Our Staff

Working through the brokenness and trauma of your life is challenging. Our team has been in your shoes and knows first-hand the freedom that comes when you move into victory over your past.

Mike Manzie

Executive Director

Mike served for over twenty years in law enforcement, did consulting work for NASA and built two successful businesses from the ground up. He has served on the boards of several churches and non-profit ministries and developed policy and training materials used in business and by law enforcement departments around the nation.

As a law enforcement officer and as a business owner Mike saw firsthand the damage that sexual brokenness caused in the lives of men, women and their families. As a leader in the church he also led Christ-centered recovery groups for sexually broken men. Mike brings an amazing skill set to his role as Executive Director. Best of all, he listens to the Lord and obeys him. Mike and his wife Joy attend Campus Bible Church in Fresno.

Russell Willingham

Director of Counseling and Curriculum Development

Russell has worked full-time with sexually broken people since 1993. He oversees individual, couples and group counseling. He has spoken widely across the nation on issues related to sexual addiction, the healing process, marital intimacy and spiritual formation. He has worked with many Christian leaders seeking to overcome sexual brokenness in their own lives.

His heart is to see pastors, missionaries and worship leaders “come out of hiding” so they can receive all the healing God intends for them. Russell believes this will bring much-needed honesty and revival to the entire body of Christ. He has developed video and printed materials for leaders, churches and recovery groups that focus on Christ as healer (including resources available through the American Association of Christian Counselors). He is also the author of two books Breaking Free and Relational Masks (both published by InterVarsity Press). Russell and his wife Paula live in Fresno and attend Northwest Church.

Margie Upton - New Creation Ministries

Margie Upton

Pastoral Counselor

Margie started as a volunteer, helping in the office and scheduling clients. She instantly identified with the broken people that came through our doors. She quietly prayed for each person that God would bring healing into their lives. This was natural since Jesus had healed so many broken places in her over the years. It was also natural since she had been involved in intercessory prayer ministry for over two decades.

Margie has been personally trained by Russell and Mike, but she brings her own unique skill set as well. She often receives prophetic guidance for her clients that she shares during her sessions. They are always comforted (and occasionally stunned) by the insights she brings. Before coming to NCM, Margie worked for eighteen years at Fresno State University as an administrative assistant. Margie has been married for twenty-eight years to her best friend Dan. She is the mother of five children and lives in Fresno. She is such a gift to NCM and to the body of Christ! 

Vanessa Wilson

Office Manager

After graduating college Vanessa was planning on going into Respiratory Therapy. She ended up working in managerial and administrative positions and excelled in those fields. Years ago we asked her to help us, on a short-term basis, to navigate some major transitions in the ministry. She was so good at her job that we decided to keep her on full-time (and the rest is history!).

Vanessa is the first person you will talk to when you call our office. She understands the challenges our clients are facing. And she is blessed with a keen discernment to steer clients toward the NCM counselor that is best suited to meet their needs. We are so glad that she has been a part of the team now for many years now. She is a gift to us and to our clients. Vanessa and her husband, Mike, attend The Well Community Church in Fresno.

Need to Talk To Someone?

(559) 227-1066

5150 N Sixth Street #132
Fresno, CA 93710