The mission of Adoption Covenant is to:

Provide education about adoption;
Improve the lives of parentless children around the world;
Simplify and reduce the expense of adoption;
Give birth mothers the chance to fulfill their potential; and
Place as many children as possible in homes that are warm, safe,
and above all, full of love.

Our Team

Adoption Covenant staff consists of a small team of dedicated professionals.

Merinda K. Condra, J.D.

Merinda is a graduate of Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University School of Law. Before attending law school, Merinda worked for both Congressman Chet Edwards of Waco Texas and Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives James E. "Pete" Laney. After graduating with honors from law school, Merinda served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. She then joined her father in a successful law partnership in Lubbock, Texas which concentrates on dealing with governmental agencies and serves clients nationwide. Merinda is the mother of Emma who began her life in Russia, but came home in 2003. Read Merinda and Emma's story.

Julie McGehee

Julie McGehee assists our agency as the Director of Case Management. She has a passion for adoption as she is an adoptive mother. Julie and her husband Heath are the parents of four biological sons and one beautiful daughter who started her life in Russia. Their children range in age from 11 to 4.

Julie graduated from Texas Tech University in 1994 with a BS in Human Development. She also attended Wayland Baptist University where she received a MEd and taught 4th grade before taking some time off to raise her family. During that time, Julie attended Texas Women's University and received a MS in Speech and Language Pathology. Julie worked for 10 years in various schools around the South Plains as a Speech and Language Pathologist. Upon her return from Russia with her daughter, Julie decided to devote her time to her family once again. The opportunity to help at Adoption Covenant has been a true blessing for Julie. Julie will always be ready to assist you with anything during your adoption process.

John Bertrand, Jr., LCSW, LCDC, CCFC

John Bertrand is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker who will complete the home study and post-placement supervision visits/reports for your adoption. His educational background consists of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Texas Tech University; a Master of Science degree in Child and Youth Care Administration from Nova Southeastern University; and a Master of Social Work degree from New Mexico Highlands University. Over the past 22 years, he had been involved in every facet of the child placing process including a child assessment center, foster care, domestic adoptions, and international adoptions from China, Russia, Africa, Vietnam, South Korea, Jordan, Haiti, Taiwan, and Guatemala.

Betty Condra

Betty M. Condra has a bachelor's degree in Child Development from Texas Tech University and a master's degree in Education Administration from Sul Ross University. Betty taught school before starting a successful Real Estate and Insurance business. Betty was instrumental in the formation of Adoption Covenant and now serves as the Director of Operations.

Our Families

“Adoption Covenant helped make a difficult situation a lot easier to go through. With their help and support I was able to get the son I desperately wanted. I feel, by picking Adoption Covenant, that I received more care and support than I could have using a large adoption agency. My son is a blessing to myself and my entire family. The experience was wonderful and I would not change a thing. Adoption is the most wonderful feeling in the world, and I feel that you will have the best adoption agency working for you by using Adoption Covenant.”

“Adoption Covenant was very supportive and knowledgeable in helping me adopt my daughter from Guatemala.  They helped with every step of the adoption and also provided emotional and informational support when needed.  I know that Adoption Covenant had my best interest at heart. Their philosophy is that every child deserves a loving family.  I am currently in the process of adopting a second child.  I know that I am in good hands by adopting through Adoption Covenant.”

“It must be your greatest joy to see such happiness in others as a child and family find each other. You are such special people to dedicate yourself so much to your work and invest so much emotionally and physically in making everything come together. You have changed our lives! There are no words to adequately thank you for the joy you've given us.”