Dr. Dale L. Johnson
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Johnson has a Bachelor of Science from Howard University, a Masters of Education from the University of Virginia, a Masters of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. She is a former public school teacher and Elementary Principal. She served as the Assistant Dean of the School of Theology at Virginia University of Lynchburg. She is the former Pastor of The Way of The Cross Baptist Church, and served as a Chaplain Resident at UVA Medical Center. She is a 2008 graduate of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention Pastoral Excellence Program (PEP). While participating in the PEP program she studied and ministered in Guyana, Jamaica and South Africa.
She has traveled extensively in ministry to Ghana, West Africa since 1999 and in Kenya since 2005. She is an active member of Faith Christian Center International where she served as the Outreach Ministries Director. She is a Minister and serves with her husband as an Elder. She also leads the Missions Ministry Team.
She serves on the Advisory Board of the Southern Albemarle Family Practice. She is an honorable Queenmother in Tabre, Ghana, West Africa, her stool name is Nana Akosua Boatemaa II. She is known there as their “Queen mother of Development.”
Dr. Johnson did her doctoral work in rural Tabre, Ghana, West Africa, with the Tabre Women Association in developing sustainable trade businesses. Presently she is working with Grandmothers and widows in Kenya, and Winneba, Ghana.
In rural Kipsitet, Kenya The Helen Project International Inc. has spearheaded building a Women’s Center and Hostel with assistance from other donors.
In August 2013 a Micro -Lending Project was established in Winneba, Ghana which has benefited thirty-two Grandmothers who were selected from a cross section of the community. These Grandmothers each received $100.00 toward starting their own self sustaining business.
She is the author of Forget Me Not A Journey in Remembrance. Doctoral studies work Empowering Vessels of Hope: Spirituality and Sustainability Through Faith In Rural Tabre, Ghana, West Africa.
FREDERICK S. DANKWA
President
Frederick is a small business owner and christian leader. He specializes in print production and marketing materials.
REV. DR. MAMIE T. LEE
Vice President
Reverend Dr. Mamie T. Lee is the Associate Minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Lynch Station, VA, former Interim Pastor at Mt. Plain Baptist Church, and former Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Missions at Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL). Dr. Lee graduated from VUL with a Master of Religious Education, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Dr. Lee
participates in international outreach ministry and operates a local food ministry
providing home-cooked meals to seniors and disabled persons. She serves on the
boards of Greater Bedford Improvement Association, Inc. and Susie G. Gibson
Legacy, Inc.
REV. KAREN B. COOPER
Secretary
Reverend Karen B. Cooper is the Pastor of The Way of The Cross Baptist Church in Palmyra Virginia. She is a teacher and counselor for the Women of Destiny Sunday School class. She has traveled and ministered in Ghana and Kenya for seven years. Through her “Shoe Ministry” she has raised funds to purchase over 500 pairs of shoes for the children in the village of Tabre. She worked with Tabre Women’s Association with the Spirituality and Sustainability Project. In 2007 she traveled to Kenya to meet and assess women’s groups for their immediate needs. She is also a Grandmother of two wonderful boys.
REV. KELVIN MATTOX
Treasurer
Reverend Kelvin Mattox is a thirty year veteran conductor with the Norfolk and Southern Railroad. He is a graduate of Virginia University of Lynchburg with a Masters of Religious Studies, and a Masters of Divinity. He has traveled and ministered in Ghana for the past seven years and three years in Kenya. He was instrumental in helping to build the “Light of the World E.P. Church” in Kotobabi. Kelvin continues to support the rural village of Tabre in helping the village to obtain a trade towards having a sustainable income. He and his wife Lynn support many children who are in need in Ghana and Kenya. Kevin has a heart for the brothers and sisters in Ghana and in Kenya. He has worked with the Christian Missions Fellowship Church and Africa Hope Center in Kenya, which supports orphan children who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS. He has an outreach ministry to the Rendile people in Laisamis-Marabit, Kenya where they are building a church, clinic, and classrooms.
Aretha P. Smith
Member
Aretha P. Smith is a graduate of Virginia State University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Accounting. She has worked for over 28 years for the Department of Treasury and continues her career with the Department in Leadership. She has voluntarily served as on Credit and Supervisory (Chairman) Committees of Federal Credit Unions. She has been on a Board of Directors for a county food program and is very active within communities. She mentors young adults and children and has started programs to coach children for their lives beyond high school. New York Publication. True to serving others he is a Lobbyist for Veterans.
DOROTHY WHITE
Member
The Rev. Dr. Dorothy White is the Interim Vicar of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Dorothy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in Theology from Oral Roberts University. She has also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.
Currently, Dorothy serves on the Standing Committee, is a facilitator of the Diocesan Discernment Retreats, serves on the Board of the Church Schools of the Diocese of VA, and is a facilitator of the Triangle of Hope Pilgrimage for the Diocese. Periodically she leads weekly Chapel Services at the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School.