Get ready for the May 2025 edition of ATS News! We’re bringing you all the highlights from the exciting 2025 ATS Games, heartwarming moments from our Mother’s Day Brunch Celebration, and the impact of our recent Service Projects. Plus, a visit to the beautiful Beech Bluff Park!
Looking ahead, we’ll have a sneak peek at all the details for our upcoming Founder’s Week and our 22nd Anniversary celebrations!
These stories and much more are coming your way in the latest ATS News!
Samuel earned his bachelor’s degree from Liberty University and grew up in Apex, North Carolina. He is married to his wife, Hannah, and they have a daughter, Ellie. With over a decade of non-profit experience, Samuel is passionate about building relationships and advancing the Gospel through the work of Able to Serve. Samuel joined the Able to Serve team in March 2025.
Core Value: Community-Minded. I love bringing people into ministry, I believe that the Body of Christ functions best in community and when we serve the needs of one another.
Fun Fact: I have a passion for international travel and my happy place is the mountains.
Favorite Scripture: Matthew 16:15-16 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Olivia is a people person who thrives on learning from others, exchanging ideas, and seeking opportunities for personal growth. Being of service to others brings her joy, and she is currently enjoying her new life in North Carolina, embracing the beauty and forming new friendships. She is a proud wife and mother to two daughters, along with a miniature Chihuahua who brings her family closer together. “I feel blessed to be a part of Able to Serve and serving alongside our incredible people”.
Core Value: My favorite core value is person focused because I value meaningful connections, learning from others and finding inspiration in the unique perspectives, experiences, and wisdom each person brings. My goal is learn from others while offering something valuable that positively impacts their lives.
Fun Fact: I am currently training for the Richmond, VA Trail Ragnar race. Wish me luck!
Favorite Scripture: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14
Caitlyn Allen joined the Able To Serve team in May of 2023 in the midst of our 20th year celebrations! She is passionate about making people of all abilities feel valued and helping them reach their fullest God-given potential. She loves connecting with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. She is an active member of Hosea Church in downtown Raleigh and has grown so much in her faith since being there.
Core Value: A core value that I especially relate to is Person-Focused. Something that I am passionate about is making every person that I interact with feel valued, heard and loved.
Fun Fact: My last job was at a soap company where I worked on the product research and development team and helped formulate new bath and body products like custom soaps, creams, bath bombs, etc.
Favorite Scripture: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Rachel Barnes is a North Carolina native, a graduate of N.C. State University and a proud mom of 2 amazing sons. Her professional passion has been found through ministry and non profit work, serving in program leadership roles at the Salvation Army Community Center, Northside Compassion Project and here at Able to Serve, on staff here since 2022. Rachel lives in Johnston County where she enjoys making memories with family and friends, being involved in her church and planning trips to explore new places – especially coffee shops.
Core Value: Person-Focused: I enjoy creating and being a part of moments in our day program where each person feels seen and valued.
Fun Fact: If I could only watch 2 tv shows for the rest of my life, it would be Alex Trebec-hosted reruns of Jeopardy and Golden Girls.
Favorite Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”
Beth Faucette is a graduate of Garner Senior High School and North Carolina State University with a degree in Middle School Math. After retiring from Wake County schools with 32 years of service, Beth joined the staff of Able to Serve in 2022 and loves her role as program instructor. Family time is very important to Beth and she especially loves being Mimi to her 4 beautiful granddaughters. Beth is a devoted member of Ebenezer Methodist Church where she serves on their board and sings in the choir.
Core Value: Christ Centered – Being Christ centered is my life goal because I strive to serve others, in word and deed, in the honor, glory and Spirit of Christ.
Fun Fact: I love to crochet and make beautiful blankets.
Favorite Scripture: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Chris Beckett joined the Able to Serve team in 2021 after serving as a teacher of long-term-care psychiatric patients as well as students in the public education system. He graduated with honors from the University of New Mexico with B.A in Education. He is also a U.S Marine Veteran and served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Core Value: Good Stewards – God has blessed us with what we have, so we ought to take good care of it while we can. This applies not only to our resources and facilities here at ATS, but also to the participants. We can be good stewards of their time and presence by being that overflowing fountain of God’s love, joy, and wisdom.
Fun Fact: Chris loves to challenge himself (and others) – if it’s not difficult, it’s boring!
Favorite Scripture:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
– Isaiah 41:10
Jacob Sinclair is a graduate of Campbell University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Business Management. Jacob claims Garner as home, living here since he can remember. Having worked in a variety of ministry areas including camp programming, kids ministry & marketing positions, his heart is for ministry & non-profit work. Jacob joined the Able to Serve team in October 2021.
Core Value: Community-Minded: I love how this core value emphasizes, not just Able to Serve, but our greater community as a whole. It’s amazing to see how God will work in BIG ways when people come together to make a difference & serve.
Fun Fact: The two things that get me through the day are a cup of Coffee & Mtn. Dew!
Favorite Scripture: Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:1-2
Sophia Mercer received with honors an Associate of Science degree through Liberty University in the Medical Office field at the age of 50 to 53. She was reared mostly in a small rural town in Eastern North Carolina, called Pink Hill. That was the longest area she lived in. Her father was in the army so she moved around quite a bit. Sophia was born in Paris, France and shortly after she was born they moved back to the states. Sophia have an older sister and two younger brothers. Sophia & her husband have been married for 35 years and in the Raleigh area since 1987. They have three children – Cody 26, Bradley 24, and Grace 17. Grace is her special needs child and one of the many reasons God planted her at Able to Serve. “We love Jesus and do our best to live a fruitful life with our walk and our talk and sharing the gospel with others”.
Core Value: Christ – Centered. I love that we keep Christ as the central focus of our day. As staff we start out each day with a devotion. We have either classroom devotions or we have a pastor come in and do a devotion. We may bridge an activity we are doing and bring it back to Christ. We serve our community in ways that honor Christ. I love that being Christ-Centered is our number one core value.
Fun Fact: I love hanging out with people who have a quick wit about them, that make me laugh. I love watching good clean comedy movies, and love watching Christian stand up comedy. Busting a gut is one of my favorite things.
Favorite Scripture: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24:35
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13
Carlton McDaniel, Jr. is the visionary behind the belief that “People with cognitive and physical disabilities are able to serve,” a principle that has guided his work for decades. He founded his organization in 2003 to bring this vision to life, and during its formative years, he played multiple critical roles, including Van Driver, Volunteer, and Chairman of the Board.
In 2009, Carlton transitioned from the board to take on the part-time role of Executive Director, and just a year later, he moved into the position full-time. Since then, he has managed the organization’s growth, leading a dedicated team that shares his commitment to giving abilities a chance.
Carlton is a graduate of Campbell University and holds a Master of Divinity in Christian Education from Southeastern Theological Seminary. His professional journey includes roles with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and as the National Special Needs Consultant for LifeWay, where he has been a passionate advocate for the inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities.
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” — John: 15-25
