEL Team. A true entrepreneur at heart, Kate has launched businesses and collaborated with others to pursue their passions in the marketplace. As the COMPEL Project Manager, she is excited to help COMPEL members reach the incredible potential they have in their storytelling. Kate and her husband David live in North Carolina with their two wild and wonderful boys. You can connect with Kate on her website www.kateshepherdwrites.com or on her social media channels.

Exec. Volunteer Leader Team

Shirlee Abbott

Critique Group Leader

Lisa Apello

Focus Group Leader

Kaitlin Garrison

Courtyard Connection and Social Media Leader

Melissa Labieniec

Social Media and Blog Leader

Shirley Jackson

Critique Group Leader

Denise Pass

Focus Group Leader

Regina Lewis

Social Media and Blog Leader