SCOTT HIGHBERGER 

President

 

For twenty-two years, Scott lived a life as a career criminal with thirty-five arrests, eight felony convictions, and five prison sentences to his record. Ultimately, he surrendered his heart to Christ while incarcerated in 2005, and he was never the same. God has sent him back to the incarcerated population to show prisoners the way out. He has had the privilege of leading thousands of men, women, and children to Christ that are living behind the wire. Scott and Donna K. Rice partnered to write Scott’s book, Behind the Wire: A Prisoners Journey to the Pulpit. Scott distributes copies of his book throughout the prison system as a resource to help prisoners break free from destructive cycles.

 

After 10 years of full-time church ministry in 2022, Scott & Dannielle stepped out in faith to fully serve God's vision for BTW Ministries as a prison ministry and addiction treatment center. Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in Ministry Leadership from Grace College and Theological Seminary in May 2022. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College with a graduation date in May 2024.

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DANNIELLE HIGHBERGER 

Treasurer

 

Dannielle is passionate about serving our incarcerated population, she has been helping her husband Scott for nine years in prisons and jails across the country. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Human Services. She also enjoys creating curriculum, teaching Bible studies, and mentoring people struggling with destructive lifestyles. Dannielle grew up on her family’s dairy farm in rural Ohio. She has three children, Samantha, Tabitha, and Ryan. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and watching history documentaries. 

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PHIL ALESSI

Officer

 

Phil has served with Novo Mission for the last 20 years, focusing on igniting and impacting disciple-making movements. A key has been mentoring inmate leaders who have helped to disciple thousands of their fellow inmates and their families on the inside and outside.  Phil is ordained with the Evangelical Free Church of America, and has pastored, planted churches, and provided leadership to church planting movements. He also taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for 5 years.  He and Ruthann who recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary have four adult children and seven grandchildren.  Both found Jesus outside the church as teens and have been reaching others beyond the church ever since.

  

 

DAVID BREWER 

Officer

 

David along with his wife Deborah founded Revival in Prison Ministries (RIPM) in 2007 while employed with the Indiana Department of Correction, the ministry provided Christian church services at two central Indiana prisons. After retiring in 2011 RIPM was incorporated as a nonprofit organization and conducted its first tent revival in prison. Over the next 8 years, the tent revival ministry grew to serve 10 Indiana prisons where the Gospel was shared with 2000-2500 incarcerated men and women each summer. In 2020 RIPM decided to partner with Behind the Wire Ministries so the tent ministry would continue upon their retirement.

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CAMERON GLADISH

Officer

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Cameron has been serving as a pastor with Redemption Christian Church since May 2016. He was a part of the church’s first team to launch a multi-site campus and currently serves as the Campus Minister at their Loogootee Campus. He has a passion for pastoral counseling by meeting people in their struggles. He also serves with Joy of Hope Ministry, which works to raise funds to bring joy and hope to the children of the growing MCM Orphanage in Uganda, Africa. He met his wife, Mollie, at Redemption in 2013, and now they have two beautiful little girls, Kathryn and Eliza. The Gladish family lives in Loogootee, Indiana, and loves to cook, do all things outdoors, and be in community with other believers. 

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INDIO FONTANEZ

Officer

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Indio has been serving as Lead Pastor of Come Alive Family Church in Portage, Indiana for 3 years. The church was birthed in 2020 during the pandemic. Indio and Pastor Scott served in ministry together for 4 years. During that time, Indio served alongside Pastor Scott in a few of the special services that were held at the local prison. Indio has been greatly impacted by Pastor Scott and Behind the Wire, and he hopes to start a prison ministry at his church. Indios passion is to see Christ glorified through people by equipping them and empowering them to go and make disciples.

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ELSIE FONTANEZ

Officer

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Elsie is the Co-Pastor at Come Alive Family Church in Portage, Indiana. She has served there alongside her husband for 3 years. Elsie served with Pastor Scott for 4 years. Elsie received a Bachelor's in Health Science and a Bachelor's in Psychology at Purdue University in West Lafayette. Elsie spearheads the different ministries at CAFC and has just written and published a premarital book birthed out of years of marriage and experience. Elsie is a mother of 4 and spends her days loving on her husband and kids while equipping and empowering people to the glory of God.