Reverend John Samaan, President and CEO
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
John G. Samaan, MBA, M Div., CFRE, has been involved with various aspects of not-for-profit organizations, executive leadership development, and fundraising for over 25 years. Prior to serving as Counsel with The Frank Group, Inc., he served in several executive leadership positions in social service organizations, international organizations, Christian outreach organizations, and Rescue Missions. John served in the heart of Skid Row, Los Angeles, for several years. For the last 16 years, he has served as President of the Boston Rescue Mission.
John is also the founder of Stewardship Consulting Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Divinity degree, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
John serves on the executive board of the Massachusetts Shelter and Housing Alliance, a statewide alliance of 80 organizations serving people who are homeless. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Vision New England.
EDUCATION
Certificate in Performance Measurements and Management for Social Agencies, Harvard Business School
Master of Divinity, International Theological Seminary
Masters in Business Administration, University of Baltimore
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, University of Alexandria
CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
John G. Samaan was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. He began serving among the poor as a teenager by visiting families in the slums of Alexandria. For the past 40 years he has been involved in organizations that serve the poor, both in the United States and abroad.
For his leadership, John has earned recognition from President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, recognition from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, the Boston City Council, the Massachusetts State Senate, as well as the House of Representatives. John received the Boston Celtics Hero Award during their World Championship 2007-2008 season.
John has been commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. The award is presented by the Governor of the state of Kentucky to people who make exceptional efforts to enrich the world.
John has been listed in Marquis Who's Who in the East and Marquis Who's Who in America and holds membership in other Honor Societies in Business and management.
PUBLICATIONS
He has authored the book Parables to Live By, with 60,000 copies in print, and contributed several articles to management, faith-based, and Missions periodicals.
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Mike Way, Executive Vice President of Programs
Mike Way has been the Executive Vice President of Programs of the Boston Rescue Mission for the past 10 years. He currently oversees 7 case management programs and a staff of 8 case managers. The case management programs can serve up to 70 individuals at any given time.
Mike holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies with a concentration in Pastoral Counseling. He is also a licensed Mental Health Counselor. He has worked in the human service field for over 30 years. He has held various positions in the fields of addictions, mental health, and pastoral counseling.
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Lynn Samaan, Director of Spiritual Formation
Among the many priceless gifts a mother gives her young are personal attention and nurturing love. At the Boston Rescue Mission, program residents receive these gifts from our Director of Spiritual Formation and Outreach, the Rev. Lynn Samaan. She is affectionately known as the "Spiritual Mom."
Lynn recognized a need at the Mission for a richer spiritual atmosphere within a safe and supportive environment for recovery and growth. Unlike many Missions, participation in spiritual activities is voluntary but Lynn discovered most of the men and women she talked to were eager to connect with God and really get the spiritual part of the AA/NA program. Before long, the Mission was teeming with Bible studies, church services, prayer groups, spiritual mentoring, baptisms, and spiritual retreats under her guidance.
Lynn spends many hours working closely with program residents reminding those suffering from addiction or homelessness that God loves all of us all unconditionally, no matter what we have done. With her warm presence and healing spirit, Lynn gently guides many souls through deep and profound personal transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus' gift of unconditional love.
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Eric Grenfell-Muir, Manager of Information
Eric attended the University of Michigan and lived on both U.S. coasts prior to volunteering at and eventually joining the Mission in 2004.
He brings a B.A. in Psychology and Communications, several IT certifications, and 11 years of IT experience to the Mission, where he manages Mission network and phone systems, databases, web site and marketing projects, development, and community relations. Eric enjoys the challenge of raising awareness about the Mission and the thousands of women and men in greater Boston who are hungry and at risk of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration. He loves Boston and the Red Sox, and lives north of the city with his lovely wife and new daughter.
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Mac Caldwell, Case Manager
Mac moved to Boston from South Carolina, after graduating with a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Presbyterian College. Mac lived at the Boston Rescue Mission for a year as a Community Care Fellow, experiencing community life with residents and building relationships.
After completing the fellowship, Mac began working as a Case Manager in the Men's Post Detox Program. Mac is currently pursuing his substance abuse counseling license. Mac enjoys the opportunities he has on a daily basis to witness healing happen for our community members. Mac is an active member of his church in Cambridge, and an avid Red Sox fan.
"Working at the Mission gives us a glimpse into the redemptive work of the gospel on a daily basis. The healing that happens for men and women broken by substance abuse and homelessness is remarkable, and it is a daily reminder of our spiritual condition- that we are all broken and needy apart from Christ." - Mac
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Rex Hutto, Case Manager
After nearly 30 years as a pastor of churches in four states and one Canadian province, at BRM Rex finally realized his original ministry dream of sharing the love of Christ with those bound by drug and alcohol addiction.
As a case manager in our residential substance abuse program, he walks with clients through early recovery as they begin to lay a foundation for a clean and sober life. Each day brings new celebrations as they take baby steps toward recovery and as their hope grows. Rex lives in New Hampshire with his wife Kim and two sons. They also have a grown son and daughter and two grandchildren.
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Sarah Bickerstaff, VISTA member
Sarah serves the Boston Rescue Mission as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. A 2008 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor degree in sociology and international studies, Sarah brings to her work a passion for seeing social change realized by way of individual transformation.
Sarah role as an Operations VISTA member allows her the opportunity to creatively employ new systems as she works to organize and streamline the Mission day-to-day operations. A native Texan,Sarah enjoys bluegrass music, trying new ethnic foods, and exploring Boston!
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Jill McIntosh, Mission Support Coordinator
Currently enrolled at Northeastern University, Jill is working towards a B.S. in Human Services and a minor in International Affairs. She worked in the Mission kitchen as a volunteer for many months and is now proud to be employed as a part-time employee. She provides Accounting, Human Resource, and Administrative support to the Mission. She hopes to continue her work in the nonprofit sector following graduation and is eternally blessed to have had this experience working with the Boston community.