ABOUT NEW LIFE

As a professional organization, we set forth the following beliefs, which have been agreed to by the professional and support staff of New Life. These beliefs are essential to our treatment philosophy and ministry.

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, only infallible, inerrant, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has revealed himself in creation, history, and in Jesus Christ.
• We believe in God’s creation of the world and humankind and in humanity’s rebellion and subsequent depravity.
• We believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including his deity, virgin birth, sinless life, true humanity, miracles, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension to heaven where he sits at the right hand of the Father, and coming personal return in power and glory.
• We believe regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of the lost, sinful man.
• We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ as one’s Savior.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life and to grow in the knowledge of God and Christian obedience.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost—the saved unto the resurrection of life and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and the importance of the church for worship, service, and missions.
• We believe all human life is a sacred gift from God and is to be protected and defended from conception to natural death. We will uphold the sanctity of life and bring the grace and compassion of Christ to those who face the realities of previous abortion, unwanted pregnancy, and end-of-life illness.
• We believe in the importance of marriage. Specifically, that marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24), and that a person’s sex (male or female) is determined by God in the womb (Psalm 139:13) and revealed at birth.
• We further believe that marriage is a covenant relationship that is mirrored in the relationship between Christ and his Church (Revelation 19:7, 21:2, and 21:9). Although the Bible states that divorce is permissible in two unusual circumstances (adultery as described in Matthew 5:31 and abandonment of a Christian by a non-Christian as described in 1 Corinthians 7:15), we will do all we can to preserve marriage.
• We believe that all psychological principles should be thoroughly evaluated through the grid of Scripture, and that Scripture always holds the final authority.

David Patton, Chairman

David is the president of Potomac Economics and has 24 years of experience as an energy economist providing expert advice, analysis, and testimony to clients in the electricity and natural gas industries. With a Ph.D. in economics, Dr. Patton’s areas of expertise include market design and monitoring, merger and other market power analysis, transmission pricing, asset valuation, and congestion management. David and his wife, Anna-Kristina, have three daughters and live in Oakton, Virginia. They are active at their church leading a marriage ministry, and are alumni of New Life’s Intimacy in Marriage workshop.

Stacey Smith

Stacey is the chief clinical officer at Daring Ventures. She is an EMDR certified therapist and a certified clinical partner specialist (CCPS) through The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists (APSATS), which both equip her for her extensive work with those suffering from betrayal trauma. She is also a certified sex addiction therapist candidate. Stacey speaks to groups on topics like betrayal trauma, single womanhood, divorce, and intimacy in marriage. Her first book, Understanding and Loving Your Child as a Single Parent, co-authored with Steve Arterburn, was published in 2022. She received her undergraduate degree from Texas State in 1988. Her graduate degree is from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She became an LPC in late 2010. She is married, lives in Galveston, Texas, and spends her spare time fishing and enjoying the beach.

Doug Traxler

Doug retired from a 40-year career in sales and marketing. After 12 years at Wallace Computer Services, he joined a small start-up and helped build it into a national marketing services company. Doug has held numerous management and board positions throughout his career, and as CEO of WebbMason Marketing was responsible for the strategic decisions to ensure its future. Currently Doug is an adjunct professor at Catholic University in Washington DC, where he teaches sales management and leadership at the graduate and post-graduate levels. A New Life supporter and fan for over 30 years, Doug and his wife Holly live in Northern Virginia and have two children and two grandchildren.

Lesleigh Batchelor

Lesleigh is a director of real estate with Racetrac, Inc., a large chain of convenience stores and travel centers across the eastern US. Her expertise includes creating and executing market development strategies, overseeing site selection, and negotiating eminent domain matters. Lesleigh holds a BS from Auburn University, an MBA from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Arts from the John Townsend Institute. When she has free time, Lesleigh enjoys hiking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, cooking, and reading. Lesleigh and her husband, Don, make their home in Smyrna, Georgia.

Rod McDonald

Rod is an experienced corporate lawyer and has served as a legal and business executive advisor for global businesses of all sizes for over 30 years. He has served on the board of the Garland Dream Center, serving the under-resourced communities of South Dallas. Having personally benefitted from the ministry of New Life, Rod is honored to serve on the board as he sees the impact that the ministry has had on so many lives. He is married to Laura Mangin-McDonald, and they have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Becky Brown

Becky is a licensed professional clinical counselor who has been with New Life for over 20 years. She began work with New Life Clinics in private practice and was part of the New Life Counselor Network from its beginning. Becky has worked at the New Life Workshops since 2003. She often says she is New Life’s biggest fan, due to having had a front row seat to how God has worked in the lives of so many people over the years! Becky is the co-author of Understanding and Loving a Person with Bipolar Disorder, 100 Days to Freedom from Fear and Anxiety, and 100 Days to Freedom from Anger. Becky is a co-producer and writer for Life Recovery Today TV. Throughout her career at New Life, Becky has held many roles and considers it a privilege to now serve as the President of New Life. Becky and her husband Bruce live in Dayton, Ohio, and enjoy spending time with their adult kids and grandchildren, usually on a boat on the lake.

Stephen Arterburn

Founder of New Life

Steve is the founder of New Life, Women of Faith, and the nationally syndicated Christian counseling talk show New Life LIVE. He has authored several best-selling books, including Every Man’s Battle, Healing Is a Choice, Lose It For Life, and Take Your Life Back. Together with Dr. Dave Stoop, he edited the Life Recovery Bible. Steve retired in October of 2024 with a full career—author of more than 80 books, holder of degrees from both Baylor University and the University of North Texas, and recipient of two honorary doctorates. Today, he continues to serve as consultant to New Life.

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