Our Mission

Open Bible and bowl of oatmeal topped with bananas and strawberries on a white quilted surface

FINDINGbalance exists to help people find Jesus in the middle of their struggles with eating disorders and other food and body image challenges.

Our Vision

Multiple hands of diverse individuals stacked together in a show of unity, with one person wearing a ring.

Our vision is to make a Kingdom impact and cultural shift by creating a safe space for people to walk toward freedom in Christ-centered community.

Our Core Values

  • A person writing 'June' in a spiral notebook with an orange pen, a cup of coffee on a saucer, and an open Bible or book on a quilted white blanket.

    Jesus at the Center

    Jesus longs for an intimate, conversational relationship with us. Together, we practice listening to Him asking “Jesus, what do You want me to know about this?” Then, we seek to follow what we sense Him saying.

  • Two women sitting outside, engaged in a conversation with one holding an open book and holding hands.

    Connection & Community

    Unhealthy habits thrive in isolation. Healthy community heals shame. As we journey the hills and valleys together, our hearts connect. With proper care, guidance, and the support of healthy community, individuals can know freedom.

  • A tan leather sofa with a white decorative pillow featuring a pom-pom fringe on a dark patterned rug, next to a white wall and a floor lamp with a white shade.

    Safe Spaces of Grace

    Everyone is unique and worthy of being seen, known, and heard. God doesn’t tally our successes and failures to determine who receives His love or forgiveness. He gives all goodness freely. We strive to model this by creating safe spaces and extending grace.

  • A woman with long, curly brown hair wearing a beige coat and white pants sits on a dark couch, holding an open book and gesturing with both hands, as if explaining or discussing something.

    Authenticity & Truth in Love

    Your story matters. As we walk together to encounter, experience, and respond to Jesus, we pray lies will be uprooted and replaced with biblical truth as your unfolding story becomes filled with, and fueled by, the Holy Spirit.

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing a white shirt and jeans, sitting barefoot on a wooden window seat, writing in a blue notebook, with a potted plant nearby and outside trees visible through the window.

    Gentle Curiosity

    Having gentle curiosity with others and ourselves sets us free from the pressure to come up with the right advice, a perfect response, or feeling the need to "resolve" a problem. This approach promotes increased tenderness, love, and care.

  • Person mixing paint with a paintbrush on a palette with various colors of paint using a sheet of paper as a palette.

    Fun & Creativity

    Nothing’s more fun than serving God with people you love. We believe in working hard, playing often, and deep belly laughs. God is creative; we are created in His image, and creativity brings vibrance and freshness to our life, reminding us of our uniqueness in His Kingdom.

  • A cozy bedroom corner featuring a low wooden bed with white and orange pillows, a woven basket with driftwood, a small bedside table holding a ceramic mug and books, and a colorful patterned rug.

    Balance

    You can’t pour from an empty cup. God created us to worship Him in every area of life through praise, prayer, service, work, study, play, rest, nourishment, movement, and relationships. We seek godly balance in all areas.

  • A person holding an open notebook and writing on a financial statement with a pink pen. The statement shows current assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses.

    Stewardship

    We receive God’s gifts gratefully, nurture God’s gifts responsibly, share God’s gifts justly and charitably, and return those gifts to God abundantly. We share our personal freedom stories to inspire hope and validate what God can do.

Our Team

  • A smiling woman with blonde hair in a braid, wearing a teal T-shirt with the words 'fully known. fully loved.' and a necklace, standing outdoors in front of a brick wall.

    Chrissy Kirkman

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PODCAST HOST

    With experience as a software analyst, marketing director, worship leader, and Christian life coach, Chrissy brings 23 years of diverse ministry and professional skills to FINDINGbalance. A former participant in Fb’s Lasting Freedom program, Chrissy has firsthand experience of the struggle faced by those battling food issues, and the courage it takes to seek help. No longer a captive of "diet culture", Chrissy is passionate about sharing the truth she’s found, and helping others find HOPE and tools to break free from eating and body image issues. Chrissy lives in Kansas City, MO and is married with one son.

  • A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair, wearing glasses, a turquoise T-shirt with white text, and earrings, standing outside with a brick wall in the background.

    Liesl Dunlap

    BOOKKEEPER & BOARD TREASURER

    Liesl is the office manager for a private practice therapist in Tennessee and holds a Bachelor's of Science in Biblical Studies from Emmaus Bible College. A former participant in Fb's ChristFed and Lasting Freedom programs, and co-leader of a Lasting Freedom alumni group, Liesl understands the challenges people face with food and body issues. Her heart's desire is to share how being in the Word and having a relationship with Jesus allows us to walk in true freedom. Her freedom story and financial background make her a valuable asset to our team. Liesl lives in Tennessee and is married with three children.

  • A smiling woman with dark brown hair, wearing a light blue T-shirt with white text, standing outdoors in front of a red brick wall.

    Tammy Boyd

    PRAYER GROUP COORDINATOR

    Tammy holds a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from William and Mary and a Master's degree in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. When a friend introduced her to FINDINGbalance, Tammy began to recognize the impact of her lifelong struggle with food. She participated in the Lasting Freedom program with a group and on her own as part of her healing journey. Tammy desires to share with others the hope she's found and encourage those on the road to recovery. Tammy is married with two boys and resides in Leesburg, Virginia. She enjoys blogging, writing, baking, and, most of all, making her kids laugh.

  • A woman with blonde hair wearing a gray cap, a light striped blazer, and a white top, smiling and sitting near a black grand piano.

    Constance Rhodes, ACC

    FOUNDER & SPIRITUAL MENTOR

    Constance founded FINDINGbalance in 2002. She is the author of Life Inside the Thin Cage: A Personal Look into the Hidden World of the Chronic Dieter, and The Art of Being: Reflections on the Beauty and the Risk of Embracing Who We Are. A former marketing director for what is now Capitol Christian Music Group, Constance's experience in the entertainment business helped shape FINDINGbalance as a media-based resource for those seeking freedom from eating and body image issues. To learn more about Constance's new coaching and artist development practice, visit www.truevoice.co.

  • Portrait of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, glasses, and a floral navy blouse, smiling outdoors with blurry brick wall and greenery in background.

    Dr. Alisa Shanks

    BOARD CHAIR

    Alisa is a clinical psychologist licensed in the state of Colorado since 2004. She is passionate about university mental health having worked at Biola University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and now Colorado Christian University in Lakewood where she is the Director of the Larry Crabb Center for University Counseling. Dr. Shanks has focused her career around three passions: her faith, eating disorders, and university mental health services, and believes in full eating disorder recovery. Alisa has been married since 2000 and has two sons.

  • A smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing hoop earrings and a denim jacket, standing outdoors with a blurred background of trees and a building.

    Diana Ugoretz

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Diana studied Human Resources Management at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and has worked in the areas of payroll and finance for more than eighteen years. She currently handles the finances for her church and a nonprofit in her community. A former participant in Fb’s Lasting Freedom program, Diana experienced healing through Christ-centered community. She desires to see others experience this same freedom by being secure in who God designed them to be. Diana lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Tom. They have three children and three grandchildren.

  • A woman with long blonde hair smiling outdoors with trees in the background.

    Sarah Joy Smith

    BOARD MEMBER

    God connected Sarah Joy & FINDINGbalance after she co-founded the Holy & Whole Conference. Her passion is mentoring teen and young adult women to know their identity in Christ through her ministry, JoyFully Fit + Free. Her certification as a Non-Diet Christian Advocate enables her to help women push back against the lies of the enemy and begin their journey to truth & freedom. Sarah Joy brings a diverse background of volunteer work in the areas of fundraising, administration, and event planning. She resides in Fort Worth, TX with her husband. They have three sons and one daughter-in-law.

  • A young woman with long brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a blue t-shirt with the words 'hope, strength, recovery' printed on it, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

    Taylor Coote

    GRANT MANAGER & WRITER

    Taylor holds a Master's of Social Work from Spring Arbor University. She previously worked with United Way and other nonprofit organizations through grant writing, grant management, and strategic planning, with a focus on eating disorder fundraising. After being introduced to FINDINGbalance in 2014 through her own healing journey, Taylor desired to one day help and encourage others in their own journey to freedom. Now a stay-at-home mom, Taylor is devoting her free time to using her gifts and talents as a Fb volunteer. Taylor lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two children.

  • A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a red sweater and a patterned scarf, smiling in a well-lit room with a window in the background.

    Beth Ask

    PRAYER GROUP LEADER

    Beth is a Registered Dietitian, women's ministry volunteer, and founder of the "Eating Disorders Day of Prayer". Her struggle with food issues, both personally and professionally, led her to find peace, comfort, and hope through God's Word. Beth is passionate about supporting others in prayer as they walk through the difficult journey of an eating disorder. God called Beth to start the "Eating Disorders Day of Prayer" during NEDA week for believers to come together and pray over those who struggle, for their loved ones, and for those on the front lines leading them to freedom. She is a wife and mother residing in Pennsylvania.

Doctrinal Statement

As an organization shaped by a biblical worldview, we feel called to serve all individuals equally with the love and truth of Christ, regardless of their personally held views on faith, gender, race, sexual orientation, or other factors.

We believe:

  • Every person deserves to receive quality, whole-person care by skilled, caring professionals.

  • Individuals are deserving of this care regardless of their personal faith, beliefs, worldview, sexual orientation, or lifestyle.

  • Eating disorders and body image issues are complex issues with a variety of unique factors at work in each individual.

  • A balanced treatment approach is one that gives appropriate, evidence-based attention to an individual’s whole person wellness, including biological, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and relational health.

  • Jesus’ Gospel is one of love and grace, not rigid rules and legalistic standards which lead to shame and hiding.

  • When relapse happens, grace is more powerful than shame in moving forward.

  • God grants each individual free will and allows us all to make choices that can be life-giving or life-robbing.

  • Brokenness is a factor of the human condition, and we are all fellow journeyers toward the life of freedom God desires for us.

  • With proper care, guidance, and with the support of healthy community, individuals can fully recover from bondage to eating issues.

As a Christian organization, we hold to the following doctrinal beliefs:

  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative Word of God.

  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ; that He was born of a virgin, knew
    no sin, died on the cross as the atonement of our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf.

  4. We believe in the Holy Spirit who indwells, sanctifies, and empowers every believer in Jesus Christ.

  5. We believe that man was created in the image of God, fell into sin in Adam, and that human beings do not have the power to save themselves from sin, including addiction.

  6. We believe that salvation is a free gift of God, provided by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Timeline

The history of FINDINGbalance spans over twenty years and was shaped by more people than we can mention in one place, including board members, staff, volunteers, donors, colleagues, and most importantly the thousands of precious souls we’ve had the privilege of serving - and learning from - since 2002. While not an exhaustive retrospective, this timeline highlights some of the key moments in our history, and a few of the amazing people who have helped get us where we are today.

A vertical timeline infographic showcasing the history of FINDINGbalance work, dating from 1991 to 2012. It outlines vision, founding, studies, partnerships, support groups, and campaigns related to food issues and eating disorder awareness.
Timeline of FINDINGbalance events from 2013 to 2024 related to 'Hungry for Hope' and 'Lasting Freedom,' including program launches, milestones, and leadership changes.