Anne Edward (formerly Paulk): Executive Director / Board Member
Anne Edward brings more than two decades as an author, speaker, spokesperson and advocate for men and women struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions to her role as executive director of Restored Hope Network. Her mission in leading the organization is to, quite literally, restore hope to those broken by sexual and relational issues, especially those impacted by homosexuality.
Anne explains, “I know it’s possible to be set free from sexual confusion because that is my story. It is the testimony of thousands just like me. We at Restored Hope want to make sure all who seek the same healing we’ve experienced through submitting to Jesus can have it be their story, too.”
Central to Restored Hope’s mission is the support and resources it offers to those grappling with LGBT issues in their lives and to equip the Church to impart the transformative power of Christ. Anne has spotlighted that power in television, radio and magazine interviews that she began doing in the ‘90s and continues to do today.
Oprah, Good Morning America, The CBS Evening News, The 700 Club, Family Talk, Coral Ridge, and Focus on the Family and have profiled Anne, as have People magazine and Newsweek – which put her on its cover.
Love Won Out, the SBC Clarity Conference, Western Seminary, the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, and Focus on the Family’s Pastor, Physician, and Pregnancy Resource Center conferences have brought Anne in to speak.
She has appeared on Dr. James Dobson’s FamilyTalk, In the Market with Janet Parshall, Equipped with Chris Brooks (Moody Radio), Dr. Michael L. Brown’s In The Line of Fire, Joni and Friends/Table Talk (Daystar TV), The Eric Metaxas Show, Total Living Network with Jerry Rose, and her story of redemption has also been featured in documentaries, including Such Were Some of You.
Author of Restoring Sexual Identity: Hope for Women Who Struggle with Same-Sex Attraction and co-author of Love Won Out, Anne also has written for Spirit-Led Woman, Charisma, and The Gospel Coalition.
Anne, who lives in Colorado. Her greatest joy is being mom to her three grown sons and daughter-in-law.
Phil Courson: Board Chair
Phil Courson is the Founding and Senior Pastor of Abundant Grace Community Church in Gainesville, FL. He has been in pastoral ministry for over 30 years. Throughout his time in ministry, Phil has counseled and cared for people with sexual and relational brokenness. He loves to see the power of God take broken people (like himself) and turn them into freedom walking, life empowering believers for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Phil has been married to Kay since July 1982, and they have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Phil enjoys most sports, reading books, and spending time with Kay and his family, especially his grandkids.
Gene Eggman: Vice Chair
Gene and his wife, Anita are co-directors of about H.O.P.E. (HEAL OUR PAIN EL SHADDAI), a ministry of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas. about H.O.P.E. is a parents’ group that has also has a blend of “overcomers” who do ministry and community together. The ministry group was founded 19+ years ago by Ted and Jan Schneider. The Eggman's have been serving as co-directors with them for the last 9 years and have been part of the support group for the last 15 years.
Professionally, Gene has over 35 years of Human Resource generalist experience which includes a diverse background in working with Fortune 100 to smaller start-up companies. He most recently worked for a large manufacturing corporation as their Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Governmental Affairs utilizing his HR generalist experience, leadership and networking to execute his 5-year plan in building out their corporate HR function. Gene and Anita have four adult children and 11 grandchildren.
Jeff Simunds: Treasurer
Jeff Simunds is the founder and director of Tower of Light Ministries, a ministry focused on helping those with unwanted LGBT issues, providing support for parents, and equipping the church on how to have a loving, biblical response to LGBT issues. Jeff has led this ministry for 15 years. Prior to this, he worked in mid-management for a high-tech company, as the president of an international humanitarian nonprofit, and as a missions pastor. Jeff has an MBA from the University of Washington as well as degrees in Chemistry and Computer Science.
Jeff is single and loves travel (he’s visited 104+ countries), foreign films, ethnic food, foreign languages, foreign music….. (you get the picture).
Dan Hitz: Secretary
Dan Hitz has served as the director of Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc. for over twenty years; helping men, women, and adolescents overcome sexual and relationship struggles and find healing from abuse. He is an ordained minister, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. He and his wife, Marianne, have been married since 1986 and have five children and six grandchildren. Dan began his journey out of homosexuality after surrendering his heart to Jesus in 1984, and is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
In addition to serving in the Metro Detroit area as a counselor and speaker, Dan loves serving on short term mission trips in Southeast Asia, seeing hearts set free and equipping leaders. He also enjoys spending time with his family, photography, ethnic food, and playing an outdoor scavenger hunt game.
Deanne Barnes : Board Member
Deanne Barnes is serving on the Restored Hope Network board for her second term and has served as a previous Board Chair. She has also been ministering to the Body of Christ in the areas of sexuality and family for over 17 years as:
- Coordinator for the healing discipleship program Living Waters by Desert Stream Ministries,
- Board of Directors Member of Resurrection Life Ministries in Atlanta, GA,
- Speaker at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii for Youth With a Mission
- Founder and Director of His Wonderful Works, Inc. (HWW). HWW is a ministry to Christians seeking understanding, teaching and counsel concerning family, relationships and sexuality
- Her testimony has also been featured in various media including Transformation Magazine.
Deanne’s testimony and teaching have encouraged many congregations in the truth of God’s transforming power. Her transparency opens the door for many to be set free from the shame that binds them and her teaching brings understanding to many issues including God’s plan for family, healthy relationships, sexual sin, homosexuality, sexual abuse and pornography addiction.
Deanne lives in Covington, GA with her husband Rodney and their three children, Ian, Joel and Olivia.
Debora Barr : Board Member
Debora Barr serves as an Associate Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG) in Maryland, just outside of Washington D.C., and is the director of the All Things New Ministry at FBCG. She is the author of All Things New: A Former Lesbian’s Lifelong Search for Love; All Things New: A Discipleship Ministry for Healing; All Things New: A Discipleship Ministry for Life Transformation; and Life Transformation Day by Day, a 31 Day Devotional. Debora has been ministering to those impacted by same-sex attraction and sexual brokenness since 2010. She is the founder of DBarr Ministries LLC and regularly shares her testimony, preaches, teaches, and ministers to the body of Christ by helping encourage people to develop their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ for life transformation.
Debora holds a Juris Doctor law degree and recently completed her Master of Divinity with Denver Seminary; she also serves as the Director of the Washington D.C. Extension Campus.
Jim Katsoudas: Board Member
Jim is a graduate of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling (MACC), Columbia International University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible and Church Ministries. He is licensed in the state of North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).
Before earning his Master’s degree in counseling, Jim was a former Ministry Director and Pastoral Counselor of Clean Heart Ministries, working with men, women, and teens who desired to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction.
As a Christian counselor, he is available to assist people spiritually and theologically with problems and questions they may have about their spiritual life and the Christian faith. Jim offers a compassionate and empowering approach to help clients understand themselves better and to live their life according to their own self- determination.
Jim and his wife live outside of Charlotte, NC. One of Jim's favorite verses, "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free" by Jesus Christ (Jn 8:31).
When the Son sets you free you are free indeed.