We believe Jesus has come to give you forgiveness, healing, and freedom for your abortion wounded heart.
Since our founding in 2008, we’ve led over hundreds of women and men to healing and lasting freedom through Deeper Still Retreats.
Our History & Mission
Deeper Still started as it’s own entity in 2008 after seven years of helping women heal emotionally and spiritually from their abortions through a local pregnancy center. At that time, the Lord gave us a huge, divine mission “to multiply ministry teams who bring healing and lasting freedom to abortion wounded hearts.” He intended it to not only be locally in East Tennessee, but throughout the US and eventually around the world.
In the time sense, we have helped launch Deeper Still chapters (who host their own retreats) from coast to coast and internationally.
Our Staff
Karen Ellison
Karen is the Founder and President of Deeper Still. She first entered pregnancy center ministry in 1985. She has served in post-abortion healing ministry for many years and, out of those experiences, has developed the Deeper Still Retreat. Karen has had an abortion herself and knows what the healing journey entails. She has served as an executive director of a crisis pregnancy center and as a national trainer. Karen holds a B.S. in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She lives with her husband Arthur in Knoxville, Tennessee, and they have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Jacque Murphy
My name is Jacque Murphy, I’m the Executive Director for the Knoxville Chapter. I attended my healing retreat in 2011. Little did I know how much my life, my marriage, and my heart would change after one weekend. After finding freedom from my abortion, I started volunteering, and serving in any way I could. I eventually became a part of staff in 2014, helping Karen with the retreats. Now, as a Chapter Leader, it is such a privilege to join God in what He is already doing in the lives of men and women He brings to us, and to see the transformation that happens over a weekend is just breath taking. I love watching God work through our team, serving and bringing the hands and feet of Jesus to those who have been wounded by abortion. There’s no other place I’d rather be. Darryl, my husband, he too, has been serving along with me. Seeing the goodness of God with his own eyes has only taken him deeper still, too. We both are from Knoxville, born and raised here in East TN. We share a love for coffee, hiking the Smokey Mountains and traveling to see our kids. We have 3 grown children, along with two daughter-in-loves, 4 beautiful grand girls, and our ol’ girl, Mercy dog.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen” Eph3.20-21
Sheppard Tucker
Sheppard has been involved with Deeper Still since April 2004 when she attended her own Deeper Still Retreat. She served as volunteer prayer coordinator and ministry team member from 2005-2010. She was a board member from 2010-2012, when she stepped down to come on staff part time as assistant to the president. She currently serves as Director of Communications and Prayer for the ministry. She enjoys serving as a volunteer on ministry teams for retreats as well as coordinating the annual Deeper Still Training Seminar. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband of 31 years and they have 2 young adult children.
Sue Molitor
Sue has been a team member with Deeper Still since 2013. She has also been the team leader and main contributor to the Deeper Still Devotional blog since 2013. In 2016, the Lord opened the doors for us to minister to the Chinese in the US and Asia. She has served on staff as Director of Chinese Ministries since 2020, working with our Chinese sisters and brothers to develop ministry teams to bring healing and freedom to the Chinese. Her passion is to see women and men around the globe set free from the bondages of abortion and for hearts wounded by abortion to be healed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Sue lives in beautiful Knoxville, TN, with her husband Chris and three children.
Katherine Enger
Katherine was introduced to Deeper Still in 2018 when she attended her own healing retreat. After receiving training in 2019, she also served at a Deeper Still weekend retreat here in East Tennessee. Katherine’s hope is to be able share how Deeper Still transformed her through the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and to show others that same love and grace is available to them as well. In early 2023, God pricked her heart to be more involved with Deeper Still which led to a part time position with the ministry as Donor Management Administrator. Katherine lives in Knoxville with her husband, Doug. They have two beautiful daughters and a grand-dog, Bentley.
Board of Directors
(Click a director’s image to read their bio)
Taking the first step is the hardest part.
If you reach out, we’ll take your hand.
1
Attend a retreat
We know there is more to your story than your abortion(s). Come be seen, heard, accepted and loved well by people who have walked similar paths in a safe and welcoming environment.
2
Trust the process
God wants to tenderly walk you through your painful past into the healing and hope He has for you today and for the future! Be encouraged! He always shows up and meets you right where you are, with exactly what is needed.
3
Experience healing and lasting freedom
In just 3 short days – one weekend away – as you trust in Him, your life will literally be transformed by the power of His great love for you!
Your abortion doesn’t have to define you.
It’s time to find the freedom you long for.