LEADERSHIP

Click on each of our wonderful leaders to find out a little more about them and what gifts they bring to Grace Klein Community.

Jenny Waltman

FOUNDER

Jenny began a friendship with Jesus when she was five years old and she has been on the ride of a lifetime. If only she had known what she was saying “yes” to when she started praying about providing food support to Birmingham families.

A graduate of Samford University, insurance adjuster for six years, a bookkeeper, an entrepreneur, with her husband Jason, through Grace Klein Construction, Inc., a mama to two biological children and many others, a writer and avid reader, and a servant leader of Grace Klein Community as Director of the Board, her journey is beautifully amazing, stretching and fulfilling.

She serves behind the scenes, in a daily capacity, with Grace Klein Community to propel vision, develop structures, oversee record keeping and non-profit compliance, and assist in community support advocacy, volunteer engagement and relevant education regarding combating food waste, early church principles and resourcefulness.

“The moment we begin walking in a relationship with Jesus, He changes everything. We start to see what He sees, desire to love how He loves and realize that the moments we are the most fulfilled are the moments when we are giving ourselves away. Come join us in an incredible adventure of life on mission.”

“God’s plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God.” – Colossians 1:27

Natalie King

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Natalie literally moved across the ocean in obedience to Jesus. She has dedicated her life to propelling the mission, vision and purpose of Grace Klein Community. As the Director of Development, her heart specifically is drawn to global partner advocacy, business, church and donor engagement, internship assignments, organizational development, event planning, facilitating special projects, and serving as host of The House on the Hill, one of our community homes. Natalie is a native of South Africa with 13 years of experience in administration and human resource management.

In 2013, Natalie committed to serve onsite in Zambia, alongside the Directors of Kwathu Ministries, Jeanette and Agripa Phiri. In a privileged and blessed position, Natalie shared love, life and faith with the precious Kwathu children, empowering and investing in the future generation. Every child should know they are accepted and known. No matter what obstacles or setbacks come, Father God can transform our hurt into a testimony of His saving Grace.

In 2014, her original two-month plan was a visit to Grace Klein Community as an advocate for their partner ministry, Kwathu Ministries, but God had other plans. Grace Klein Community applied with immigration for her to remain in the United States to serve in Birmingham, AL, under an R1 VISA and a subsequent R1 VISA renewal. In October 2020, Natalie officially became a permanent resident of the United States. We are honored to have a South African on our team.

“I may be over 8,000 miles away from my home, family and friends, but I am home, I have family, and there is nothing more fulfilling than walking in the Lord’s will for your life.”

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” – Psalm 18:30

DonDee Osburn

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

DonDee provides management of the office including administration to the Grace Klein Community team. DonDee is a native of Birmingham, AL, and has an extensive employment history in non-profit administration, as well as years of experience in youth, children and adult teaching, pregnancy resources, food distribution and church office support. She received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Faulkner University and is planning to pursue completion of a master’s degree next year in social work from the University of Alabama.

In addition, DonDee is a successful business owner of Covenant Heating and Cooling, and the leader of Embrace Grace, a non-profit whose mission is to inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families. Wife to Dewayne, and mama to Garth, Caleb and Hannah, DonDee is “superwoman” in disguise.

“I am honored to be serving full time on staff, using the gifts of administration and organization given to me by God in order to further His kingdom. I am humbled and grateful. And I am excited to introduce others to this life together. Let us gaze toward heaven as Stephen did, full of the Holy Spirit, as we introduce others to our Jesus and serve them as he modeled for us.”

Lindsay Glass

DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Lindsay Glass is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in customer service and management roles. She previously served as the Associate Director of Customer Experience at Mspark (formerly Mailsouth) in Helena, AL. Lindsay is adept at offering practical solutions to client challenges, collaborating effectively with others, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Lindsay is married to Andrew and has two children, Gabe and Makindsay. She is deeply engaged in community service. She has volunteered as an administrative assistant at Aaron’s Staff Respite Care, Inc. since 2010 and has served in various roles in the local church for most of her life. She initially learned about Grace Klein Community when a friend introduced her to the “No Safety Pins” trading event in 2016. Since that time, she followed Grace Klein Community closely via social media and was captivated by their zeal for Jesus and community service. She dreamed she would one day work full-time for the organization. Lindsay has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. With exceptional computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Office programs, Lindsay leverages technology to streamline processes and enhance productivity. She is known for her commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and proactive problem-solving. “Grace Klein Community puts Jesus at the forefront of everything they do. They serve the community with excellence. Being a part of this organization has been transformational for me and my family. We have seen first-hand the benefits of living in community and being a part of the church, outside the walls of the church. We have seen Gods hand at work daily, and we are honored to serve Him alongside so many other Jesus-followers.”

Liz Harrison

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Jackson King

COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LIAISON

Serving as an active duty U.S. Marine from 2005-2011, Jackson King found himself transitioning back to civilian life in Birmingham, AL; contributing to the community through welding, construction and sales for over a decade. In February 2024, Jackson began as a Community and Business Development Liaison with Grace Klein Community in a triangular role of championing marketplace leaders, stewarding community properties, and engaging serve teams, locally and globally. He and his wife Natalie, Director of Development with Grace Klein Community, host one of the organization’s community homes where next generation leaders come as guests to serve and learn how to activate the ways of Jesus in their everyday lives. They are the proud parents of identical twin baby boys, Aaron and Ezra, who will follow in their footsteps as bridgebuilders for Birmingham, Jesus warriors and awakeners of faith. Daniel 12:3

Carla Phillips

SERVE TEAM AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Carla coordinates our many volunteers and serve teams which ensures Grace Klein Community operates efficiently. Whether a team of thirty landscaping at one of our community homes or a small group organizing our food shelves, she will be happily serving alongside our volunteers. During the Covid-19 season, Carla’s role shifted to Drive-Thru trainer, where she implements and trains new volunteers on a consistent food distribution drive thru process upholding the highest in CDC safety protocols.

A native of Birmingham, AL, Carla received her undergraduate and master’s degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from the University of Montevallo. She snagged her a Good Ole’ Boy from her hometown and has been happily married for 29 years to Doug Phillips. She is mother of two boys, Brooks and Tyler and two “dog”ters Sydney and Lucy.

Carla’s path to GKC took many roads. She began her career as a 3rd grade teacher at Central Park Christian School, and was promoted to her most important job, a “stay-at-home-mom” where she is blessed to have raised two upstanding young men. In 1995, she certified as a fitness instructor and successfully ran her own Jazzercise Fitness Center for 25 years. She continues to teach a couple of classes a week. Carla dabbled in retail sales and administrative work while looking for the perfect job fit… something meaningful, purposeful, enjoyable, a place she could look forward to each day. God led her to GKC.

“I am truly blessed to be a part of the GKC family. Each day I work with people I genuinely love and I am able to share food, friendship, advice, love and prayer. The best part is that I receive as much as I give. God strengthens me through those I meet. Sharing comes full circle. What a gift from God.”

Delia Giles

BOOKKEEPER

David Jackson

FOOD DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT

Alyna Click

OFFICE MANAGER

Alyna grew up in Alabaster, AL, as an only child. After graduating from Thompson High School, Alyna hit a rough patch when she was pulled into the world of addiction. But GOD! Her aunt and uncle “just so happened” to come serve with Grace Klein Community, where we were able to connect Alyna to one of our staff and met Jesus. Then we were able to refer her to a recovery program where she walked through the steps of restoration and earned an associate’s degree in theology from Covenant Bible College made possible by a scholarship from Radical Restoration Ministries. After completion of the program, she returned to Birmingham, AL, and begin volunteering with GKC. As the demands of the pandemic grew, GKC brought Alyna on staff to help run our day to day operations.

Her deep love for people is evident everyday as she serves at the Grace Klein Community office. Her ever-present smile is a light on even the most hectic days. She claims both King’s Way Church in Irondale and Liberty Church Birmingham in Hoover as hers and attends both as her schedule allows. In her free time, Alyna loves spending time outdoors (especially fishing!) and hanging out with friends and family.

“I never thought two years ago that His plan for me would be so extravagant! God has really blessed me at Grace Klein and I am so thankful to be part of the Grace Klein family. All things are possible with God – Matthew 19:26”

She stands on the firm foundation of faith each day, especially a scripture God gave her a couple of years ago, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13