Reverend Paul Echtenkamp
Executive Director Youth Challenge of CT, Inc. 

The Rev. Paul Echtenkamp has been affiliated with Youth Challenge of Connecticut, Inc. since 1978. He currently serves as Executive Director of Youth Challenge of CT.
 
Rev. Echtenkamp’s academic and ministerial training include degrees from Amherst College and Evangelical Theological Seminary and an Honorary Doctorate from Biblical Life College and Seminary. He is an ordained minister with Youth Challenge International. 

Rev. Echtenkamp is the President of the Corinthian School of Urban Ministry in Hartford, providing training in Biblical Studies and applied Ministry. He is a chaplain with the Hartford Police Department. He is a founding member at Glory Chapel International Cathedral in Hartford, where he serves as Senior Elder under the leadership of Guillermina González, Senior Pastor.

Rev. Echtenkamp resides in Hartford with his wife, Vilma, and their three children, David, Eliana, and Joanna.

Reverend Marva Downes
Director of Mission for Women

The Rev. Marva Downes has been affiliated with Youth Challenge of Connecticut since 1983, and took on the role of Director at the Youth Challenge Mission for Women in 1987.

Rev. Downes holds degrees from the University of Hartford, Greater Hartford Community College (now Capitol Community College), and Biblical Life College and Seminary in Springfield, Missouri.  In 1998, Reverend Downes was ordained as a minister with credentials from Youth Challenge International.

The Rev. Marva Downes is an Elder at Glory Chapel International Cathedral in Hartford, serving under the leadership of Guillermina González, Senior Pastor.  She is also a member of the Youth Challenge Alumni Association Advisory Board and the Coordinator of the Youth Challenge Volunteer Bible Study at York Correctional Institute in Niantic, CT, under the supervision of Chaplain Laurie Etter. Rev. Downes was honored in March 2011, by the State of Connecticut, the City of  Hartford and the Treasurer's Office for her services to the Hartford Community.  She is presently serving as a Commissioner with the Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women.

Rev. Downes has lived in the state of Connecticut since 1968 and resides in Hartford, CT.  She has a sister in Staten Island, NY and a niece in Windsor, CT.

Reverend Tyrone Glaspie
Director of Training Center

The Rev. Tyrone Glaspie has been affiliated with Youth Challenge of Connecticut, Inc. since 1992, and currently serves as the Director of the Bible Training Center in Moosup, CT. 

Rev.  Glaspie’s  academic and ministerial training include a bachelors degree in Biblical Studies from Biblical Life College and Seminary. He is an ordained minister with Youth Challenge International. 

The Reverend Tyrone E. Glaspie is the pastor of Glory Chapel Family Outreach. In 2001, he received the Alumni of the Year Award from the Youth Challenge Alumni Association. He also serves as Vice President of the New England Kingdom Knights. Reverend Glaspie serves as a Police Chaplain for the Plainfield Police Department and sits on the board as Secretary Treasurer of the Plainfield Police Chaplain Corps.  He is an Elder at Glory Chapel International Cathedral in Hartford, under the leadership of Guillermina González, Senior Pastor.

Rev. Glaspie resides in Central Village, CT with his wife, the Rev. Jennifer Glaspie and their two daughters, Jasmine Joy and Tyana Arlene. 

Reverend Saundra Melendez
Director of Men's Residential Center

The Reverend Melendez holds credentials with and is licensed by Youth Challenge  International, Inc. and is currently the Director of the Men’s facility of Youth Challenge of Connecticut, Inc., and a Deaconess at Glory Chapel International Cathedral, where the Reverend Guillermina Gonzalez is the senior Pastor. The Reverend Melendez became a covenant member of Glory Chapel International Cathedral in 1990 and went into full time ministry at Youth Challenge of Connecticut, Inc. in 1994.

The Reverend Melendez completed her undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Marian College, Fond du Lac, WI in 1970. The Reverend received her Bachelor of Biblical Studies from Evangelical Theological Seminary, Dixon, MO through Corinthian School of Urban Ministry, Hartford, CT in 1993 and she received her Masters of Ministry from Biblical Life College and Seminary, Dixon, MO through Corinthian School of Urban Ministry, Hartford, CT in 1998.

The Reverend entered full time ministry after having had a distinguished 20 year career with the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency. She left government service in 1994 as a Deputy Commander when she felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to become more than a covenant member of Glory Chapel International Cathedral but to also serve as a staff member at the affiliated ministry, Youth Challenge Mission for Women.  After eight and a half successful years as staff and supervisor, she became a staff member at the Youth Challenge of CT Men’s Induction Center.

As Deaconess at GCIC she heads the Evangelism literature distribution for GCIC Summer Outreach Street Meetings, heads the GCIC Wellness and Hospital Ministry Committee, is an active member of the men’s and women’s Prison Ministry, Altar and Usher Ministries. She has traveled on Mission trips to Israel, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Kenya, Africa and Venezuela.

Youth Challenge of CT, Inc.                 15-17 May Street; Hartford, CT 06105                 Phone: 860-728-5199                 Fax: 860-524-0418