Who are We?

Our Mission

To unite the community by providing the awareness, resources, and hope needed to help families and individuals combat life controlling issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, violence, and suicide.

Board members

Perian & Eddie Herring

CO-Founders
CEO/CFO

Perian and Eddie Herring are co-founders of Niceville Strong, Inc.  Since 2013, they have run a local ministry called Parakaleo, a weekly support/prayer group for families that have loved ones suffering from life controlling issues.  Early in 2017, they saw the need to bring awareness and hope on a broader scale to our area after a particularly devastating year of suicides among local young residents.  Out of that concern, Niceville Strong Community Prayer Rally was born, bringing together the community, local resource representatives, civic leaders, and area churches.  Their desire is for this annual event to morph into a movement and replicable resource tool for bringing awareness and hope to those affected by drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, violence, and suicide.  Eddie is a graduate of Auburn University in electrical engineering and currently works as an engineer for a local contractor.  Perian is also a graduate of Auburn University as well as Florida State University with a Ph.D. in math education.  She taught at NWFSC as an adjunct faculty member of the math department for many years before becoming a civil service research analyst at Eglin AFB.  They have been married since 1992 and have two children.

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Selena Chavis

public relations /media

Selena Chavis brings more than 25 years as a writer and public relations strategist to the Niceville Strong team. A journalism graduate from the University of GA, she runs a boutique communications business from her home and serves as the pianist for her local church. Selena has lived in Niceville since 1994 and believes in the power of Christian community and unity. She feels privileged to be part of the Niceville Strong Board and is excited to see how God uses this movement to transform and strengthen individuals and families in our community and beyond. Selena is married to Max Chavis, and they have three grown children and three grandchildren. 

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Hannah Hutchinson

Board Member

Hannah Hutchinson is the Associate Campus Pastor at Crosspoint’s Niceville Campus. She grew up in Mississippi and recently moved to Niceville from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where she was a pastor for three years. In her short time here in Niceville, she has already fallen in love with this community and the mission of Niceville Strong. Hannah attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She is married to Nathan Hutchinson, who is also a pastor at Crosspoint, and they have a two year old daughter named Laurel. Hannah absolutely loves helping people grow in their faith and connect with others in community. Specifically, her passion in ministry is helping people understand the power of the Holy Spirit in order to bring transformation in their lives.

James Ross

Board Member

James is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church on Bayshore.  He has served as a pastor in Okaloosa County for fourteen years.  He has also been heavily involved in the community including mentoring and coaching youth sports.  James and his wife, Christie, have four children of their own and have been serving as a foster family for over three years.  James’ exposure to those who are struggling in the community and church has led him to be passionate about leading others to be active in breaking the cycles of sin. James earned a B.A. in Christian Studies from The Baptist College of Florida, Master’s degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master’s of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Chris Shinnick

board member

Chris is the lead pastor at Manna Church in Niceville and on the board of directors for Niceville Strong. Chris is an ordained minister who graduated from Denver Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity degree in 2010. He has served in full-time ministry for over 14 years, seven as a youth pastor in Hawaii, and the last six years at Manna Church Cape Fear in Fayetteville, NC. He loves teaching God’s Word, building up men, helping families thrive, and equipping people to change their world