Board | Meet Our Board

Our Message: Christ Loves Convicts

Lon Emerson

Founder & President

Lon Emerson was born the youngest of six in 1969 in Springfield, Missouri, where he grew up fast and hard, running with the older crowd. Lon had his first alcoholic drink at six and a half years old and smoked my first joint at seven and a half.

By age ten he was selling weed. This progressed until I ended up in prison for the first time at twenty years old in 1989. And this is where he found God.

God started his work in Lon's life, transforming him into the man he has become I’ve become today. Lon says that since he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, God has never once turned his back on him.

Between 1989 and 2017, Lon spent twenty-five years in prison for a wide range of felonies he committed, plus many more. Lon has had no new charges since 2007 and walked down two years of parole, which was a miracle. Lon has been off paper since 2019.

Today, he is active in recovery service as the CFC (correctional facility coordinator), owns a profitable business, and is happily married to a family who trusts him. Lon allows God to use him as a vessel to show others that Jesus is real and alive.

Katelyn Mitchell Secretary

Jennifer Hudson- Board Memeber

***Opening For Treasure***

Melissa Story

Melissa Woodward Emerson

Co Founder &
Executive Directpr

Melissa Emerson has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and has worked for several, not-for-profits. In her policy reform efforts, Melissa has worked with Former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Texas Governor Greg Abbott with the Sexual Assault Survivor Task Force. On a Federal level, Melissa has worked closely with United States Congressman Van Taylor and United States Senator John Cornyn and had the distinct privilege of working with President Barrack Obama. Her work has been recognized by Former Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, and the United States Congress for her commitment to combating human trafficking. She is the proud wife of Lon Emerson, a Mother of 3 and Grandmother of 2. Melissa also volunteers much of her time to work with recovering addicts and alcoholics; she is a grateful overcomer.

Ronson Muegge

Board Member- Housing Developer

My name is Ronson H. Muegge. In 1974, I was born in the small town of Brenham, Texas. Throughout my life, I struggled with addiction. It caused me to lose a great deal. It's one of the reasons I ended up in prison at such a young age. I was 18 years old and spent 12 years behind bars. I learned to be a carpenter during my incarceration, so when I was released, I began Muegge Construction with one employee. I gradually built a reputation as a custom home builder and grew to employ 9-13 individuals. In January 2024, God broke the chains of addiction and gave me a better way to live. Today, I am in recovery and want to give back what was freely given to me.