OUR TEAM

Susan Klaus

Founder/Executive Director

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Susan is a graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies and a Master’s Degree in American History from University of South Florida.  As a result of her work with children abroad and within the continental U.S., Susan realized her calling to help children and their families.  Susan started Adoption and Foster Care Alliance in 2012 to support and equip foster and adoptive families.

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In 2014, Susan founded Agape Ranch, investing herself in leaving a better legacy for the foster children in the Coastal Bend and throughout Texas.  Susan and her husband, Tim, have five children, three adopted and two biological.  They are also foster parents and have provided homes for 10 foster children over the years.

Liddy Vargas

Director of Programs

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Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Liddy moved to Corpus Christi in 2009 to attend school.  She graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science and a minor in Biblical Studies in 2015.  Liddy speaks and writes Spanish fluently.  

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Liddy and her husband, Bernardo, were married in 2013.  They worship and serve in leadership at Emmaus Church in Corpus Christi.  The Vargas family is passionate about ministry and the local community.  Liddy joined the Agape Ranch staff in 2017 as the Program Coordinator.

Melissa Faux

Director of Operations

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Melissa joined Agape Ranch in 2019 and believes that everyone can do something to serve their community.  She is passionate about helping others discover their highest potential in serving Jesus Christ.  

Melissa is a graduate of The University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in both Public Relations and Spanish and has her MBA from Florida State University.   Following her experience as a foster/adoptive parent in Florida, she began a pilot program to ensure foster families received support through local churches and a local, faith-based childcare placing agency, 4KIDS of South Florida.  As a result of her work,  a multi-church, county-wide program was launched to engage volunteers and encourage foster families through support and shared resources. ​

Shannon Murphy

Community Relations

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As a military spouse, Shannon lived in Japan and California with her Navy husband and two boys. They are happy to be back in Corpus Christi. Shannon is a native of San Antonio and attended Texas A&M University where she received a M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning and a B.A. in Environmental Design. She has worked mainly in city planning and public involvement, but is now seeking connections with people in the community who can help the foster children in the Coastal Bend.

The Murphys worship and serve at Asbury UMC in Corpus Christi. Shannon has many Bible verses that have supported her and her family throughout the years, but the one she relies on the most is Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Joel Perritte

CarePortal Pastoral Ambassador

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Joel is the founding pastor of Emmaus Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. Emmaus Church recently marked their fifth anniversary in the fall of 2018; the church family remains committed to the vision - it would be in Corpus Christi as it is in Heaven. Joel’s passion is to equip the church to treasure King Jesus as a family of disciples on mission for the glory of God, the good of the city, and the joy of the nations.  Joel also serves as the Pastoral Ambassador for CarePortal in South Texas. Joel and his wife Kari have been married for 15 years and have two children, Barnabas and Jonatha.

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Tuesday Shaw Gibler

Web Designer

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Tuesday is a graduate of Codeup in San Antonio, Texas, with a certificate in Software Development. Her grandparents fostered and adopted several children when she was a child.  She has always been passionate about making a positive impact for children in the world, especially foster children. Tuesday lives in San Antonio with her husband Ian, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. Tuesday joined the team in 2019 as the Web Designer.  One of her favorite verses is "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Col. 3:14

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