Kelly Whitaker played soccer for the University of Georgia from 2003-06. When Kelly first began attending TU meetings her sophomore year, I got my first lesson in “awkward prevention.” One evening , following the worship time, I found Kelly in the hallway and began a conversation with her while the rest of the TU attendees were chomping on pizza and drinking Powerade. 
After talking about her hometown of High Point, NC and her travels as a “military brat” (her dad was in the Air Force), I then asked her a question that took her completely off guard. I asked her, “So Kelly, has there ever been a time where you’ve asked Christ into your life?” She immediately looked uncomfortable and needless to say, the conversation didn’t last long after that. 
It’s always amazing how God works despite me in situations like this because through His sovereignty and the faithfulness of Kelly’s Christian roommate, she eventually committed her life to Christ. And when she did that, her faith exploded on the soccer team! By the fall semester of her senior year, Kelly was leading her team Bible study and discipling two of her teammates. She went on to participate in several intern projects with AIA out in Colorado, including an internship with TU. For those of you who are reading this and participate in “Women’s Nights,” you have Kelly to thank because the idea originated with her and Carolyn Rogers. 

Kelly is now working full time in the marketing department at Chick Fil A headquarters in Atlanta, her “dream job” as she describes it every time we talk on the phone. One of my favorite things I like about Kelly is her sense of humor. She is always an encouragement. My fondest memories with her were when we’d ride down the highway and she’d rap to LaCrae’s song, “F-A-N-A-T-I-C” and sing proudly along with Taylor Swift blasting over her speakers. Kelly and I not only share the same taste in music, but also a love for cats, as she possesses a male cat named “Riley.” The picture below is from our very first TU Women's Night, March 2007. 

Emily Deans is one of five children, a native of Watkinsville, GA and a University of Georgia graduate (2009). I first met Emily in 2005 of her senior year of high school at Prince Ave Christian while I was volunteer- coaching with the volleyball program there. Although Emily didn’t play for me, I’d hear her name mentioned frequently among the girls on the team. I finally asked them one day about “this girl who teaches a Bible study at lunchtime…”and how,” Oh, Coach Perry, you’ve gotta meet this girl, she’s amazing!” So one day I decided to attend Emily’s Bible study. I was amazed at how such a young and skinny girl could command such an audience as she opened her Bible and began teaching a group of about 6-10 fellow classmates with such knowledge, passion and confidence. 

Fast forward to 3 years later, I’m at a local coffee shop and I run into a now, older-and-even-wiser, Emily Deans. She’d just returned from a semester internship with Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs and not long after that, we were sipping lattes and talking about all she’d learned in Colorado, along with her many experiences with Precepts studies and boot camps. It was then that God had placed a strongdesire in me to get Emily plugged in to TU. 
She began attending our Multi-Sport Bible study with the Gym Dogs & the volleyball team her senior year. Eventually, I asked her to start taking some turns in teaching and the rest is history. Emily interned with us in 2010, and is now working full time with our NE FCA ministry and still serving part-time with TU on campus.