About
Mission514
Why Mission514?
Inspired by Ephesians 5:14, we believe many people are “sleep-walking” through life - spiritually asleep and disconnected from their identity, purpose, and calling in Christ. Our desire is to help people wake up from spiritual slumber, arise each day with purpose, and intentionally shine God’s light in a world that desperately needs Him.
Mission & Vision
To inspire people to AWAKEN to their identity in Christ, ARISE each day with purpose, and SHINE His light in the world.
​
We envision a world awakened to the light of Christ - where every person confidently lives in their God-given identity, impacting others through lives of love, service, and purpose.
Guiding Principles
1
Centered on God's Word
2
Focused on Being Before Doing
3
Rooted Locally, Serving Globally
Our Team
.png)
Brett Gorney
Founder and Co-Executive Director
Melissa Gorney
Co-Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer
Our Story
From Spiritual Slumber to Shining God's Light
Mission514 began with a stirring God placed in the heart of our founder, Brett Gorney. In 2010, after years of living disconnected from God, Brett surrendered his life to Christ and experienced an awakening to his true identity and calling. Out of that transformation came a passion to equip others to discover who they are in Christ and live with renewed purpose.
​
In 2014, while praying for fresh vision, Brett was deeply impacted by the words of Ephesians 5:14:
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
That verse became the foundation of what would eventually grow into Mission514—a call to awaken inwardly to the light of Christ.
​
From 2014 to 2019, Brett led multiple mission trips to El Salvador, inviting teams to serve and share God’s love with local communities. During this season, Melissa joined as a friend and fellow traveler on the journey of faith, assisting in leadership and bringing her heart for service, encouragement, and discipleship to the communities and women on the teams they served.
​
In 2019, Brett felt led to lay down Mission514 for a time and focus on ministry within the golf community, launching ServanTee—a golf-based nonprofit designed to inspire golfers to live with purpose and serve others. Through Purpose Driven Golf (PDG) events, he began uniting community, encouragement, and mission, helping people encounter Christ in meaningful ways.
​
In 2021, Melissa moved from New Jersey to Georgia and began full-time women’s ministry with Beauty for Ashes (Adventures in Missions), gaining experience in leading retreats, mobilizing mission teams, training leaders, and managing events.
​
In 2023, Brett and Melissa’s longtime friendship blossomed into marriage. Together, they sensed God leading them to expand their reach and return to the original vision of Mission514—this time with a fuller expression of God’s call. While Ephesians 5:14 calls believers to Awake and Arise inwardly—discovering who they are in Christ—Matthew 5:14 calls us to Shine outwardly:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
​
With that dual focus, Mission514 exists to help men and women awaken to their identity in Christ (inward) and shine His light in the world (outward) through service, discipleship, and community.
​
Melissa now leads alongside Brett, bringing encouragement, prayer, and vision to the ministry. She carries a deep passion for helping women draw closer to the heart of God.
​
Today, Mission514 builds on its roots through mission trips, community gatherings, retreats, workshops, and Purpose Driven Golf events—all designed to awaken believers, mobilize them to serve, and reflect the light of Christ wherever they go.
​
This is just the beginning. What started with one man’s awakening has become a growing movement—calling others to Awake. Arise. Shine.
