The Nehemiah Project

Dr. Mary Foley serves as the Executive Director of the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and has since 2012. With more than 15 years of experience in working with victims of interpersonal crimes such as child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault, Dr. Foley uses her passion for justice, advocacy and victims’ rights to help create stronger and safer communities. Mary holds a Master’s degree from Murray State University in Clinical Psychology, and a doctorate degree from Western Kentucky University in Applied Psychology (PsyD) and is a licensed psychotherapist. Mary is certified as a domestic violence advocate through the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is a lead instructor in the Coalition’s Certification Program responsible for training advocates state-wide. Mary has trained at the National Center on Substance Abuse, Trauma and Mental Health in providing trauma-informed care. Mary resides in western Kentucky with her husband of 23 years, Brian, and two sons, John Phillip and Thomas.

Dr. Nathan Joyce is passionate about the formation and healing of souls by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Years of preaching and counseling as a pastor have turned this passion into insight that he loves to share with others. He is the Senior Pastor of Preaching at Heartland Church in Paducah, KY. He has a Ph. D. in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Theology. He and his wife, Crystal, have been married for 25 years and have four children.

Dr. Brooke Jacobs, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the staff psychologist with Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center, the state designated domestic violence service provider in the Purchase Region of Kentucky. She has worked for over 10 years providing mental health services in rural portions of the Midwest. She is certified in multiple trauma treatments including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Dr. Jacobs currently oversees the resiliency department, which aims to promote personal assets in clients, community, and staff. This often takes place through intensive trauma therapy, reflective supervision, psychoeducation, community trainings, professional development, consultations, onboarding oversite, and data analysis. Throughout her time at the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center, she has assisted in the development of a clinical program to serve the needs of victims of domestic violence and established an internship program that trains students in case management, safety planning, clinical skills, and legal advocacy. Dr. Jacobs worked extensively in the creation and ongoing implementation of services through the Marshall County Resiliency Center, a program developed to serve victims of all crime in Western Kentucky. She likes to balance her time with being outdoors, training dogs with her husband, and watching her daughter learn new things.

Lokey-Robinson founded Sign-Art Ministries, a sign language ministry that reaches the deaf and hearing impaired, at Hope Community Church. Sign-Art is a collaboration of mime, interpretive movement, dance, television sign, English sign and American Sign Language arranged together in music in order to illustrate and portray the message of Jesus Christ. Lokey-Robinson travels the world sharing the love and hope of Christ. She ministers through music and testimony of not only her life, but of what she sees as God moves throughout her ministry. Lokey-Robinson ministry includes over 800 ministry teams throughout seven countries. Her ministry teams demonstrate sing-art at several different events including weekend workshops, conferences, disciple-nows, vacation Bible schools, women’s retreats, youth services and Sunday services. Lokey-Robinson graduated from Murray State University is 1997 with a mass communication degree in radio and television broadcasting. Lokey-Robinson currently has over 40 demonstrational DVDs that gives instructions about how to teach music and drama in sign. She is married to Jerry Robinson, and together they have six children.

Patrick Weaver is a Kingdom builder, entrepreneur, author, and leading life and business strategist. Through his inspirational blogs, social media, and online presence, Patrick has the privilege of reaching and impacting over 1 million people from around the world every month for the cause of Christ. Regarded as one of the most influential change agents of this generation, Patrick’s bold, life-giving teaching fearlessly wrestles with the realities of life, and intentionally focuses on the whole person – the complex mixture of spiritual, physical, social, mental and emotional components that make us human. Patrick is an outspoken advocate and leading voice of change for victims of domestic abuse. He is dedicated to abuse prevention and intervention, empowering victims and survivors, and equipping the church to serve those harmed by intimate partner predators. His gift for helping God’s people win gives Christians practical ways to understand and live out their faith, and inspires individuals to relentlessly steer their lives towards their vision, passion, and purpose.