PEGGY GERST
Peggy Gerst is the President and Founder of Strategic Ministries Inc. (SMI)  She graduated from the first In The Spirit course taught in Houston in 1989, began leading the study in 1993 and incorporated it as a ministry in 1997.  Peggy leads and oversees the various activities of SMI.  Her love and dedication to this ministry are fueled by: her desire to be used by the Lord, the blessing of  watching and being a part of transformed lives, and watching graduates grow in their relationship with the Lord and then follow Him into His service.

Peggy grew up in a Christian home and knew Jesus as Savior as a child.  In 1975 she realized she needed Him as Lord and made that decision.  In 1978 she encountered the Holy Spirit in her home and her spiritual life began to grow in new ways.  Peggy was ordained as a Christian minister in 2003 by the Federation of Ministers and Churches, led by Dr. Jim Hodges. 

Peggy grew up in Shreveport, LA, and attended both Baylor University and La. Tech University where she received a degree in Business Administration.  Peggy and Robert Gerst married in 1967, have three children and four grandchildren.  They reside in Houston, TX.

ROBERT GERST
Robert (Bob) Gerst is the Secretary of Strategic Ministries Inc. and has been serving in SMI since its inception. He leads the men’s In the Spirit classes. What is most meaningful to him about SMI is the transformation that occurs in individuals as they complete the course. Not only are lives changed but many ministries have grown out of SMI.

Robert’s wife, Peggy, is the founder of SMI and they raised their family of three in Houston. They have four grandchildren.

Robert holds a BBA in Business Administration from Baylor University and a BS in Information Technology from Louisiana Tech University. He is a veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps. After his time in the Marines, he worked for various Oil & Gas Companies in Houston and retired from SYSCO Corporation after 25 years of service.

ANNE POUNS
Anne Pouns’ walk with the Lord started early in life.  She cannot remember a time when she did not know Him.  As an adult, life circumstances lead her to seek the Lord in a deeper way. This seeking lead her to the In the Spirit discipleship course.  She began taking the classes in 1991, and after completing the course in 1994, she remained involved in hosting and teaching this study so that others could be blessed as she had been blessed.  Since then, Anne has been serving in Strategic Ministries Inc (SMI), the ministry that offers In the Spirit, a discipleship course.

Anne began serving on the Board of SMI as Treasurer starting in 1997, and served faithfully in this role until 2025.  She has a BBA from SMU and an MBA from the University of Texas, Austin.  After graduation, Anne worked at Texas Commerce Bank (now JPMorgan Chase). Fourteen years later, she retired to take on her most important job: raising three daughters. 

Anne and her husband Steve married in 1975, and they have three daughters and three granddaughters.  Steve also has taken the In the Spirit class and joined the SMI team that serves men who desire to grow in the Spirit.

Anne’s greatest desire is to introduce others to God’s love and power so that they will grow in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and minister in the Spirit.

JANET JONES
Janet Jones has been serving in administrative ways since graduating from SMI in 2010.  She became a believer in Jesus Christ as her Savior as a young girl.  He became Lord in her adult years, and she cannot imagine a life without Him.  SMI has been a lifeline for her in many ways - strengthening her walk with Him year by year as the layers of His Spirit are revealed.  She jokes that she keeps serving in SMI because she’s a slower learner, but in reality, there are numerous other reasons.  "With each year I've served as a class administrator I hear the curriculum teachings in new ways, learning more about Him and endeavoring to apply the truths in my personal life.  No other Bible study course in my adult life has impacted me in the same way."  She and her husband, Ted (Class of 2019) would say that the course has changed the trajectory of their marriage, strengthened their walk with the Lord and, in turn, other relationships.

 Janet loves being a lifelong Texan and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Texas Tech University.  She and Ted have raised 3 children that in turn have blessed them with 10 grandchildren.   She joined the board to serve as the ministry administrator in 2020.  Her favorite part of serving as administrator is planning the yearly graduation retreats and having a front row seat to witness the impact the course has brought to countless other lives as well. 

LOU HOUSER
Lou began serving as Treasurer of SMI in 2025 before joining the board in 2026. She received her BBA in Accounting in 1984 from Texas A&M University and practiced as a CPA for a number of years before stepping into the most significant calling; full-time motherhood of her now four grown daughters. She and her husband, Mark have been married since 1985 and thoroughly enjoy family time with their daughters, and sons-in-laws, and 12 grand kids. The favorite place to be with them, and anyone else who enjoys time in the country, is at their ranch outside of Brenham, Texas.

Lou has had the opportunity to serve as Treasurer of multiple PTA’s along the way, as well as non-profits. She is especially honored and humbled to be able to share those “bean counting” gifts with SMI. And she is grateful for this path He has her on, serving and walking alongside others in this unique Discipleship ministry.

Lou knew OF Jesus in her early childhood, but came to know Him as her Lord and Savior at the age of 33. The Lord used life circumstances, a number of Bible studies and church involvement, faith-filled friendships and most significantly her husband, Mark to point her to Jesus. Mark graduated from SMI in 2025 and still values all that he learned as a student.

The In the Spirit study and the SMI ministry has been an enormous catalyst for transformation and growth in her life since she began as a student in 2016. Every subsequent year’s involvement has proven to be a stretching part of her journey with the Lord; one that He continues to walk with her hand-in-hand. Lou is eternally grateful for His steadfast faithfulness in directing her footsteps.  She experiences enormous blessings in SMI, watching students grow in their own relationships with the Lord and His magnificent transformation in their own lives. To God be the glory!

JANET TAYLOR COLEMAN
Janet is engaged in the community and in her church, where she has been an active member for over 40 years.  A native Houstonian, she has served on several boards including Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University), Pray the Word Ministries, AD Players and Every Village. 

She has been actively involved as a leader in many capacities in SMI since graduating from the course in 2010.   Janet enjoys teaching God’s word, sharing His love and seeing lives forever changed by the truth and grace taught in this discipleship course. She also enjoys needlepointing, snow skiing and spending time with her grandchildren. 

Janet and her husband, LaRue, have 5 children and 9 grandchildren amongst their combined family.

WES CHRISTIAN
Wes graduated from SMI in 2019 and has been teaching and leading prayer groups in the men’s class since that time.  His wife Michele is also a SMI alum.

Wes has served the Lord in many ministries including Youth for Christ, Mars Hill Productions, teaching Sunday School, founding and leading Band of Brothers Bible study, and he is on the board of both Gathering of Men, Celebration Ministries and several others.

Wes speaks at Christian law schools, teaching how to use the gift God gave the students and using it for the Kingdom.  He weekly mentors Christian lawyers in how to share the gospel and give back to those who need help. 

As a skilled lawyer, Wes has handled complex litigations and arbitrations in at least eight different states and two countries. Most of these cases have been in State or Federal Courts.  He is licensed to practice in 14 Courts across the U.S. and everywhere in Texas and New York. Wes’s education includes Bachelor of Science, West Texas State A&M University, 1975 • Doctor of Jurisprudence, South Texas College of Law, 1978.

Wes is a fourth generation Texan. He and his wife have 5 children and 5 grandchildren.  He is passionate about sharing the love of Christ with everyone and especially with men.