Rev. Bernadette Charlene Saunders was called to the ministry in January 2000 and received her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at New York Theological Seminary in May 2002. She was ordained an Elder in January 2003 at Refuge Apostolic Church of Christ in Freeport, New York where she has been a member for over 35 years.

​

Rev. Saunders’ focus is in Christian education and women’s ministries and she is the founder of Gracefully Broken & Blessed, a gospel-centered ministry that offers hope and healing through the Word of God. She is also a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, works at a prominent investment banking company for over 23 years, and owns her own wedding and event planning business 18 years and counting.

 

When she is not working on a project, Bernadette enjoys going out to eat and entertainment with family and friends and interior design.
 

Candice Alyse Brown-Saunders, LMSW is a strong advocate for underprivileged youth and committed to empowering young people to be powerful agents of change for themselves, their families and communities.
After graduating from Pace University with her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in anthropology and sociology. Candice went on to receive her Masters in social work at Stony Brook University and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

 

Over the course of the last decade, Candice has worked with children ranging in age from toddler to young adult, first as a preschool assistant teacher, then as the dean/behavioral specialist at a residential and day junior/senior high school for adolescent girls who struggle with (moderate to severe) social, emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. Most recently, she was the director of family court and mentoring services for court-involved youth at an agency that provides effective community-based alternatives to
jail and prison to reduce incarceration and recidivism.

 

Currently, Ms. Brown-Saunders is the program director of a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic mentoring/counseling to middle school-aged children through social work interns.  In her spare time, she enjoys traveling,
spending quality time with family and friends, giving back to her community
through service projects, and working as a licensed freelance make up artist.