ORPHANOS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Retired Small Business Owner
Bill has served since 2010. He is married to Cindy and they have four grown children.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Chair, VP of Marketing for Several Global Companies
Chad has served since 2014 is married to Kristi, and has four teenage boys.
I love serving on the Orphanos Board because everyone on the Orphanos team is solely focused on serving the needs of children at risk around the globe and supporting the partner missionaries providing their care.
Denise is the laughter and joy in our office. Originally from New Orleans (go SAINTS) she actually came to Orphanos after serving as the CFO of a beautiful non-profit in West Palm Beach, Florida working with inner city youth. Denise loves to cook and eat spicy food, and most days the office is filled with the sound of her singing praise songs while wearing her headphones. (Shhhh, don't tell her we can hear her!) Denise loves to say she is passionate about ministry, but God didn't design her to be one who enjoys traveling. "I'm happy to stay here and let you crazy people do all that traveling!" Denise is married to D and together they have 4 children.
Job Titles:
- Pastoral Chair, Retired Senior Pastor of Several Mega Churches and Former Missionary in Latin America
Sam has served since 2018 He is married to Ruthe and has four grown children.
Grant joined the Orphanos team in October 2019. When he's not chasing around his son, holding his young girl or spending time with his wife, you'll likely find him riding a bike, reading a book or sipping coffee. Grant has a passion for God's Word and loves telling others about Jesus. He likes sharing stories about what God does in His life and the life of others. He'll have that unique privilege as he communicates to Orphanos followers and donors through various digital platforms.
Job Titles:
- Legal Chair, General Counsel for the YMCA
One of my passions is to reach the next generation with the truth of the gospel, and Orphanos does this in a unique way. By touching the undeserved children of the world and supporting missionaries in the trenches, Orphanos fulfills the mandate of Psalm 10:8 to "defend the fatherless and oppressed." I love serving on the Orphanos Board.
Job Titles:
- Finance Chair, Senior Vice President of Simmons Bank
I enjoy my role on the Orphanos Board because children are the most venerable among us and Orphanos serves those that serve the smallest among us.
John has served since 2014. He is married to Amy, and has two teenage girls.
Joy Carr is a registered nurse. She has spent 43 years fulltime in ministry to the youth and children of Southern Region of Africa. Joy's current ministry responsibilities include administration, event management, pastoral counseling and teaching a women's group. She has served as a church musician for thirty-two years. Joy functioned as the elected Chairperson of the Management Committee of a 40 unit townhouse complex and she enjoys a warm equipping and mentoring relationship with staff. She has been essential to the pioneering of Pro-Vision International, Unsung Heroes, and Kubuga Connections. Joy is cross-culturally skilled and she provides hospitality to all segments of the Southern Africa population, to numerous overseas teams, and to guests. In the midst of her ministries, she has raised three adult children who share her compassion for the underprivileged.
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Chair, Owner of VACO, a Staffing Company
Kirk has served since 2012, is married to Karen and has three grown children and one teenager.
Michelle grew up in the Memphis area, but moved to Arizona in her 20's to be a part of a church plant. She brought her skills in administration and bookkeeping back to Memphis and we were thrilled to find her. The playlist on her phone includes everything from Bethel Praise to Country Music! Her heart for missions, particularly Africa, began on her first mission trip when she was 18 years old. Multiple trips later she's now passionate about her work at Orphanos supporting widows and orphans from right here in Memphis, TN. A widow herself, Michelle and her son live together with their brand new brown lab puppy named Charlie!
Stephanie Wilkins joined the staff at Orphanos late in 2019 in a part-time capacity, following a twenty-year career in the classroom. It is a joy for her to come alongside others, co-laboring in Gospel-centered work. But watch out! She is a highly competitive double solitaire player. When she's not clobbering someone at cards she can be found outside on sunny days or in a Zumba class sweating to the oldies. Stephanie has a deep appreciation for the beauty of the orthodox faith. She is married to Dave, and together they share six children.
Ted Carr trained as a Textile Chemist and marketing manager for an international textile company. Later, he established his own company TransTex Sales. Thereafter, he served Youth for Christ South Africa as President. Ted was also the Africa Regional Field Director responsible for thirteen nations; Deputy Director for Africa and Ambassador at Large in South Africa. He functioned on the International Executive of YFC and the International Millennium Task Force. Ted provided leadership for several international initiatives that have had a significant strategic impact in different parts of the world. After 25 years he left YFC but he continues to serve and mentor the YFC staff. In the year 2000 Ted launched Pro-Vision International and Unsung Heroes. In 2005 the Anglo American and Shuttleworth Foundations adjudged these entities as in the top 30 performing Non-Profit Companies (NPC) of approximately 90,000 in South Africa.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- Vice Chairman
As a teenager Wayne (el Loco Jefe) lived with his family in Iran, but only began his mission career in 1981. Since then he has traveled in 70+ nations leading 100+ short-term outreaches. He's the co-author of Maximum Impact Short-Term Mission, served on various boards including; Alliance for Excellence in Short-Term Mission, Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission, and Fellowship of Short-Term Mission Leaders. He's a speaker for the Perspectives Course, various mission conferences and training seminars, and provided consulting for churches, mission agencies, and Christian colleges. Our President/CEO since 1997, Wayne and his wife Angela have been married since 1999 and have two awesome daughters.
Missionaries are my heroes. I love serving on the Board at Orphanos because I see the blessing we are to the missionaries. I also love children and love the mission of Orphanos to help vulnerable children. Something that is very close to the heart of God..
Wayne has served since 1997, is married to Angela and has two awesome daughters.
Most days when you call Orphanos, Mena is the first lovely voice you will hear. She brings the Latin hot sauce to our office. She is very outgoing, passionate, fun, and not afraid to give her opinion. (Normally she's right too!) Everyone loves Mena. She has been a missionary since 2008 and has served in Mexico, Ecuador, and now in the US. She had 6 years of experience in accounting before becoming a missionary and is now able to put that into practice in our home office. Mena loves the beach (especially in Puerto Rico), she loves her family, including the dog Sanka, and she loves cooking. Which is good since her husband Richard loves food! Together they have 7 children.