Charley & Rebecca Christie
CHARLES V. CHRISTIE BIO
After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Charley served in multiple executive capacities in both large and small pharmaceutical companies. In his last corporate position, he joined a start-up, Key Pharmaceuticals, to develop a highly successful sales/marketing organization from its inception, which was an integral component of the company being sold for over $800 million in 1985. He then founded The Christie Company, which has successfully provided executive leadership and management training services to the Biotech/Pharma industry. Some of his clients included Johnson and Johnson, Genentech, and Cardinal Health. He then enjoyed a time of employment as President of Physicians Advantage providing physicians with Asset Protection services which was an invaluable gift to physicians’ special personal needs to assure they can focus on what is important - their patients. Having now been both directly and indirectly involved with physicians’ needs through the medical industry for over 30 years he took that experience and now translates it to practical applicable principles in the marketplace for his clients. He has authored two proprietary management/leadership models to enhance performance and reduce stress in the workplace.
In 1996, Charley and his wife Rebecca closed The Christie Company and subsequently in 1997 established Ambassador Trust, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization, providing leadership services in the countries to which they were called. After completing their mission training with YWAM (Youth with a Mission), they served for 6 years in the international mission field in Israel, Ukraine, and Scotland. While in Jerusalem, they continued their biblical and mission training at The Israel College of the Bible. In 2001, they adopted their son John from Ukraine and brought him to Scotland just before his 11th birthday.
Since 2003 the ministry focus has become more domestic. Charley served as Chairman for three years, and also one of those years as CEO, for Project SOS, a health care education organization in Northeast Florida. He was a member of the regional team for the Men at the Cross ministry. He also served as one of a three member Executive Committee for the First Coast Global Day of Prayer which hosted the Worldwide Broadcast in 2011 from Veterans Arena (12,000+ local attendees) reaching over 400 million viewers. He currently serves on the Board of Gordon Conwell Seminary Jacksonville.
Most recently, Charley held the position of Executive Director for Lifework Leadership for the last seven years - 2010 thru 2017. Lifework Leadership is a non- profit executive leadership development organization with a Christian ethos. Charley maintains his conviction that “learning is one of the critical core values for success of any organization and the greatest teacher of leadership skills in human history is Jesus Christ”. Lifework members seek to manifest the leadership skills of Christ in the workplace, home, and local church/non-profit - “Transforming Leaders-Transforming Cities”.
In July 2017, Charley completed facilitating and leading a search committee in hiring his successor at Lifework Leadership. He now works as CEO of Ambassador Trust serving Jesus with his wife, Rebecca. They have returned to international missions and plan to minister alongside the Body of Christ in New Zealand.
REBECCA R. CHRISTIE
Rebecca, born in small town Oklahoma into a Christian family, is the 3rd of the daughters with a younger brother – all of whom are serving the Lord, particularly in the area of music. She graduated from Oklahoma State University and did post-graduate work in communications at Colorado University.
Rebecca has taught both middle school and high school and designed an in-school suspension program in Oklahoma before moving to Denver and another teaching assignment. After leaving teaching, she spent many years in the entertainment industry, in front of the camera and behind, as well as in the theater. She has been involved in local to international productions as both an actor, on the crew, and spearheading a film commission for an economic development council.
In 1989 she married her best friend Charley and has worked with him in their leadership management consulting business – The Christie Company – and in the mission field. Her position as VP of Operations has given her a chance to meet and engage with their clients, making sure that their experience is of the highest quality. During their 6 years of overseas missions they worked in Ukraine, Israel and the highlands of Scotland. Rebecca used her skills as an administrator to help other non-profits in Israel and led women’s studies and worship in all three locations. She also has had the opportunity to mentor many young women and considers it one of her greatest blessings.
On their return, Charley was asked to co-lead the international Global Day of Prayer and Rebecca was again involved in the administration and production. Since then, they have lead Lifework Leadership in Jacksonville, FL, for 7 years – Charley as the Executive Director and Rebecca as Program Administrator. L2 is an 8-month leadership program that takes corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and those in management through a journey of learning to “lead like Jesus.” In 2017 Lifework reached a stage of development where it was sustainable. Charley then facilitated a search committee and hired his successor. They passed on the baton for Lifework Leadership in July of 2017.
They adopted their son John just before he turned 11 in 2001 from Ukraine. Rebecca was involved as a parent volunteer throughout his school years. She has served on women’s ministry teams, prayer teams, led Bible studies, worship, and drama productions and has co-led with her husband spiritual weekends and worship events and currently serves on a church Board of Trustees, worship and prayer teams.
Although she grew up in a Christian home, Rebecca credits her husband to introducing her to Jesus as a personal Friend and Savior – the greatest gift he has ever given her.
Now their calling is back into International Missions – specifically to New Zealand. God’s adventure and purpose in a new mission field!