Founders
Rick Wagner has personally experienced the chains of alcoholism and the effects of drugs on children and families and now has big heart after God. Sharon’s background includes a 15-year addiction to cocaine which she overcame in 1987 with the love of God and the discipline of Teen Challenge. While at the Walter Hoving Home in New York, Sharon received a vision to provide a home for women – a place of safety and healing. For many years, Rick has had a vision to birth a City of Refuge in Lakeland Georgia to see men and their families healed and set free from addiction. In 2005, out of a passion to bring healing and freedom to women struggling with alcohol, drugs and abuse, Rick and Sharon founded South Georgia House of Hope. Today that same passion resides as Evans Memorial Camp is established. Together they have five children and fourteen grandchildren. Through the power of prayer and Gods love they have witnessed the transformation of their family's lives, and are honored to pave the way for other generations to experience restoration. They began a journey of faith that will last a lifetime.
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Directors
Rick and Stephany Wagner both come from a past of addiction and have experienced God’s redemption. Rick graduated the program at Dunklin, went through their Servant Leadership Training and served on staff for three years. He is an Ordained Minister and has served in the Men's Program at Dunklin, the Kids Church, and the Men's Program at Martin County Jail. He has an AS Degree in Theology from Freedom Seminary. Since moving to Georgia Rick was involved with the Youth at Southland Church, and Kairos Prison Ministry. Presently Rick is the Director of Evans Memorial Camp. Stephany graduated from the Refuge Ranch and The Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach. She continued with a two year Discipleship Program and has worked with the Outreach Program called “Shine Girls” at Care Net Pregnancy Center. She has her AS degree in Human Services and serves as a Mentor at South Georgia House of Hope and is the Administrative Director at Evans Memorial Camp. Rick and Stephany have four children, Gloryana Jubilee Rose Wagner, Richard William Titus Wagner, Ziel Gideon Sloan Wagner, and enjoy visits with Rick's older twin boys Jacob and Tyler. Together they live out of a passionate and sustaining desire to give back what they have been given.
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Meet the families on a Mission:
Our Staff
Craig Tanner - Community Outreach Director
Craig has been with us for 8 years. He was married to his beloved Stephanie Tanner in October 2019. She is the Manager of Restored Treasures and Assistant Director at House of Hope. Craig works with the community to secure jobs and spread the love of Jesus!
"Our relationship is completely made in Heaven and that’s the best way to describe it. We both come from a past of addiction and living a life of sin. We both were taught how to have a genuine relationship with God throughout our program. After we graduated Servant Leadership Training from House of Hope and Evans Memorial Camp, we were able to pursue a courtship with each other. We wanted to stay completely pure since we were now a new creation in Gods eyes so the first day that we kissed was on our wedding day. We have been reconciled to our children and now have a new baby girl, Evangeline, and we are passionate about pouring into others and showing them Gods goodness and faithfulness through our testimony!!"
Craig has been with us for 8 years. He was married to his beloved Stephanie Tanner in October 2019. She is the Manager of Restored Treasures and Assistant Director at House of Hope. Craig works with the community to secure jobs and spread the love of Jesus!
"Our relationship is completely made in Heaven and that’s the best way to describe it. We both come from a past of addiction and living a life of sin. We both were taught how to have a genuine relationship with God throughout our program. After we graduated Servant Leadership Training from House of Hope and Evans Memorial Camp, we were able to pursue a courtship with each other. We wanted to stay completely pure since we were now a new creation in Gods eyes so the first day that we kissed was on our wedding day. We have been reconciled to our children and now have a new baby girl, Evangeline, and we are passionate about pouring into others and showing them Gods goodness and faithfulness through our testimony!!"
Andrew and Laura Schneider - Staff Leader and Administrative Assistant
"My name is Andrew Schneider and this is my beloved wife Laura with whom I am well pleased. I have been in staff training for 10 months with the Lord‘s help and my wife has been assisting Stephany Wagner since 2020. We have recently reconciled after years of separation by the grace of God. With God’s help I am able to help run the construction crew, teach inner healing classes and lead the worship team. My wife has recently come alongside me in the worship team, which is a huge blessing and promise the Lord has kept to us. I have the honor of being reconciled with my family, living on camp, and participating in marriage classes. We have two little girls who never ceased praying for their family to be restored, and today they get to see their prayers become reality. We are so blessed to be a part of this ministry and under the Wagners."
"My name is Andrew Schneider and this is my beloved wife Laura with whom I am well pleased. I have been in staff training for 10 months with the Lord‘s help and my wife has been assisting Stephany Wagner since 2020. We have recently reconciled after years of separation by the grace of God. With God’s help I am able to help run the construction crew, teach inner healing classes and lead the worship team. My wife has recently come alongside me in the worship team, which is a huge blessing and promise the Lord has kept to us. I have the honor of being reconciled with my family, living on camp, and participating in marriage classes. We have two little girls who never ceased praying for their family to be restored, and today they get to see their prayers become reality. We are so blessed to be a part of this ministry and under the Wagners."
Kenny DeBusk: Regeneration Teacher and Property Manager
"My Name is Kenneth Marshall DeBusk, I am 48 years old. I have been at Evans Memorial Camp since September 14, 2018. This is where God's taught me to get myself and my wants out of the way so I could open up to do the will of God. He's breaking chains, swinging wide those cell doors and prison bars that the world boxes in and labels with: we've done it to ourselves under the influence of negative thinking. For many years, I was lost and undone, He brought me to myself, and is ever setting me free. I came to Evans September 14, 2018 and graduated August 18, 2019. I stayed on another year, and another, and another, not because I wanted to, but because it was the right thing to do. It has been a difficult road, and not a path of comfortability, full of obstacles, in myself mostly, to be overcome. The only choices are to work it out, or decide that life is too hard, throw in the towel and give up. Giving in is not an option, so I seek to surrender to Him and His way, rather than my own desires and deliberate bad choices. He lifted me up and set me among the living as best he knows how. My life was a mess before, taking action has built responsibility, revealed purpose in the service of others. Don't lose hope, faith and patience will set you free."
"My Name is Kenneth Marshall DeBusk, I am 48 years old. I have been at Evans Memorial Camp since September 14, 2018. This is where God's taught me to get myself and my wants out of the way so I could open up to do the will of God. He's breaking chains, swinging wide those cell doors and prison bars that the world boxes in and labels with: we've done it to ourselves under the influence of negative thinking. For many years, I was lost and undone, He brought me to myself, and is ever setting me free. I came to Evans September 14, 2018 and graduated August 18, 2019. I stayed on another year, and another, and another, not because I wanted to, but because it was the right thing to do. It has been a difficult road, and not a path of comfortability, full of obstacles, in myself mostly, to be overcome. The only choices are to work it out, or decide that life is too hard, throw in the towel and give up. Giving in is not an option, so I seek to surrender to Him and His way, rather than my own desires and deliberate bad choices. He lifted me up and set me among the living as best he knows how. My life was a mess before, taking action has built responsibility, revealed purpose in the service of others. Don't lose hope, faith and patience will set you free."
William Lepido: Restored Treasure Manager
"I came to Evans’s memorial camp November 14, 2018. My beautiful sister Doreen, who was a graduate of the House of Hope, paved the way for me to get to Evans Memorial camp. I did not complete the 10-month program, I still had the world and my addiction pulling me so strongly that I left after nine months. when I left Evans Memorial camp, I went immediately back into my addiction, overdosed multiple times, and my addiction was worse than ever before. However, the good Lord rescued me and saved me again and brought me back six months later. I’ve been here ever cents. In the past going on 4 years now, God restored my entire family back to me, my health, a driver's license after 12 years, provided away for me to have major dental work, and have a beautiful new tooth, I am a father to my daughters today. He reconciled me back to my oldest daughter Christina after many years. Me and my older brother did not talk for six years, and we are now best friends. Also, he has been saved and is now a believer in Jesus Christ. I am a very grateful staff member at Evans Memorial camp now. I absolutely love what I do. My job is to help other men have a relationship with Jesus Christ and be reconciled back to their family. To be set free and made new."
"I came to Evans’s memorial camp November 14, 2018. My beautiful sister Doreen, who was a graduate of the House of Hope, paved the way for me to get to Evans Memorial camp. I did not complete the 10-month program, I still had the world and my addiction pulling me so strongly that I left after nine months. when I left Evans Memorial camp, I went immediately back into my addiction, overdosed multiple times, and my addiction was worse than ever before. However, the good Lord rescued me and saved me again and brought me back six months later. I’ve been here ever cents. In the past going on 4 years now, God restored my entire family back to me, my health, a driver's license after 12 years, provided away for me to have major dental work, and have a beautiful new tooth, I am a father to my daughters today. He reconciled me back to my oldest daughter Christina after many years. Me and my older brother did not talk for six years, and we are now best friends. Also, he has been saved and is now a believer in Jesus Christ. I am a very grateful staff member at Evans Memorial camp now. I absolutely love what I do. My job is to help other men have a relationship with Jesus Christ and be reconciled back to their family. To be set free and made new."
Robert Wagner & Elyssa Wagner - Marriage Class Teachers
"For those of you who do not know me my name is Robert Wagner and this is my lovely wife Elyssa. We have been married for 5 years and together we have 5 beautiful children. Lillyana is our brave heart, Dahlia is our fashionista, Robert is our explorer, Ryder is our precious peace maker, and Baby Reign! I came from a 23-year addiction that led me homeless, broke, and desperate for help. I decided to come to Evans Memorial Camp in 2017 and my life RADICALLY changed for the good. As I began to grow in my walk, I started seeking God’s plan for my life. The Lord told me in my journal that I was going to marry my beautiful wife Elyssa if I surrendered and gave my life to Him. 4 years later God healed me of Hepatitis C, I got married, adopted my 2 daughters and my wife gave birth to our 2 sons and we have one more on the way! Elyssa and I have devoted this year to stay and serve this ministry and fulfill our calling to restore broken-hearted families back to God."
"For those of you who do not know me my name is Robert Wagner and this is my lovely wife Elyssa. We have been married for 5 years and together we have 5 beautiful children. Lillyana is our brave heart, Dahlia is our fashionista, Robert is our explorer, Ryder is our precious peace maker, and Baby Reign! I came from a 23-year addiction that led me homeless, broke, and desperate for help. I decided to come to Evans Memorial Camp in 2017 and my life RADICALLY changed for the good. As I began to grow in my walk, I started seeking God’s plan for my life. The Lord told me in my journal that I was going to marry my beautiful wife Elyssa if I surrendered and gave my life to Him. 4 years later God healed me of Hepatitis C, I got married, adopted my 2 daughters and my wife gave birth to our 2 sons and we have one more on the way! Elyssa and I have devoted this year to stay and serve this ministry and fulfill our calling to restore broken-hearted families back to God."
Meet the Dream Team:
Servant Leadership Training
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The Servant Leadership Training program provides the experiences needed to be an effective leader by
following Jesus Christ. It is a 1 year commitment. Both word and example are principles of servanthood. This is the heart and core of living out His life by His spirit within us. To bring forth and raise up men who have been called by God. Purpose: The main purpose of Servant Leadership Training program is to help those who have a call on their lives to test, train, and develop the skills, gifts, talents and most of all character. In time, the process with reveal a need either for ongoing training here on staff or a vision for ministry elsewhere in the Body of Christ. Commitment, Class Room Participation, Hands-On Ministry Assignments, and Family Recovery (if married) 
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