KAREN ALEXANDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Karen founded Come before Winter and directs the ministry, also serving on its board of directors. She and her husband, Barry, worship with the Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, Texas, where he served as an elder for many years and she works with the missions leadership team and in adult education. Karen completed her master’s in biblical studies in 1995. Barry and Karen have three sons: Shane, married to Kara; Brent, married to Jo; and Zach, married to Annalyn. They have seven grandchildren.

Sara grew up a “missionary kid” in Manila, Philippines. She attended Texas A&M University where she traveled on short-term mission trips with Aggies for Christ and World Wide Youth Camps. After graduation, Sara joined a missions team to Morelia, Mexico, serving six years as a missionary and church planter. Sara currently worships with Storyline Community Church in Dallas, Texas, a small church plant that continues to feed her passion for missions and community. Sara has worked for Come before Winter as the women’s program manager since 2015, overseeing the day to day operations of the ministry, as well as directing renewals and serving on the ministry’s leadership team. Traveling with CbW allows her to spend time with and minister to those who are near and dear to her heart: women pursuing God’s call to the lost around the world.

Having spent 11 years as pulpit minister for churches in Texas and Kentucky, Shane Alexander became Come before Winter’s men’s program manager in the fall of 2016. Directing the ministry’s first renewal for men in Thailand, Shane and his team worked to re-envision and refocus Come before Winter’s mission and program to create what he calls a “dynamic equivalent” for men. Shane schedules and directs renewals, recruits teams and oversees curriculum development. Shane holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife Kara live in Waco, Texas; they have three children, Elizabeth, Peyton and Levi. In addition to his work with CbW, Shane serves as a chaplain for Providence Hospice in Mexia and Whitney, Texas.