Bobby Flowers- 2024 Board President
Bobby is a Tennessee native and graduate East Tennessee State University. He has worked in the broadcast industry for last 40 years as news and production director and more. He also has and continues to serve as chaplain for our local hospital and local race venues. Bobby received his degree social work in 2018 from King University. While serving our community in various ways he discovered his heart for the broken and less fortunate of our city. He has worked consistently for the last five years to improve the lives and aspirations of our homeless population. Bobby is has served as Oasis 2018-2019 Board President and continues to serve our community as Board President of Kingsport Homeless Ministry, he is a member of the Kingsport Homeless Coalition and Direct Care team. Bobby is a chaplain for Ballad Health, Bristol Motor Speedway, Kingsport Speedway, Volunteer Speedway. He Attends Church at Hosanna Fellowship in Johnson City, Graduated King University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Social Work.
Hope Turner - Vice President
Hope Turner was born in Queens New York. She moved to the Tri-Cities with her family around 16 years of age. Hope is now retired from very successful 21-year career in the United States Army, where she was based abroad for many years and did duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan, during the operation enduring freedom campaigns. She is the founder and president of There’s Hope Outreach Ministries and the owner of There’s Hope LLC. based out of Bristol VA. She is also the President of the women’s auxiliary for district 23 of the PAW and the Executive Director of the Women’s Advocacy Council of the Tri-Cities.
Martha Pendley - Grant Liason
Martha Pendley has served as Grant Writer for the past two years. She previously served as Board President in 2018 and served for three years as Secretary. She attends First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport where she has been a member of the Outreach and Evangelism Committee for over 10 years and has served two terms as a Deacon. Martha has a heart for missions, and for the ladies at the Oasis of Kingsport. She has also completed three mission trips with FPC to Guatemala. Martha is retired from Upper East TN Human Development Agency, and holds a BS in Human Services from ETSU, and an AS in Early Childhood from Walter’s State. She now serves as out 2022 Vice President.
Missy Quillen
Missy Quillen is a native of the Tri-Cities area. She worked in the medical field as an imaging technician for a number of years before coming to Oasis to serve in 2015. Since then, she has served the Oasis in different capacities including volunteer, lay board member, secretary, and in recent years, board president. Missy has a heart for women’s ministry. She has gifts of hospitality and compassion. She has two children and three grandchildren. She resides in Church Hill with her husband JR and goldren retriever Renfro.
Fredna Lawson- Secretary
Fredna is a christian who grew up in the Methodist church near BMS. When she married Steve 46 years ago they found a church home in the missionary Baptist church. They have two sons, Anthony and Aaron, and six grandchildren. She married for love and stayed for the grandchildren. She is retired from Eastman after 32years and received her bachelors degree in 2001 from Milligan while working full time and going to school. She has been praying for the Lord to lead her to a ministry where HE can make a difference. Fredna is looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for Oasis and their mission as a board member and volunteer.
Dana Helton -Treasurer
Dana Helton moved to Kingsport in 2017. She began searching for community ministry opportunities and learned of Oasis for which she began volunteering in October of 2021. She attended Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana graduating in 1988. She went on to obtain her law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, MI graduating in 1991. She is a licensed attorney in the state of Tennessee. Her professional experience includes divorce proceedings, social security representation, in-house counsel for a medical management company and for Ballad Health. She is an active member of her church, Kingsport First Assembly, located in Kingsport, and currently serves as President of K1 Women’s Ministry as well as the worship team. Her hobbies include reading, playing the drums and piano, traveling, scrapbooking and quilting. Dana has been married to her husband Charles for over 21 years, and together they have six children and twelve grandchildren.
Teri Hallock
Teri Hallock along with her husband, Doug, of over 40 years and daughter, Ashley, moved from Tucson, AZ to Kingsport in 2011. She graduated with an accounting degree in 1988 from SUNY at Buffalo and was a licensed CPA for 20 years. In 2008, Doug and Teri started a nonprofit ministry and traveled the country sharing Doug’s music and message of freedom from addiction and Teri’s struggle with mental illness. Teri worked at Eastman as an accountant in the benefits department until July 2022. Teri volunteered at the Oasis and prayed with the first board members including Kermit Addington before the doors opened on Sullivan Street. She stopped volunteering while working at Eastman and started again in April 2023. She was blessed to be asked to be on the board and joined in October 2023. She hopes her struggles can be a hope to others that battle with mental illness, addictions or life controlling issues. Ever since Teri accepted Jesus into her heart at 24, her desire has been to share the love of Jesus with those the Lord brings into her life.
Denise Hensley
Denise Hensley is an active member of Boons Creek Christian Church. She is a Sr. Sales Professional at Snyder Signs where she has worked for the last 25 years. Denise has 4 beautiful grandchildren. She loves to cook, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends. Denise has a favorite bible verse which is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It reminds her that God has a perfect plan for her and her future. She is excited to see what part The Oasis will play in that plan.
Amy Renye-Board Member / Chaplain
Amy Renye has years of ministry experience, serving our region in various capacities. She has a Bachelor of Science in sociology from East Tennessee State University and is a licensed, ordained minister and certified chaplain. Amy has served Oasis as a volunteer, teacher, minister, board member for the past six years; also serving as Board President during 2019-2020 and was an integral part of Oasis’ survival during the COVID Pandemic. She also labors at Oasis as a lay minister and faith-based counselor. In addition to serving Oasis, she serves as the Housing Navigator for the homeless coalition’s direct care team
Gail Newton
Gail Newton has lived in the Tri-Cities area for over forty years. She is currently retired from a fifteen year career in our local radio and tv industry. Her heart is to use this time to serve in ministry. She currently serves our community at our local Kitchen of Hope and first served Oasis as a volunteer. She has been at active member of our Oasis Board of Directors since 2020
- The Oasis of Kingsport organization is governed by an Executive Board of Directors; comprised of three non-voting members – Executive Board President, Executive Director, and the Administrative Secretary; eleven voting members, which include officers and lay members.
- Oasis of Kingsport Board candidates are carefully selected by standards which include but not limited to higher education or the equivalent of professional career or ministry experience and are evaluated for maturity, competency, moral character and goodness of fit. If selected, the candidate is extended a formal invitation and voted in by the Board of Directors Majority vote.