who we are

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Charles White

President and Board Member
Was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, he graduated from the University of South Florida (B.A.), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He has served at First Baptist Lutz (in the Tampa Bay area) for over 30 years.

Brian Scherer

Board Member
Is a graduate of the University if Wisconsin (B.A.) and has over 30 years experience in the Equipment Leasing and Financial Services Industry. Past employers have included Cargill Leasing, Compaq Capital, GE Capital, GATX Capital and SunTrust Bank. In addition Brian formed and managed the US subsidiary of Deutsche Leasing, GmbH. He was the Managing Director who wrote and executed the business plan for Deutsche Leasing USA and also formed and was Managing Director of Deutsche Leasing Canada. He is currently Vice President, Equipment Management at M&T Bank.

Ivy Wilbourne

Board Member
Is a graduate of the University of South Florida (B.A., M.B.A.) and has spent the last 24 years in various roles at Happy Hill Farms, a day-school and boarding school begun to help disadvantaged children reach their full potential located in Granbury, Texas. She has filled positions from House Parent to Crisis-Management Specialist to Developmental Associate responsible for fund raising and maintenance of donor relationships.

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Ken White

Board Member
Is a graduate of the University of South Florida (B.A.) and served as GTE/Verizon Logistics manager for the state of Florida, Senior Leadership special projects throughout the US for 20 years. He has spent the last thirteen years working for non-profits in Florida and California. He currently serves with Catholic Charities Feeding America program.

Leonard Robinson

Board Member
Originally from Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). His family immigrated to South Africa where he served in the SA Airforce. He graduated from the University of South Africa with a BA in English, Biblical Studies with Archeology and Education. Len has worked extensively in Public Relations and Communications with the University of the North (Limpopo), UNIQWA, and the Medical University of Southern Africa. He was a stringer photo journalist for the Sunday Times. Len eventually became involved in major gift fundraising for a number of research projects and then in the mid 1980’s served as executive director of Mission Without Borders (SA, USA and Canada), an international Christian ministry focused on Bible distribution, training, and child sponsorship. After immigrating to the USA in 1997, he went back into the business world raising venture capital for firms like RDE Labs and Crestway. In 2002 he joined Open Doors USA as Vice President of Strategic Relationships initiating major donor and planned giving strategies for projects in the Middle East, China, North Africa, Central and Far East Asia and other undisclosed regions. Len now serves as a strategic planner and development consultant to non-profits and universities in North America and abroad. He has led and trained numerous fundraising teams and board members for groups including The Seed Company, Point Loma University, Arizona Christian University, Task Force Heroes and many more.

Our Vision:

  • That those who suffer for Christ would not suffer alone.
  • That those with resource would supply those in need.

 

Our Mission:

  • To encourage and equip believers in places of persecution by providing Bibles and discipleship materials, through leadership training, and humanitarian relief, that the church would survive and thrive.

 Our Values:

  • Love of God (Luke 10:27)
  • The advance of His Kingdom (Matthew 28:19)
  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16)
  • Provision to those in need (Matthew 25:40)

 

Statement of Faith:

We believe that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three persons, without division of nature, essence, or being. One eternal God who created all things. God the Father sent God the Son, His incarnation, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus was perfect in all He did and said, revealing God’s will to man. Jesus died on the cross of Calvary as the perfect and spotless sacrifice for the sins of people. He arose from the dead and ascended to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father. God the Holy Spirit exalts Christ, convicts people of sin, and calls people to salvation.

We believe men and women are the crowning work of God’s creation. Through the temptation of Satan, men and women chose to sin and separated themselves from God. Through the shed blood of Jesus, and Jesus alone, God offers eternal redemption for those who surrender to Jesus as Lord.

We believe that those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus as Lord comprise the church. The church includes all of the redeemed, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. It is the responsibility of every follower of Christ and of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations.