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Suzanne Marcellus

CEO and Founder/Biblical Counselor

Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Miramar, FL. Rev. Suzanne P. Marcellus graduated from Nova High School, and pursued a Christian education at Trinity International University, earning her a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Psychology. She founded House of Protection, Inc. (HOP) because of a vision she received in February of 2002. She has worked with teenagers and families for over twenty years, in the capacity of a Youth Leader and Biblical Counselor. Suzanne’s strengths are her ability to lead, teach the Word of God and counsel. She oversees the operations of HOP and participates in the counseling of the families and discipleship of the teenagers. She is the author of Developing the Fruit of the Spirit, A Journey Through the Heart of Christ and Developing The Fruit of Patience Longsuffering, 30 Day Devotional. Suzanne is available to speak at churches, seminars, and conferences internationally. She conveys the goals, mission statement and general policies of the ministry, serves as the Chief Executive Officer, implements the policies as determined by the Board of Directors. Networks and seeks out funding sources. Other specific responsibilities include setting policy, being a spiritual leader, and overseeing the staff, finances, and Public Relations. Through personal experiences, such as becoming pregnant at 16, the Lord has given Suzanne the ability to relate and understand the brokenness seen in our young people today. Her training in Biblical Studies and Psychology, extensive service as a Youth Pastor, mother of four, and wife; and most importantly her relationship with our Creator have prepared her for HOP.

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Tiana Hernandez

Administrative Assistant

Tiana Hernandez was born In Miami Beach, Florida. Currently, splits her time between the Colombian coast and South Florida. Her background is Operations Management, ESOL teacher, credit analyst, writer and youth mentor. Spanish to English interpreter for client testimony and translation of court documents. Provides services to victim outreach centers for disadvantage women and children. Has a daughter who is active with youth programs and a son who passed away at 12 years old, who inspired others to be grateful and live each day to the fullest. I find joy inspiring and mentoring others to reach their fullest potential.

 
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Naides Brum

Director of Portuguese Connection/ Biblical Counselor

Naides Brum was born in Brazil in December of 1960. Even though she was born in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, she did not have an easy start life. Her parents got divorced when she was 9 years old and her family was deeply involved in the occult in things like Umbanda and Candomble. She lived bound by these rituals which caused a lot of insecurity and fear in her life. She was in deep depression and had a very negative outlook for the future. Around 16 years old her life turned around when she had the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ. She received the promise that God would write a new story for her. The transformation she experienced was visible; she came out of depression, with a new perspective and vision for a bright future. She began to dream, wanted to live a purposeful life and to grow in her career to help others. She found her calling in teaching because this would enable her to help many while improving her community.

In 1982 she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Language from University Federal Rio de Janiero. She then moved to Sao Paulo to work as a Portuguese Language teacher in grades Kindergarten through High School. Naides also worked as the Principal of a private Pre-K school for 9 years. While in Sao Paulo she received a graduate degree specializing in the area of Teaching Methodology for Education. She also worked as an Assistant for the Doctoral Program of Education for Pontifice University Catholic, a very prestigious and well-known private university in Brazil.

In March of 1996 she moved to the USA with her husband and her baby daughter. That same year, she gave birth to the first American boy in her family. While in American soil, she continued to teach Portuguese. She invested her focus on children and American adults who desire to speak and read in Portuguese. She worked for Cultural Center for Language Studies, a language school in Pompano Beach and also for a Foundation called ‘Vamos Falar Portugues’ (Let’s Speak Portuguese).

Her passion for Counseling began in 1998 when she went to visit More Than Conquerors Ministries in Coral Springs, FL. She received Pastoral Counseling which helped her to overcome the pain from her past experiences and to heal her wounds in the area of rejection, neglect and abuse. She was able to experience the true love of Our Living God through Jesus Christ. This experience empowered her to forgive and to build her new found life in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ever since she experienced this emotional healing, she decided to reach out and help women from all walks of life who were also wounded, to recover. She became a member of the church, volunteering in various ministries, and would host Bible studies in her home that gave her the opportunity to minister about salvation, forgiveness and deliverance, among other things. In 2005 after years of teaching in the Church Bible School, she was hired by More Than Conquerors to be the Director of the Bible School. In 2013, Pastors Aldo & Viviane Souza invited her to work side by side with them on Management and Leadership of the Church.

In 2014, Naides and a couple of friends opened a Prayer Connection Group. Through this Group: more than 100 people receive prayer every morning and night, monthly meetings are held to fellowship and conduct evangelistic outreaches to bring people to Jesus Christ and once a month, the group gathers resources to help families in need of food, money for utilities, etc.

The Lord connected Naides with House of Protection, Inc. (HOP) in 2009. Since that time, she saw the effectiveness of the Counseling Program, Community Education Workshops and Community Outreach Programs. She became a volunteer and intercessor, which has now transitioned to her leadership role as Lay Counselor, providing lay counselling in Portuguese, to all ages. Her education background, ministry experience and continued education through the American Association of Christian Counselors, such as “Treating Sexual Addictions” has equipped her for this position.

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Karine Chelotti

Board Certified Biblical Counselor

My name is Karine Chelotti. I was born and raised in Goiânia, capital of Goiás – Brazil. At 23 years of age I had a deep experience with Jesus and became a Christian.

Since my conversion in 2000, I have been intensely involved in both ministries – women and children –  through evangelism and discipleship of small groups. Over the years, I became a group supervisor, a worker at the church and in 2013 I was ordained to the pastoral ministry.

In 2001 I graduated in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás. I dedicated myself for a short time to a law firm.

At age 24, I married Marcos Chelotti, who soon became a pastor. I studied the seminar at the Vine  International Institute during the years 2003-2005. Pastoral ministry has been our own life and has led us to witness beautiful testimonies of salvation, healing and transformation in the lives of children, youth and adults.

The passion for the children’s ministry of the church that I attended, which had more than 1,000 children, at that time, completely changed my route. In 2006 I started the College of Educacion and began to compose the staff of educators of the Escola Cristã Videira in Goiânia. During that time, I was able to teach for children of different ages  – what a privilege! My two children, Rafael and Gustavo were born during the period when I was studying Educacion and working at the school.

Some years later we were sent by our church to the state of São Paulo, Brazil, to start a church. We stayed there for four years (2009-2013) and, by God’s grace, we planted a beautiful church with a precious flock.

In December 2013, we were sent again, to Orlando in Florida – USA, where we pastored a brazilian church for three years. In 2017, my husband and I moved to South Florida to compose the pastoral staff of the Vine Ministry, where he takes care of the Ministry School.

Throughout our ministry, I realize how pastoral counseling can be a channel for expressing the love of Christ for people, as well as getting them to understand the full work of the cross in their lives.

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Paulette Edwards

Biblical Counselor

I am Paulette Edwards and I have over 12 years of experience as a counselor and have assisted a wide variety of adults, couples, children and families in reaching their goals. My experience includes working with depression, anxiety, relational problems, parental, and grief/loss. My journey has been both personally and professionally rewarding.

My counseling style is warm and interactive, because I want to provide the best level of care to my clients while also helping my clients to be the best person you can be. This compassionate approach provides a safe place in which clients can find their inner strength to grow and adapt to the many changes in life.  My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, solution focus, narrative, natural system, psychodynamic counseling and The Word of God, of course I will tailor the approach specific to your needs.

I realize in life we get overwhelmed by situations that are unexpected and out of our control. My job is to teach you through the word of God, ways to balance these unexpected events with the appropriate tools. I applaud you for taking the next step towards change that will lead to a happier and fulfilling life. I look forward to working with you.

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