Gary was born in Austin, Texas, in 1961. He is the son of godly parents who raised him in the church. At the age of 10, Gary came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Gary met the love of his life (Vicki) at the age of 17, and they have been married for 38 years. Gary and Vicki have two children, both married and saved, one granddaughter and three grandsons. With Gary's job, the family moved every few years. With each move, Gary and Vicki got involved in the local church, and have had the opportunity to teach and serve in many ways in these churches.

Gary has over 30 years of experience as a senior finance and accounting leader. His experience includes 15 years at Ernst & Young, and over 10 years as a senior finance director for public software companies, including 3 years in Europe as the EMEA Director of Finance & Administration. He also has extensive mergers and acquisition experience. Gary received a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin, with a major in Accounting.

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Vicki was born in Midland, Texas in 1961. She was raised by godly parents and was saved at the age of 9. She has a strong faith in the Lord that has grown throughout her life. She and her husband, Gary, have been married for 37 years, and have two children, both married and saved. They have been  blessed with one granddaughter and three grandsons. Vicki enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, baking and learning to crochet. She has also served as an Area Director for Community Bible Study and has been involved in CBS in various locations in the U.S. and in Brussels, Belgium. Vicki joined WHMI in January 2016 as the Logistics Manager. She is the face of WHMI when supporting volunteer instructors who go and teach around the globe for the Bible Institute and other teams that travel on Global Reach projects. She works directly with our local partners, travel agency and others to ensure that international travel is properly planned, executed, and is a pleasant experience for the travelers. Being the people person that she is, Vicki enjoys the daily interaction with individuals who travel on behalf of WHMI. Prior to WHMI, Vicki was the Area Director for IBB Design Group that supported all design needs for a major home builder in Texas. She worked for IBB for 15 years.

Jeannine was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and placed her faith in Jesus Christ over 20 years ago. Even as a young child, she felt her heart was inclined toward service which led her to complete a Bachelor of Social Work as well as a Master's in Social Work in 1987.

Jeannine has worked and volunteered at numerous non-profit organizations in the areas of community relations, volunteer coordination, and all areas of fundraising and donor relations. When her son was born in 1996, she was able to devote 16-plus years as a stay-at-home mom, returning to the workforce as the part-time Logistics Coordinator at WHMI in 2012.

Two years later, as her son was leaving home to attend Dallas Baptist University, Jeannine was asked to join an oil & gas company as a Marketing Manager. In this role, she was able to further expand her knowledge and expertise in marketing communications and a variety of sales support initiatives. After 4 1/2 years, she felt the Lord directing her to follow her heart back to mission-minded, non-profit organizations and resigned from her job, trusting the Lord to faithfully lead her according to His will. By God's grace and provision, Jeannine returned to WHMI as the Development Director where she works directly with Dr. Sheehan and the Development Committee to build a sustainable, impact-driven development plan which creates experiences for donors and partners to invest in the vision and mission of WHMI.

When not at WHMI, Jeannine enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking for friends and family, and serving at her church in addition to other non-profit organizations.

Dwight Davis was born in 1954 in Waco, Texas. At age 6, he placed his faith in Jesus as he and his father, WHMI Founder, Dr. Harold Davis, discussed what it meant to know God. Growing up in a home that hosted missionaries from all over the world, Dwight developed a heart for the nations at an early age and has served in many regions around the world for the past 40 plus years.

During his freshman year at Howard Payne University, God called Dwight to serve as Student Minister and Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church, Mason, Texas. While at FBC Mason, he married his High School sweetheart, Linda (Bolles) Davis, who was also called to ministry. Dwight earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard Payne University, and he and Linda have been on staff in various Baptist churches across Central and Southeast Texas. In 1997, California State Christian University awarded Dr. Davis an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities in honor of 25 years of continued mission work.

The Davis' have two children. Bryan, born in 1976, is a special young man who was born with Fragile X. Bryan continues to live with the Davis family. God has used Bryan throughout his life and has opened doors for the Davis family to help meet the needs of individuals like Bryan as well as their families. In 1979, their second child, Jessica, was born. Jessica is a corporate attorney and resides in Houston with her husband, Lucas Mauro, who is also an attorney. God has blessed Jessica and Lucas with two children, blessing the Davis' with two grandchildren. Wyatt Davis Mauro and his younger sister, McKenzie Jean Mauro, are a joy and are growing up with a heart for the Lord as well.

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Born and raised in Oregon, Gwen gave her life to Christ at an early age. She has a family heritage rich in global missions and has always been fascinated with the stories, culture, and concept of taking the Gospel to the nations. After traveling to Spain with her parents to visit a family member, she became interested in serving on mission teams in high school, serving in Mexico and France through home construction and Vacation Bible Schools. She graduated from The Master's University with a degree in Intercultural Studies. Upon graduation, God providentially brought her to Texas to work in the non-profit world. Gwen has ten years of non-profit experience, the majority of which has been managing non-profit finance. She has served WHMI since January 2015.

Gwen has been married to Caleb since 2008 and has three children: Colton, Noah, and Lily Grace.

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Emily was born and raised in Spring, Texas.  She and her 4 siblings were raised by parents who loved the Lord, and she gave her life to Christ as a young child.  Emily holds a Bachelors in Music (2017) and a Masters in Business Administration (2019) from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee.  She began working at WHMI part-time in 2018, and transitioned to full-time in 2019, serving in the finance and logistics departments.

When she is not working at WHMI, Emily enjoys teaching music lessons, traveling, collecting fountain pens, and spending time with family and friends (especially her niece and nephews).

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Casey serves as the Director of Curriculum and Partnerships at World Hope Ministries International (WHMI). He is also an Assistant Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Luther Rice College and Seminary and regularly teaches as an adjunct professor at various U.S. educational institutions. Casey has an extensive academic background, including a B.G.S. in Computer Applications from Louisiana Tech University, an M.Div. and Th.M. in Biblical Interpretation from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), and a Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation from NOBTS, with minors in theology and ethics. His dissertation, supervised by Dr. Charles Ray and Dr. Norris Grubbs, focused on the relationship between Zechariah 8 and the book of Ephesians. Beyond his formal education, Casey contributes to various evangelical publications and holds several fellowships: he is an Associate Research Fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, a fellow of the St. Peter Fellowship at the Center for Pastor Theologians, a 2023 fellow at the Public Life Fellowship of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, and a public theology fellow at the Land Center for Cultural Engagement. Casey and his wife, Hannah, are parents to three sons and two daughters.

David Kontine Kambiré was born into an animist family in Northeast Ivory Coast, and he was a shepherd of his father's livestock after his elementary school studies.  He was a shepherd for three and a half years and after that he began farming the land. In the year 2000, he met the Lord by reading a Gideon New Testament that he received from his uncle, Jean-Paul, now his spiritual father. In 2004, he was hired as an evangelist with a team from the CMA church. He participated in several evangelism and church planting campaigns. After two years of Biblical training, he was sent on a mission to the Yowlè people in the Bouaflé region in Angovia from 2008-2009 and established a CMA church in Angovia.  

In 2010, David married Suzanne, who is a tireless worker in the food markets. Together, they have 3 wonderful children. David’s passions are farming, raising livestock and traveling for the sake of the gospel.

David graduated with the first class of WHMI Bible Institute Yamoussoukro in 2017.   He has worked tirelessly to empower graduates to open new locations throughout Ivory Coast and cross into bordering nations.  After graduation, he began serving as the Regional Coordinator for French-speaking West Africa and was recently asked to serve as the Associate Director leading the replication efforts across the Region.

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Craig was born in 1968 in El Paso, TX. At age 12, he was introduced to the Gospel (good news) about Jesus Christ in Shamrock, TX. It was then that Craig became a follower of Jesus and began his journey in the Kingdom of God. After graduating High School in Stratford, TX, in 1986, he went to Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and his Texas Teaching Certificate. In 1991, Craig began teaching High School math in Spring ISD and continued for 8 more years. It was also in 1991, that Craig married his best friend, Julie. In 1999, after being appointed as a deacon/servant in his church, he was approached by the Pastor to consider joining the staff full-time as an Associate Pastor to Students. After much prayer and discussion with spiritual advisors, Craig and Julie believed God was calling Craig into full-time vocational ministry. That same year, God granted Craig and Julie 3 girls, all siblings, through adoption. In 2002, God began to move their hearts to international missions. In November, the Kendrick family moved to Paris, France, to work with the International Mission Board, assigned to share and teach the gospel to Muslims. While in Paris they were blessed with two more children in 2003 and 2006. In 2009, God released them from Paris to return to Houston, where they began to pursue God's next mission assignment. After two years of teaching math and one year of interim student ministry at Houston Northwest Church, God opened the door for Craig to join the WHMI staff as Associate Director of Global Reach. Craig has been working in this capacity since July 2012. God has given Craig a passion to teach His word, equip the called, and make His great gospel known to the nations. He has traveled extensively all over the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ and train leaders. Craig and Julie have 5 children and one granddaughter. When he is home, Craig loves to spend time with his family and serve in his church.

Carrington was born and raised in Texas and has had a call of ministry on her life since the age of 13. As the daughter of a Pastor, she has been serving in the local church her whole life. Carrington received her bachelor’s in business management at Grand Canyon University in Arizona in 2021, while serving as an on-campus life leader for her fellow classmates, helping to guide and encourage their walk with Christ. After graduation, Carrington returned to Camden, Arkansas where her parents pastor a local church and became the Children’s Pastor while also interning with a production company. After her internship, she felt God calling her to her hometown of Houston, Texas, where she worked for a marketing agency that she loved but she knew wanted her gifts to be used for the Kingdom. She resigned and trusted the Lord to guide her steps. Through mutual connections, Carrington was introduced to WHMI and quickly recalled her father had traveled with WHMI as an Instructor in 2017. God had indeed led her right to WHMI where she initially worked 10 hours a week to build WHMI’s social media platforms and now serves as the Communication and Digital Media Coordinator, working alongside the Communications Team to tell the story of WHMI. In her spare time, Carrington loves to go to the beach, traveling and spend time with friends and family.

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Dustin and his wife, Emily, live in eastern Washington State and have a whole lot of children, most of whom look just like Dustin but somehow still ended up being adorable.  He was born again at age 12 when his neighbor successfully gutted all his hope in any means of salvation other than by grace alone through faith alone.

Before vocational ministry, Dustin put food on the table as a musician in the Pacific Northwest.  Not quite a decade ago, the Lord used him to restart a little church in West Richland and he is still pastoring there.  He hopes to be doing that until Jesus comes back.

Dustin and Emily's mission is to make disciples in the home, in the church, and in the rest of the world at every opportunity.  

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James Munene Lula came to know Jesus Christ in April of 1990 at a Crusade in a rural area of Kenya, and he immediately felt a zeal to serve God. Before going full time into ministry, he worked for one of the largest manufacturing and supply firms in the Medical Consumables industry. When he received the calling God had for him, he was thrilled because that was his deepest desire and since then he has never looked back. He served God while in formal employment until the year 2000, then became a Sunday School Teacher, served in the music ministry, then associate pastor to pastor.  

James and his wife Doris are based in Nairobi where they serve the community together.  They have three children along with 3 orphans that they are currently fostering.

In 2016, James graduated from the WHMI Bible Institute and has since helped open many locations across East Africa.  James served as one of our Regional Coordinators for East Africa since 2019 and recently was asked to assume the role of Associate Director of East Africa, overseeing the replication of locations across the Region. James is passionately committed to the ministry of the WHMI Bible Institute to equip pastors and leaders with theological training to lead communities toward gospel transformation.    

John was born in Apomu, Osun state, Nigeria. He grew up in the city of Ibadan. At age 17, John accepted Christ through a church’s weekly evangelism outreach. He served in the same church, Preach the Word Evangelical Church, in different capacities as a choir member, a prayer warrior, a youth leader, a Deacon, and an Associate Pastor. He led the youth team to plant a branch of the church at Ejioku, Ibadan, which still exists today.

In 2001, he served at Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), Kaduna state, Nigeria, during his National Youth Service. While at the NDA, he organized a weekly Bible Study for the youth corpers.  

John sensed the call into ministry and was ordained Pastor at Preach the Word Evangelical Church in Houston, TX, where he served until 2010. He established Planters Evangelistic Ministry International with a team in Katy, TX. Since 2011, he has coordinated leadership conferences at Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomoso, Ezekiel College of Theology in Ekpoma, other cities in Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda with some key indigenous and international speakers. John is a STAR Network committee member of the San Felipe Baptist Association.

He earned a degree in Science Laboratory Technology from the University of Ibadan. He received a second Bachelor’s degree at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, TX, with a focus on Christian Leadership. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently writing a dissertation for the Doctor of Ministry at the same seminary. He is a Major in the U.S. Army where he serves as a Chaplain. John and his wife, Felicia, have three children.    

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Callie was born into a Christian family with parents that were committed to advancing the Gospel in and out of their home. This fueled a strong passion for discipleship that she has carried throughout her life. Initially acquainted with World Hope as a young child, Callie fell even more in love with the mission and vision of the ministry after taking her first international trip with WHMI her senior year of high school. Since then, Callie has prayed for and stayed connected with the ministry into her adult life, eventually coming on staff in 2021 as Field Operations Coordinator. She is married to Ron, who is also invested in the work of World Hope, and is a mother to two amazing sons.

Saved as a youth and called to ministry as a high school senior, Bruce Peters followed his pastor’s counsel to attend Tennessee Temple College and Seminary. Over the next ten years at Temple, he earned three degrees (B.A. - 1970; M.R.E. - 1972; D.R.E. - 1975), in addition to graduate study at Middle Tennessee State University. During student days he worked full time in ministry, first in Christian radio, then as a faculty member at Temple, teaching undergraduates as he completed his seminary studies.

While a college student, Bruce met his future wife, Nancy, a Temple classmate. After graduation, they were married in 1970 and together served faithfully in the ministries that God entrusted to them during their 44 years of marriage. Among those ministries were churches and Christian schools in Alabama and Kentucky. Nancy went home to be with the Lord on November 28, 2014, after a valiant eighteen-month battle with brain cancer, leaving a legacy of courage and faith.

The Lord blessed Bruce and Nancy with two children. Their son, Joel, went to be with the Lord at age eight (1983). Their daughter, Meredith, is a missionary (R.C.E.) serving in Portugal with ABWE’s Greater Lisbon Christian Academy. She is a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute (NY), and Philadelphia College of Bible (now Cairn University).

In his fifty years devoted to his call, Dr. Peters’ service included ministry as a college teacher, Christian education pastor and Christian School Administrator, as well as in pastoral ministries including eighteen years as a senior pastor. He has devoted himself already for ten years to full-time global missions, traveling to five continents, serving as a teacher/preacher, writer, and staff pastor. He is the author of GIVING AN ACCOUNT, the biography of his mentor, Richard H. Vigneulle, a noted Alabama banker turned pastor and missionary statesman.

In December 2019, Bruce joined the World Hope Ministries International Team and currently serves as Chaplain, assisting WHMI leadership by creating community and mutual care among WHMI's U.S. and global teams.

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Aubrey B. Ralph is a native of Guyana, South America, where he received his early education and developed his passion for ministry while serving as a youth leader and evangelist at Central Baptist Church in Georgetown. Upon graduating from SWBTS Seminary Extension Program, he became the Pastor of Central Baptist Church and later, Chairman of the Baptist Convention of Guyana. In the 80’s and 90’s he served as coordinator of Disaster Response for the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship and later associate pastor of churches in Brooklyn, NY, and in Union, NJ.

In the early 2000’s, he served as a global missions leader and one of the Elders at Centreville Baptist Church in Northern Virginia. Following the devastating earthquake in 2010, he felt God leading him to establish Rebuild Haiti. Rebuild Haiti is now an NGO that provides disaster relief, helps build churches, schools, and homes, and provides educational assistance that sends 100 children to school and helps single moms through a microfinance program.

He is passionate about leading people to Christ and motivating them to actualize their faith by serving locally and across the world through healthy churches, making WHMI a natural fit. He has helped to launch WHBI locations in Guyana, Haiti, and Trinidad, while maintaining a bi-vocational career, as AVP and Senior Program Manager with SAIC, a Federal Government IT contractor. In 2023, Aubrey transitioned to full-time ministry. Aubrey and Juliet have been married since June 1977, and they are blessed with 3 grown sons and countless ‘adopted children’. He enjoys swimming, traveling, and meeting new people.

Dr. Billy Ross grew up in Nashville, TN, where his family went to church regularly. When he was 6 years old, he walked the aisle of Westwood Baptist Church where he made public his profession of faith in Jesus. After graduating from college with a degree in accounting, he became a C.P.A. and worked in the business world until God called him into full-time ministry. Since graduating from seminary, Billy has served churches in Alabama, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and Virginia as well as serving as the Associate Director of Pioneers, an international missions agency. On July 29, 2018, Dr. Ross stepped down from being the Lead Pastor of Centreville Baptist Church in Centreville, VA and accepted the role of Vice-President, Mobilization and Ministry Partnership for WHMI and also served as the Senior Associate Director of World Hope Bible Institute. In 2021, he was named as the Director of World Hope Bible Institute tasked with overseeing the field operations of the Institute. It is his desire to use the knowledge and experience that he has gained from years of pastoral ministry to provide theological and pastoral training to untrained, young and/or aspiring pastors in underserved parts of the world. He and his wife, Diane, have been married for 40 years, have 2 adult sons and 2 grandchildren.

Born to Christian parents in 1954, Steve was raised in a Christian home and came to know Jesus at the age of 9 years. Steve loved playing all types of sports, particularly baseball and golf. While attending Stephen F. Austin University, Steve met his wife, Lane. Because of his great love for the outdoors, Steve went to work for Texas Parks and Wildlife at the San Jacinto Battlegrounds. After Lane graduated from SFA, they were married. Desiring to be in sales, Steve began selling in the trucking industry and has been in the industry ever since. In 2001, he and his business partner opened up Majestic Transportation, a 3rd party brokerage and logistics service company. On January 2, 2019, he sold his interest in the company to his partner and has retired to enjoy more time in ministry, traveling, and enjoying grandchildren. Steve and Lane have been active members of Houston NW Church for 20 years, where he serves as an Elder. Steve became involved with WHMI when he went on his first mission to South Africa. Soon after, he became a Board Member of WHMI and later was asked to become Finance Chair. Steve recently left the Board to assume the role of WHGR Associate Director. The trips to Africa have multiplied, with Steve and Lane overseeing the children’s home in Lemoru, Kenya, and taking an active role in helping graduate students seek higher education. Steve and Lane have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Born in Houston, TX, in 1954, and raised by a godly mother, Kitty asked Jesus into her heart at the age of 5 years. Later, during a GA's camp at Peach Creek, she surrendered her life to serve God in any way He saw fit. After living in Virginia with her family for six years, Kitty moved back to Texas and entered the workforce at age 18, working in administrative positions for Oil & Gas and Banking. She has also been co-owner of several businesses, again, lending administrative support to her husband, Mike. Kitty was Dr. Stuart Sheehan's administrative assistant at Houston NW Church from 2004 - 2011, moving with him when he took the position as President of World Hope Ministries International. The administrative support skills learned over the years helped tremendously as she began setting up the offices for World Hope in 2011. Along with administrative support work, Kitty now manages data collection and reporting, and maintains processes and procedures. Kitty and Mike have been married for 50 years and are looking forward to many more to come. They have 2 sons, 1 daughter, 1 daughter-in-love, and a son-in-law. They are also blessed with 4 wonderful grandchildren. In her spare time, Kitty works in her herb garden, reads, and works with Mike as he develops his new company.

Stuart Sheehan has served as President and CEO of WHMI since 2011. He was the founding Director of World Hope Bible Institute and served in that role until 2021. In his current role, he works with the Director of the Bible Institute, as well as other Executive Staff, to lead the healthy expansion of WHMI's continued growth. He is a graduate of Furman University and has earned doctorates in both music and Divinity (DMA, University of Texas at Austin and PhD - Divinity, Practical Theology/Church History, University of Aberdeen, Scotland). He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) and the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS). Dr. Sheehan was selected as a Praxis Fellow to join the 2021-22 Nonprofit Accelerator Cohort. Before serving with WHMI, his ministry in the local church spanned more than 30 years. In 1987, he married Amy; they have three grown children, a daughter and two sons. Recently, he and Amy were blessed to become grandparents. Stuart enjoys hunting and good BBQ.

Ernest is an ordained and licensed Presbyterian pastor. He was born in 1976 in the Northwest region (Bamenda) of Cameroon from the English-speaking part of Cameroon. He is the founder of the Christian Resource Centre Church and ministry in Cameroon (CRC-CHURCH). He was the national coordinator of GLOBAL CHURCH MOVEMENT for Campus Crusade for Christ Cameroon for ten years. He has served as a pastor and church planter with the Presbyterian Church for many years. He also worked as the JESUS FILM coordinator in Cameroon.  

In 2009 he married ALVINE, who is also a missionary, an evangelist, a jurist, and director of operations. They are blessed with a son called Samuel Numfor Vegah. Ernest is passionate for teaching, farming, raising livestock, building, driving and football (soccer).

Rev. Pastor Ernest Shugu holds a Bachelor of sciences (biology) obtained from the University of Dschang in Cameroon, a master’s degree in divinity (M.Div.) and a PhD online student at ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. He has also travelled extensively for mission work in Israel, Turkey, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Korea, Togo, Benin, South Africa, USA and more. Ernest was the first WHMI Bible Institute Council Chairman in Cameroon beginning in 2014 and graduated from this location in 2019 with over 200 participants. Ernest now serves as Associate Director for French-speaking Central Africa.  

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Leann was born in Denver, CO to godly parents who loved the Lord. She placed her faith in Jesus Christ at the tender age of 5 years. Leann was blessed to grow up with 4 siblings who also love the Lord. She pursued a career in the travel industry as a Travel Agent. In March of 1992, Leann married the love of her life, David.  They have been doing ministry together ever since that day. Leann and David also have one son named James who was born in May of 1998. She was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom to him. When the opportunity presented itself for Leann and David to purchase the company David worked for in 2009, they became business owners. This opened the door for her to rejoin the workforce. In 2012 David had a major health issue that led to a brain injury. Over the years Leann has seen God work and move in many ways to protect and provide for the family. Because of the brain injury David sustained, they sold the company in 2017. God opened the door for Leann to start working for a company that assists attorneys and private investigators in researching assets for judgments awarded. Once again seeing God work in ways only He can, Leann was offered the job of Logistics and Development Coordinator at WHMI. Leann is thrilled to be working with WHMI using her skills from her past travel experience and owning a business.

Troy and Victoria were married in 1994. They love each other and still like each other. They have three children-Conner, Kyla, and Elya and one daughter-in-law, Trinity. Troy and Vic like to be outdoors enjoying God’s beauty. The Pacific NW is home! The mountains, the water, the trees, and the coffee, of course!

Troy has been a follower and believer in Jesus since the age of 4.  He has served, since 1999, in various vocational ministry leadership roles in the local church. Troy is currently serving as a pastor to Restoration Church. The various other roles have been executive pastor, missions, church planter, worship, student ministries, and adult discipleship. His life’s mission statement is to “glorify God by having a heart for Him and hands for His Kingdom.” His role with World Hope Ministries International has been the joy of his heart in living this out. He has a B.S.M.L. from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI, and an M.Div. from Gateway Seminary.

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Noel joined World Hope in 2012 as the Bible Institute’s Associate Director. As the ministry grew, Provost's responsibilities were added in 2017. Today, Noel serves exclusively as Provost, the Bible Institute’s chief academic officer. Noel earned two undergraduate degrees in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies and a Master's degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. He is currently preparing a Ph.D. research project for a university in the UK. Prior to joining World Hope, Noel served for twelve years as Senior Pastor of Compass Community Church in Houston, Texas. He is a current member and two-time past Chairman of Houston's Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center Advisory Council. Noel also serves as a current member of Southwestern Seminary's Board of Visitors. Noel was born in the Midwest but was raised in Texas. He coached elite youth baseball for ten years, is an avid bass fisherman, and an upland bird hunter with his dog, Katie. Noel and his family are very involved in local church ministry. He and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for over 35 years, and they are more in love than ever. They have two grown-up children, Chelsea and Noah, and a growing cadre of grandbabies they adore.

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Wes White has served the Lord in vocational ministry for 37 years. He stepped down from his role as pastor of Smithville Baptist Church in Smithville, Mississippi, to serve as Associate Director of East Africa for World Hope Bible Institute.  In addition to pastoring churches in Mississippi and Florida, Wes served the Lord as a missionary in Belize, a missionary executive in Mississippi, and a youth pastor for several years in the 1980s.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling, and will complete his doctorate in Leadership at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. He is husband to Jan, dad to Amy, Andrew, and Ashley, and Papi to Levi, Wesley James, and Henry Thomas.

Michael Williams joined the WHBI team in March of 2022 as Associate Director of Southern Africa. Michael continues to serve as pastor at Bluffton Baptist Church in southwest Georgia where he and his family have served since October of 2010.  Michael is actively involved in his regional Baptist association, as well as in the ministries of Rahab’s Haven and Rehoboth Ranch. Michael completed his academic studies at Georgia Southwestern State University, Valdosta State University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He enjoys both fishing for fish and being a fisher of men.

Lenny was born in the Bronx, NY, and grew up in Fresh Meadows, Queens. He is a graduate of Binghamton University with a BA in History and a minor in Political Science and Theater. Lenny graduated with a Master of Divinity in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Lenny gave his life to Jesus in 1999 at the age of 37, after nine years of loving witness from many people in his life. In 2000, he went on his first WHMI missionary trip to Southern Africa. Lenny has been a part of WHMI on and off for the past 24years.  He has served in multiple capacities ranging from team leader, evangelist, preacher and teacher.  He has served WHMI as a Board Member and Executive Board Member/Sec. Treasurer. Lenny has ministered in South Africa, Eswatini, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, India, and France. He has been involved in prison ministry, the equipping and training of pastors, one on one evangelism, crusades, counseling, church planting, feeding the hungry, and the development of children's homes.

Lenny was licensed into the Gospel Ministry and ordained as a Pastor.  He was called to shepherd the flock at Sawdust Road Baptist Church, where he has been serving since February 1, 2015. Prior to Sawdust Road Baptist Church, Lenny and his wife Susan were active members at Believers Fellowship Baptist Church in Spring, Texas and Houston Northwest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Lenny and his wife, Susan, have four adult children, two grandchildren, and their lab, Tucker.In his new capacity, Lenny will serve on the Global Reach Team and focus on the ministries in Asia and Latin America.

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