Hopeland Refuge

       Tracy and Jeannie Perez founded I Am Sent Ministries in 2012 while they were still co- leaders of a faith based residential substance abuse ministry. Tracy is an ordained minister and has a deep desire for seeing people, matured into the fullness of the stature of Christ. Tracy has been in ministry leadership since 2002 and he is now Senior Leader of Old Way Fellowship with his son Connor who is delighted to serve as Associate Pastor. Jeannie is also a gifted teacher and worship leader. They have been leading worship together for almost 2 decades.

       From 2020 through 2022 the Lord led them to serve as live in spiritual parents with direct care responsibilities in a group home for six young adults and teenagers diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism. During that time, they also helped develop a day program at Peace Of Heart Community in Ponte Vedra Florida.

       Their son Connor who was diagnosed with severe, self-injurious, nonverbal autism at three years old has seen dramatic healing from his diagnosis and is the inspiration for Hopeland, which he named. Connor was silent for 17 years when they found a method of communicating on an iPad called Facilitated Communication. 

       Connor says Hopeland is his destiny and he carries a burden to see others that have been marginalized and misunderstood like him be able to express themselves and achieve healing.

       As a part of Connor‘s healing journey, Jeannie studied and graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, received her Master of Science degree from Liberty University in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Wellness and Nutrition, and is one of 30 people in the United States certified as a GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) coach. The GAPS diet protocols were founded by Natasha Campbell McBride and has seen thousands and thousands of people achieve great healing from autism and many gut and mental health disorders.

       Tracy, Jeannie and Connor bring great experience and understanding to this mission of the Body of Christ, by nurturing body mind and spirit. They are dedicated to bringing families hope that there is healing and the life more abundant that we are promised.