Who We Are

Rev. Mary Lu Johnston

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Mary Lu loves working with youth and youth leaders! She has worked with youth as an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for over 35 years. She has directed and/or written curriculum for countless youth retreats, camps, and mission trips. She has led weekly multi-congregation youth ministries that included Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, Presbyterian USA, and Alliance Baptist youth. 

Unable to find fully-planned, justice-focused, welcoming youth mission trip opportunities centered in progressive theology, Mary Lu and her colleague Rev. Tim Tutt, founded Reach Beyond Mission in 2012. 

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Mary Lu is married to Ted, an attorney with the State of Texas. Mary Lu and Ted are proud of their two adult daughters: Virginia, a PhD student at the University of Chicago Divinity School; and Madeline, a Social Worker and law student at the University of Texas.

A graduate of Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School, Mary Lu served congregations in Jacksboro, Arlington, San Antonio, and Austin Texas, most recently at University Christian Church Austin for over 16 years.

When there is free time, Mary Lu can be found playing the piano, enjoying a movie, taking a tap dance class, or cheering on the Horned Frogs with Ted!​

Meghan Trout
Summer Program Director

Meghan began working with Reach Beyond Mission as Austin Site Coordinator in 2018 after participating in three RBM trips as a youth leader. Meghan has a passion for working with youth to help provide a space where all are welcome and invited, and encouraged to serve others. She found that inclusivity and opportunity for service when she brought her youth on several mission trips with Reach Beyond Mission.

After many years working in video production and television news, Meghan decided to take a break from paid work to work full time as a mom to her two boys, Gabriel and Kai.  She volunteered with the youth group at United Christian Church for several years, and was called to the part-time youth director role in 2014. 

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Meghan is a graduate of Baylor University with a BA in Radio, Television, and Film, and is currently a student at Lexington Theological Seminary.

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Meghan loves baking bread and playing board games.  

Board of Directors

Rev. Dr. Timothy Tutt, Co-Founder

Pastor, Westmoreland Congregational Church 

Bethesda, Maryland

​Angela Woodland, Board President

Managing Director, HR Operations

Filtration Group Austin​ 

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Rev. Pamela Holt

Regional Minister

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma​​​​​

Sarah Jones, LMSW

Centers for Children and Families

Midland, Texas

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Kimberly Kofron

Director of Early Childhood Education

Children at Risk, Texas

​Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum

Regional Minister

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest

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Josh Mata

Water Resources Design Engineer

Freese and Nichols, Inc. Austin

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​Ann McGinley

Former Director of Enforcement

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

​Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Nash

Heart of Texas Association Minister

South Central Conference United Church of Christ

​

​Cathleen Parsley, JD

Former Chief Administrative Law Judge

State of Texas

Reach Beyond Mission is a 501 (c)(3) organization affiliated with
The National Benevolent Association, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest
The United Church of Christ

Reach Beyond Mission welcomes everyone
regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation

Reach Beyond Mission leads mission trips in the United States

for middle and high school church youth groups.

We are related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and The United Church of Christ.

Your tax deductible financial contribution is an investment in life-changing experiences!

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As costs rise, your contributions keep participant fees steady by supporting mission weeks or summer staff expenses.

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Thank you so much for your donation! 

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