Our Mission
The tagline of LifeTouch Ministries & Counseling Center is “Helping people return to JOY”. We strive to accomplish this through Biblical and clinical counseling, professional teaching, small group ministry, and prayer ministry to all who seek it regardless of financial resources.
Meet The Staff Of LifeTouch
Jeff France
MS – Executive Director
Jeff has over 30 years of educational experience both as a classroom science teacher and as a middle school administrator. As a classroom teacher, he taught in a juvenile detention center in Fort Wayne, IN; a residential placement center in Mishawaka, IN; and in public schools. The last 18 years of his 30 years in education were spent serving as a middle school assistant principal/athletic director for the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation. Currently, Jeff serves as the Executive Director for LifeTouch!
Darla France
MA Director of Counseling & Teaching,MA Clinical Counseling, MA Biblical Counseling, Certified Trauma Specialist
Darla has been a speaker for churches, schools and business groups for more than twenty five years. She is a counselor and the Director of Counseling and Teaching at LifeTouch Ministries and Counseling Center, (LTMCC). Wife, mother, and grandmother, Darla began her speaking ministry as a Bible teacher for Bible Study Fellowship International. Popular demand brought her to various opportunities for women’s groups and workshops as well as church and business events. After working as an elementary school counselor for several years, Darla established LifeTouch Ministries in 1997.
Stefanie Essick
Director of Administration
Stefanie is the Director of Administration for LifeTouch Ministries & Counseling Center. She graduated from Grace College with a B.S. in Business Management. Stefanie has worked in banking, higher education, and in logistics before working at LifeTouch. She loves that she can use her gifts to help others. Stefanie lives in Warsaw with her husband, two daughters, and two cats.
Mary Behny
Director of Development
Mary Behny serves as Director of Development. She is a Ball State University graduate with a BS in Special Education and an MS in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. Mary retired from 33 years of teaching in 2014. She has taught preschool, served as a special educator in high school, taught in adult education, supervised student teachers for Grace College and has worked to raise literacy awareness in Kosciusko County, the classroom setting, as well as conducted teacher training. She also serves as a Stephen Minister and trainer for Stephen Ministry. Mary is passionate about empowering and helping others change the quality of their life through acquiring and learning new skills. She is a former board member and President of the Board for Lifetouch Ministries. Mary has two daughters, a son-in-law and one grandchild. She resides with her husband of 46 years in Silver Lake, Indiana. She enjoys traveling, reading, crafting, DIY projects, and gardening.
Merri Bottorff
Receptionist
Merri is the evening receptionist for LifeTouch Ministries & Counseling Center. She is a retired nurse, a lifetime member, volunteer and bookstore manager of the Friends of the Library Story Emporium at the Warsaw Community Public Library. She hosts Chapter Chat, a monthly book club held at LifeTouch. Her loving and entusiastic spirit is a true blessing as she serves the community through LifeTouch.
Nicole Klein
Communications Coordinator
Nicole is excited to be the Communications Coordinator for Lifetouch Ministries and Counseling Center. She comes to Lifetouch having been in multiple roles throughout the years. With her teaching degree from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois, and a passion for connecting people to each other through church, ministries, and community, she has been able to use her gifts, talents, and degree in many different ways. Whether it was in the classroom, children’s programs at church, or through other various ministries, she has been able to use her gifts and talents with children and adults; all while sharing about Christ’s love. She is married to her High School sweetheart, Aaron and they have four children. Nicole loves to spend time with her family, do anything artistic, decorate, and help with ministries at her church!
Jim Thompson
MS Ed
Jim Thompson graduated from Grace College and has a Masters degree in counseling from Indiana University. Jim’s experience includes working at a mental health inpatient unit, outpatient counseling in a community mental health center and at a church counseling center. The majority of his professional experience is as a school counselor and mental health therapist. He has worked for over 20 years in several area schools. His work in schools includes counseling students individually and in groups, classroom guidance, collaborating with teachers, staff, and parents, crisis intervention, behavior interventions and planning, and other activities with students. Jim specializes in working with children and adolescents ages 5-18 and their families. He is a husband & father of four children and is glad to be a part of Lifetouch Ministries and Counseling Center.
Bill Krogel
MA, D.Min., LMFT
Bill comes with over 30 years as a licensed “Marriage and Family Therapist” seeking to interweave Biblical Faith into one’s everyday life. He was a senior pastor for eight years and has spent the majority of his career in marriage counseling and helping men develop a meaningful faith in their everyday lives. Five of those years were spent in ministering to adolescents. He was also a professor at Grace College for 19 years. His heart’s passion is to deepen his faith walk with Jesus, and to help others develop their own personal walk with Him. Learning Jesus’ life lessons is thrilling, and through them he learns about his Savior. His desire is to help others find a deeper and meaningful joy in knowing Jesus better. Bill has been married for 46 years, and has three children and six grandchildren.
Debbie Messenger
M. ED Counseling Psychology
Debbie Messenger graduated from Columbia College with a bachelor’s in psychology and the
University of Missouri with a master’s in counseling psychology. Her work experience includes
outpatient counseling as a licensed counselor in a community mental health setting, teaching
substance education classes and providing advocacy for individuals in a criminal justice setting
and managing treatment programs for the developmentally disabled. Debbie has passion for
helping those struggling with anxiety, depression, grief/ loss and generally adjusting to life’s
challenges. Abuse, trauma, and women’s issues are near to her heart. She is a wife, mother
and stepmother in a blended family. She loves movies and hiking and finds a special joy in life through animals.
Stephanie Compson
MA Counseling
Stephanie Compson graduated from Grace College with a Bachelors in Communications and later returned to Grace to complete a Masters in Counseling degree. She chose this career path because she is passionate about helping people find truth and freedom in their lives. Her work experience includes outpatient counseling as a counselor in a community mental health setting helping adults and teens struggling with anxiety, depression, severe mental health issues and addiction. She is a wife and a mother to two active little boys. She loves people, coffee, being out in nature and finding joy, gratitude and laughter in the moments of each day.
Jen Petersen
MA Counseling
Jennifer Petersen graduated from Grace College with her Master’s in Counseling in 2003. Since graduation, she has been working in the Christian Counseling field. Jen believes that prayer is a crucial part of therapy and integrates it into each session. Her specialties are anxiety, depression, and children of divorce. Jen is married and has 3 children that she adores. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, music, and all kinds of animals
Brian Faust
MA Couseling
Brian Faust has been working within the mental health field for over a decade. During his time as a therapist, Brian has served in the roles of home-based counselor, residential counselor, community mental health counselor, and therapeutic consultant. Brian has a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College and Theological Seminary. Brian lives in Warsaw, IN with his wife, mother-in-law, and three daughters. Brian is passionate about seeing people experience the freedom and fulfillment that comes from placing their trust in God's faithfulness, righteousness, and sovereignty. Brian enjoys video games, board games, comics, and nearly all other things geeky.
Paula Gast
MA in Pastoral Psychology & Counseling
Paula Gast is the online counselor for LifeTouch Ministries & Counseling Center. She earned her MA in Pastoral Psychology & Counseling from Trinity Divinity School has worked privately with individuals over the years. As a pastor's spouse, she informally counseled many individuals and couples. Continuing education included spiritual formation and prayer counseling or inner healing. She currently works remotely with clients, to identify and resolve issues, then periodically evaluates progress with the client and adjusts the frequency as needed. It is her pleasure to help people identify and resolve underlying toxic emotions and thoughts, and live more productive, joy-filled lives. She and her husband, Chip, reside in Florida.
Sandy Stauffer
MA Mental Health Counseling
Sandy holds a Masters in Mental Health degree from Grace College. Her work at a church counseling center included counseling clients with marriage issues, depression, trauma, and abuse. She has counseling experience with teens and parents in school and private settings. She is certified in trauma counseling. Sandy enjoys teaching. She has lectured nationally on parental rights and regionally on homeschooling methodology. During her career as a dental hygenist, she taught ethics and Juris prudence in the dental assistant department of the Dental School at Indiana University South Bend. Sandy is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She and her husband have been married for 41 years and have a grandson who keeps them busy.