Board of Directors
Don Vanthournout
From a corporate standpoint, Don had a 33 year career at Accenture. While there, he focused on business and technology consulting for large financial services clients for the first half of his career. He then transitioned to the learning and human resources organization, where he served in a series of executive level roles. This included serving as Chief Learning Officer for about 10 years. He is currently co-owner of several commercial properties.
Don has also served in a number of volunteer roles in the local church. This has included spending eight years serving on church boards, 25 years volunteering in student ministries, 10 years leading the curriculum for an adult Sunday School class, and 10 years leading an adult small group. A theme throughout his various roles has been a focus on discipleship. He also served for five years as the local committee chairman with Young Life. He currently volunteers in a local food pantry ministry.
Ryan Estabrook
Ryan Estabrook is a high school math teacher, Assistant Athletic Director and Fellowship of Christian Athletes advisor at Geneva High School. Previously, he was the head boys' soccer coach & head girls' soccer coach at Geneva as well as the head coach for the Wheaton College women's club soccer team. He and his wife, Andrea, are the parents of two children, Adelyn and Landon. They have attended Chapel Street Church since 2006 and have lived in Geneva since 2011.
He has been on the Courage Board since 2022.
Annie Wilson
Annie Wilson is a mom to five kids, ages 6 to 13, and wife to Justin. She loves being involved in ministry, and especially ministry with kids, folks with disabilities, or underprivileged people. Chapelstreet Church is her church home and she loves serving and being served by the people of God there. Annie graduated from Moody Bible Institute and uses that gift of a Bible education in teaching and sharing the good news of the gospel, both at church and at home, as she homeschools her kids.
She finds joy in learning alongside her kids, gardening, finding and reading good books, engaging in long conversations, and traveling with her family. She says that Courage has been an invaluable gift to her family. The staff's intentionality about discipleship is so evident in their relationships with the kids. Each one feels valued and pursued, for the sake of the gospel.
Dave Wasson
​Dave has been a pastor for 40 years in the Pacific Northwest and the Chicago area. He has a Doctorate in Discipleship/Mentoring. Currently he mentors individual men of all ages and teaches various classes at Chapel Street Church. Dave brings wisdom and insight on how we can properly mentor our team.
Ellie Lebron
I founded and run a local non-profit, Radical Love, which works with resettled refugees, senior citizens, and children through local schools and housing complexes. Kids are involved in everything we do, and we strive to reflect the radical love of Jesus through our work. I taught marketing at Purdue University and Seattle University and mathematics at the middle and high school levels; I understand the awesome energy, talent, and passion that students have to share with the world.
Most importantly, I am wife to Jason and mom to 4 kids, who all attend Courage (it's their favorite part of summer!) Our children's courage for Christ and to share their faith in community has grown because of Courage and the high school and college students investing in them by developing genuine relationships.
Carrie Petersen
As a former middle school teacher, I see the deep need for opportunities for children to learn about Christ and have unique ways to interact with like-minded others. As a mom of three boys, I am thrilled about the vision and mission of Courage.
I am looking forward to using my teaching background, my experience as a mom, and my
involvement at my church on the executive council to help make informed decisions and guide the leadership of Courage in ways that will make an impact on the Lord’s kingdom through his children right here in Kane County.
Scott DeJong
I have been involved in local church and para-church ministries for the past 45 years. I served fulltime with A Christian ministry in the National Pards in both Death Valley and Yellowstone and full time with Metro Chicago Youth for Christ as Ministry Coordinator. I have owned and operated several small businesses and consulting services. I have served on the board of Metro Chicago FCA, the franchise Advisory Board for ServiceMaster LawnCare and several local organizations.
I have been involved in discipleship and mentoring young men and adults since my spiritual formation years in high school and college. I am excited about the direction of Courage and the commitment of the leaders to help build God's kingdom by mentoring and discipling the next generation of leaders by investing in our area's kids.
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