Our Staff

Our staff genuinely cares about you and seeks to help you gain victory over stubborn habits through the power of God.
Joe Livingston

Joe Livingston

RU Chapter Director

Joe Livingston serves as our local RU Chapter Director and Visitor Group Leader. Earlier in life, Joe’s own wrong choices led him to enter the vicious cycle of addiction, and that destructive path led him to feel hopelessly trapped in the perpetual failure. His heart began to change, and his personal testimony of faith in Christ began after he came through the doors of the RU Men’s School of Discipleship. Joe’s journey led him to become active in volunteering at his local church, North Love Baptist, and the local Rockford RU Chapter, where he has continued to find help and support from fellow believers.

Many years later, Joe along with his wife, Melanie, faithfully serve the Lord by reaching out to those struggling with addiction in the Rockford area. They work together encouraging others to apply the principles and the tools of the RU Program to overcome the deep-rooted strongholds that give ground to sin and addiction − and they have had the privilege to help many to discover lasting freedom in Jesus Christ. Joe and Melanie reside in Rockford with their son, Aiden.

Donnie Barnes

Donnie Barnes

RU Full Throttle Director

Donnie Barnes is our Local RU Recovery Full Throttle Director. Donnie came to the ministries of RU in the beginning of 2007 with a crippling addiction to crack-cocaine. After graduating the Men’s Discipleship home, Donnie continued his spiritual growth in the Graduate Program, under the mentoring and leadership of Ben Burks. Donnie graduated from North Love Baptist Bible College with a degree in Pastoral Theology in 2014. Since that time, Donnie has worked in various positions throughout the ministries of RU, where he now works as Director of Housing for Reformers Unanimous International. Currently, Bro. Barnes oversees the start to finish of each student that walks through the doors of both the men and ladies homes.

Donnie married his wife Hannah in 2008, and they have been serving the Lord in the RU Recovery Schools of Discipleship ever since. Over the years he has worked in various positions throughout the ministries of RU, all of which have equipped him to successfully take on his current position as Director of Housing. Currently, Bro. Barnes oversees the start to finish of each student that walks through the doors of both the men and ladies homes. It is Donnie’s prayer that through his testimony, many people would be reached through Christ.

https://vimeo.com/143060927

Dale Akin

Dale Akin

Assistant Director and RU Sunday School Teacher

Dale Akin serves as our Assistant Director and RU Sunday School teacher. Dale was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Hyles-Anderson College in Crown Point, IN in 1994 with a B.S. in church work, he and his wife, Arischa, moved to California in 1995 where he served as the assistant pastor at Arlington Baptist Church in Richmond for 4 years. In 1999, he and his family moved back to the Cleveland area.

While attending and serving in his local church, sinful behavior turned into an addiction and quickly eroded his daily walk with God. Dale came to the RU Men’s School of Discipleship in 2003 and upon completion of the program he returned home to his church in Cleveland where he and his family served faithfully for the next 8 years. After much prayer and counsel, Dale returned to Rockford in 2011 together with his wife and their 5 children. In 2012, he began working for Reformers Unanimous, where he now serves as the Intervention Mentor in the Men’s Home.

Hannah Barnes

Hannah Barnes

2nd Talk Group Leader

Hannah Barnes serves as a local chapter group leader. She grew up in Rockford, Illinois in a non-Christian home, throughout her childhood, Hannah watched as her father was crippled by an addiction to heroin and alcohol. Despite her troubled up-bringing, Hannah, along with her sisters and mother were reached for Christ through the ministries of North Love Baptist Church. Hannah went on to West Coast Baptist College to train for the ministry. Since graduating, she returned to her home church and served as a music teacher in the North Love Christian School.

Hannah and Donnie were married in 2008. They both have served in the RU housing ministry in various capacities since that time. As of April 2012, Mrs. Barnes assumed the role of Dean of Women for the RU Schools of Discipleship as well as the Intervention Mentor. Hannah serves in the music ministry at North Love Baptist Church, as well as co-teaching the Senior High Girls Sunday School class.

Little did Hannah know that her father’s crippling addiction would become the catalyst God would use to help her in ministering to broken and hurting women.

Cisco Cervantes

Cisco Cervantes

RUHQ Live Host

Brad Woodbury

Brad Woodbury

2nd Talk Group Leader and RU Event Coordinator

Barry & Therese Curington

Barry & Therese Curington

2nd Talk Group Leaders

Rob Hoover

Rob Hoover

2nd Talk Group Leader

Nicole Betts

Nicole Betts

2nd Talk Group Leader

Randy Grindinger

Randy Grindinger

2nd Talk Group Leader and Helper

Take the First Step

Do you or someone you know struggling with a horrible addiction? Is this addiction controlling and destroying your life? If so, please don’t pass up this opportunity to join us this Friday night to learn about the Truth that will make you free.