Braden holds a Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) in biblical counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2018, he received a Master of Arts of Christian Counseling and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC and holds a degree in Psychology from Mississippi State University with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is a certified member of the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) and is a Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider—Level 1. For the past ten years, he and his wife Victoria have worked in counseling ministries, adult Christian education, and special needs ministries. He and his wife have been blessed with four wonderful children. Through the Owen Center, Braden pursues a life-calling to serve Christ by cultivating the ministry of biblical counseling in the Auburn community.

Gary has been a lead pastor for 38 years in churches in Mississippi and Alabama. Most recently, he pastored Covenant Presbyterian Church in Auburn, Alabama for 29 years. Recognizing the need for Christ-centered counseling in the Auburn area, he and his wife, Jill, began the Owen Center in 2015.
He received a Masters of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS and a Doctor of Ministry in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA. Gary and Jill delight in five children and (to date) 13 grandchildren.

Kirsten holds a BA in Theological Studies from Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida and a Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. She decided to pursue counseling while living in Florida, but was further affirmed in her decision after working as a second-grade teacher at a Christian school where she taught the children of military families. She serves both the women and children of the surrounding Auburn area through biblical counseling, and she is delighted to take part in the work of the Lord that is being done at the Owen Center. She is also a Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider—Level 1.

Jillian holds BA (Spanish) and BS (Environmental Studies) degrees from Wofford College and a Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She sensed a call to counseling while working for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) and still loves to walk alongside young women through their joys and struggles. Jillian works part-time at the Owen Center and focuses on the needs of women. She feels honored to join in on the work that God is doing in the lives of those He calls into her office.

Jill, co-founder of the Owen Center, holds a BA (English) from the University of Georgia, a Master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson), and an MA in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She earned three certificates from the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF). Jill is also a Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider—Level 1. Jill works part-time at the Owen Center and focuses on the needs of women. She regards counseling as a privilege and part of a life calling to help others connect biblical theology and real life.

In 2019, Sara graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Counseling. Before joining The Owen Center, Sara worked from 2018-2025 with biblical counseling ministries in Mississippi. Sara is the author of Living In the Storm, a very personal memoir of her mother’s journey through Early Onset Alzheimer’s. She and her husband Mark have been married since 2001. Long before Sara returned to graduate school, her time was spent raising and intentionally unwrapping the individual gifts found in her and Mark’s four children: Katie, Julia, Lucy and Anderson. In 2022, their family grew when they added their first son-in-law, Jason May, to the family. And again in 2025, when their first grandchild was born. When Sara is not with her husband, enjoying her adult children and granddaughter, or in the counseling room, she loves to walk, hike and delight in God’s creation. She is so humbled to bear witness to the stories that enter her office at The Owen Center and is confident in the Author and Perfector that is writing each one.

Sophie holds a BS in Psychology from High Point University in High Point, NC and a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. She felt the call to biblical counseling confirmed when she received life-changing biblical counseling in college. Sophie has several years of experience serving college students and youth in her church. She is excited to care for the female college students in the Auburn area, as well as on other college campuses, by providing them with biblical counseling as they navigate the various trials that come their way.