Wilfred Dawes: Vice President of Cultural Development

An academic of renown, Mr. Dawes taught college-level Social Studies at Wesleyan University. He has published more than fifty family-related articles such as "God's View on the Family Feud" in Christianity Today, "Marriage for a New Millennium," in Today's Christian, and "Family Means Forever," for The Christian Century. At Citizens of Virtue, he oversaw the Family Studies Think Tank and produced our "Family First and Forever" series of educational brochures. He led the organization's efforts to provide positive messaging in entertainment.

Alejandra Gonzales: Vice President of Children's Welfare

Although American, Ms. Gonzales grew up in El Salvador, the child of missionary parents. After she earned her degree in Social Justice, she served for four years with the Christian Children's Fund (CCF), providing spiritual guidance to children in Godless locations. Dr. Gonzales has joined the Citizens of Virtue to bring God's Word to American children who have been misled or who have lost their way. She was previously the administrator of Camp Francis, the COV's youth hostel.

Justin Janes, PhD: Vice President of Scientific Development

In his role as the Vice President of Scientific Development for the Citizens of Virtue, Dr. Janes directed the research and development teams. He attended Texas A&M as an undergraduate, and then moved on to MIT, where he was recognized with the Chemistry Research Award for excellence in scholastic achievement. Since graduating, he has been nominated for the Welch Award and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Award for Chemistry in Service to Society.

Eli Richter: Vice President of Community Donations

Mr. Richter has a long history of community service, including volunteerism with his church and organizations such as the American Family Association, the Military Community Youth Ministries, Young Life, and the Senior Care Fund. He served the Citizens of Virtue by fostering partnerships with non-profit organizations to enhance our reach into diverse neighborhoods, age groups, races and cultures in America.

Savannah Merks: Vice President of Public Relations

As an active member of the Citizens of Virtue board and Pastor Grace's right hand, Savannah Merks managed the public relations team and served as the secondary spokesperson for Citizens of Virtue. She is a graduate of Vassar University, a Peace Corps volunteer, and the former head of outreach for the New Bethlehem Welcome Center.

She has made television appearances on shows such as Living the Life, a Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) talk show for women, and The Steven and Kathy Show. She appeared regularly on the Citizens of Virtue's own radio broadcasts as well as doing guest spots on Christian talk radio stations such as KKLA-FM in Los Angeles. She has co-written a book with Pastor Grace (The Rape of Eve) that will be on shelves in the coming months.

Leon Lutz: Vice President of International Outreach

Mr. Lutz came to Citizens of Virtue with a Masters in Advanced International Studies from John Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. He brought extensive knowledge of Christianity in other cultures to the table. He oversaw the Citizens of Virtue's attempt to reach out to our distant brethren, having spent the last six years visiting more than 50 nations and bringing the Word to all in need. Mr. Lutz speaks seven languages. He and his wife, Ruth, have adopted four children from Russia.

Pastor Bryson Grace

Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Mount Sinai. He said to me, "Bring the people together so I can tell them what I have to say. Then they will respect me as long as they live in the land, and they will teach these things to their children."
—Deuteronomy 4:10

Pastor Bryson Grace founded the organization, Citizens of Virtue, at the start of the new millennium. As its chairman, he guided it to an ever-broadening audience of more than 50 million people all around the world. His pamphlets have been translated into 25 different languages and distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Of humble beginnings, Pastor Grace started his ministry at the kitchen table. His mother tells the story of how little Bryson insisted that the family pray together, and he didn't stop there. During high school, he led prayer every Sunday in front of more than 500 worshipers at the Grace Willows Christian Church in Fairfield, Connecticut, the town where he grew up.

Pastor Grace attended the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University and graduated with honors, but he still didn't feel ready to lead a flock. So, he sold all his worldly goods, and he bought a ticket to the Holy Land. The young minister-to-be wanted to see first-hand where God had appeared, and wanted to stand in the spot where Jesus had stood. For three years, he worshipped at the great holy sites. During that time, he was blessed with many visions and communions with God.

When Pastor Grace returned to his homeland, he preached from a concrete slab in an old run-down church. Over time, with the help of God and his congregation, he built that church into a glorious tribute to our Father. His reputation spread, and Pastor Grace was called to take his ministry to even more people.

It's the twenty-first century, and Pastor Grace utilized God's gifts to spread His Word. He employed technology—computers and the Internet—to share God's love with the vast, seeking population of the entire world. He would like to thank you for visiting the Citizens of Virtue website and offers his blessing.