MEET THE TEAM

Joel Warneking | Executive Director

First and foremost I am a follower of Christ, Secondly, I am a husband to my beautiful wife Rachel, and father to my amazing daughters Amia, Mercy, and Noralee. 

I started my recovery journey in 2014 and have been radically changed by the goodness and love of God. I have dedicated my life to the ministry of reconciling men and women back into the right relationship with God and one another. So many people live life never knowing what it feels like to be known and loved in the midst of their pain and shame. So many have felt lost, stuck, and hopeless in their endeavors to be freed from shame and addiction. My deepest longing is to invite individuals to step into a community, a community that will walk with them in this journey of discovering who they actually are, behind the veil of shame, behind the layers of isolation, to help them for perhaps the first time find the freedom that is theirs in Christ. I am honored and blessed to be able to serve our Communities in whatever capacity is needed! 

Rachel Warneking | Women’s director

I am a wife to Joel and mother to three precious daughters. After my husband’s disclosure early in our marriage we found ourselves in need of a recovery community and shortly after moving to Portland, Oregon found 423 Communities. It was through 423 where we moved out of isolation and began to heal. In 2016 I started volunteering and eventually became a member of the Board of Directors in 2019. In 2023 I moved into a part-time role as the 423 Sisters Director. 

For me, there's nothing quite like seeing individuals find their identity in Christ and experience true wholeness through Gospel-Centered restoration. It's why I'm so dedicated to the work we do here at 423 Communities. I believe that everyone deserves a place where they can belong, be heard, and be loved, regardless of what their story holds.

As the Director of 423 Sisters, I'm committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for women to process the effects of betrayal trauma. It's a privilege to be a part of this program and to witness the transformation that takes place when women come together ready to engage parts of our stories that some have never been invited into. I'm honored to be a part of this team, and I hope that anyone walking the road of betrayal alone wouldn’t have to anymore through our program and resources.

Ben williams | 423 Next Coordinator

"Howdy! I’m a beloved son of God and husband to my amazing wife, Macy. Over the past three years, I’ve been blessed to work in recovery ministry with youth, college students, and adults, and I currently serve as the 423 NEXT coordinator. I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of pornography and sexual brokenness on people’s lives and am committed to providing hope, healing, and restoration to those affected by sexual brokenness. 

I’ve personally seen how deeply impactful it can be to create a safe, vulnerable community, where students can find sexual wholeness, emotional health, and spiritual vitality through the power of Jesus Christ. It’s an honor to walk alongside students on their recovery journeys, remembering my own struggles with shame, isolation, and desperation caused by addiction to pornography, unhealthy sexual relationships, and people’s approval. It wasn’t until I experienced the transformative power of a Christ-centered community in college that I began to walk in the light, free from shame. 

My hope and prayer for students is for them to not only overcome their addictive behaviors, but that they also gain the insights, practices, and emotional awareness to become the people God has created them to be. It is through the love of God and the presence of Jesus Christ, within a tight-knit community, that young people can truly flourish into their truest, most God-glorifying, and joy-filled selves."

APRIL GADDIS | ASSISTANT TO THE EXEC DIRECTOR

I have been working with 423 communities since the Fall of 2018. I love the work that we do here at 423 Communities. Daily, you can see the difference this organization is making in people’s lives.

I live in Oklahoma City with my husband Zachary, son Jayson and our dog Mariah. I have worked as a virtual assistant since 2016 and I love it. Getting to help others accomplish their goals and make their lives easier is truly a passion of mine. In our spare time, my husband and I love to go hiking and spend time outdoors. We also have a husband and wife band called From A to Z that we write music for and gig regularly.