Dr. John Yacenda and his wife Terry were married in the historic Little Church of the Crossroads. They are united as a family of four, with two daughters, Tayesa and Sarah.  Tayesa (32), has a Masters in Public Administration and a B.A. in Psychology, and serves as a clinical program manager for an adolescent and family wraparound program, Project Uplift.  Sarah is almost 21, and is currently a senior majoring in Finance and Economics at the University of Nevada Reno. 

            John received his Master in Public Health from U.C.L.A. with specializations in Community Health and Mental Health. He received his Ph.D. in health education and psychology from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Terry has her B.A. in Liberal Arts with a minor degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada Reno. And currently works for the…

            John has worked with adolescents since 1970, when he founded a national award winning adolescent anti-smoking/drugs program, originally sponsored by the American Cancer Society. John served Nevada Governors Miller and Guinn as well as the Nevada State Legislature, through various appointments and committee positions. John’s Christian ministries have included: Men’s Ministry, Worship Team, Christian Counseling and, leading couples and small group ministries.

            Having only girls, John and Terry view the boys at the adolescent center as “their boys – their sons” and share a mighty commitment to their boys’ transformation through the Holy Spirit to fully restored and high achieving lives.  John and Terry are in the family of the Crosswinds Assembly of God Church in Sparks, Nevada, and have witnessed the Lord’s power to heal and make whole all manner of difficulty and infirmity.