Ron Gonzales was introduced to drugs in 1966 while serving with the Marine Corps in Viet Nam and returned home in 1968 angry, confused and disillusioned. Waiting for him was the bride he'd known only three months and the son he'd never met. He returned just in time for the funeral of the father he hardly knew. Seven years later, divorced and alone, separated from his three children, ashamed to go home and enslaved by his abusive habits, Ron attempted to end his life.

Miraculously, God interceded and brought him to a point of surrender. On October 23rd, 1974, at the altar of a small church in Inglewood, California, Ron decided to forsake a life of drugs and alcohol to follow Jesus of Nazareth. Answering God's call to ministry, his new life became one of caring for Los Angeles' homeless men and women with substance dependency issues.

Today, as Executive Director of the New Orleans Mission, Ron still ministers to the men and women of the street. His own experience with the problems many homeless men and women face shows them that they can overcome their addictions and become productive citizens.

Linda Gonzales directs the Mission’s fundraising efforts. Her dedication to improving the plight of the homeless and sharing the Gospel help Linda raise awareness of the Mission while soliciting donor support, developing planned giving and supporting various fund-raising activities. Linda is also actively involved in the administration of Mission activities.

After running from God for years, Joshua Meadows found himself trapped in jail with a young man who talked of little else. Presented with the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Joshua eventually gave his life to Christ. From jail, Joshua felt the Lord prompting him to the New Orleans Mission. He spent 30 days bargaining with God, but one month after his release, he arrived at the Mission as a volunteer. Initially, he helped with maintenance and was later asked to lead a Bible study for the men.

Joshua now leads the men’s one-year discipleship program. He guides men recovering from substance abuse through daily Bible study and 12 Steps to Recovery and helps them take self inventory and set goals.

Brittany Ray coordinates the schedules and activities of volunteers at the New Orleans Mission. She’s a nearly life-long resident of New Orleans and experienced firsthand the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Brittany was entering her senior year of high school when Katrina hit, and her family evacuated to Shreveport for a few months. She’s working on her third year of a business administration degree. Brittany has lived in Baltimore and Kansas City but always finds her way home.

Two months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, while most people were moving out of the city, Lou Banfalvi moved in. Executive Director Ron Gonzales asked Lou to help in the Mission’s massive recovery effort, and Lou rose to the challenge. Lou’s wife, Shirley, followed him to New Orleans a few months later. Lou is a tireless worker and a vital part of the team.

In addition to pastoring his own church, New Day Christian Center, Pastor Terry Ray coordinates evening Chapel services for the New Orleans Mission. Pastor Terry grew up in Chicago but has called New Orleans home for more than 15 years. His greatest passions are Christ, his wife and two daughters, New Orleans and the plight of the homeless.

Terry Werline oversees the day room at the New Orleans Mission and meets with clients one–on-one to assess their needs and help them find employment and housing.

Terry holds a Master of Divinity degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He’s previously worked at the Brantley Baptist Center as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor and as a chaplain at East Jefferson General Hospital. Terry and his wife Judy celebrated 40 years of marriage in 2008, 11 of which have been spent in New Orleans. Terry and Judy have four daughters.

Martha McCarty moved to New Orleans in 2003 to attend the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and fell in love with the city. She went home to Alabama for a brief stint after Hurricane Katrina but returned to New Orleans and graduated in 2007 with a Master of Divinity degree in Christian education.

She joined the New Orleans Mission in 2008 to oversee the Family Center, the Mission’s newest facility. She is responsible for helping single moms find employment and assisting families in locating permanent housing.

Martha says her three favorite aspects of New Orleans are the friendly people, the delicious food and the never-ending list of fun things to do.