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STAFF
Children to Love International is headquartered in Bakersfield, California. CTL has a staff that works daily and diligently to keep the ministry of CTL running smoothly and effectively.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Children to Love’s Board of Directors is made up of individuals who are deeply committed to the mission of serving vulnerable children in the name of Jesus. Together, they bring leadership, wisdom and a shared desire to see children and families cared for with dignity, compassion and long-term hope.
Jordan Lewis
Board Chairperson
Jordan Lewis became involved with CTL in 2013 after he traveled to Romania to see the ministry there in person.
In addition to being a Financial Advisor for Barnes Wealth Management Group Jordan is also co-founder and Managing Partner of Grant & Lewis, a business & real estate services firm. Jordan also serves the community of Bakersfield through LiFT, an organization committed to fulfilling the biblical mandate to love and serve the lost and broken in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Rich Abel
Vice-Chairperson
World Vision, volunteering with The Mission at Kern County and Gleaners, as well as an outreach in northern India & Nepal). After attending a CTL Banquet, they began supporting a boy in India and later traveled to Romania with CTL. Rich and Mary continue to be amazed by the dedication of the CTL partners and staff. Rich recently retired from Fastrip Food Stores, where he oversaw 88 locations. Together he and his wife (who he’s madly in love with) have four children and five grandchildren.
Rich Abel and his wife Mary have always been interested in outreach/ministry (supporting three children through
Heather Sproul
Board Secretary
Heather Sproul worked in PR and sales before discovering her passion for education, first in homeschooling her four children
and later working briefly as a history teacher. She connected with CTL after her first trip to India with her family in 2008 and served on a banquet committee the same year. She has now visited both Romania and India. Heather recently completed her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She enjoys bringing people together for a good cause and teaching Sunday School. Heather believes there is no greater investment than those we make in the lives of children.
Greg Gibbons
Board Treasurer
Greg Gibbons has been involved with CTL since its earliest days, and was deeply changed by his early experiences
traveling to Bucharest, Romania and seeing the devastating conditions of the children there. He is passionate about moving things forward and continually improving the way CTL does ministry. Greg is now retired and looks forward to participating in growing God's kingdom, utilizing his many years of experience in the construction industry.
Bob Green
Director
Bob Green has worked with college students through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship since 1985, and also serves
on the member care team with Servant Partners. He became involved with CTL in 2005 when he led a week-long training seminar for the Romanian staff team. In addition to Romania, Bob and his family have also been to India. Bob is always thinking about the cross-cultural implications of the actions CTL takes. He has especially enjoyed being involved with the ministry as it has grown to serve more children in more places in recent years.
Carol Wilcox
Director
Carol Wilcox fell in love with CTL in 1999 as a fundraiser banquet volunteer. Inspired by CTL’s vision for the abandoned
children in Romania, she and her husband, Hank, served as missionaries with CTL in Romania and the USA from 2002-2005. Now well into retirement from 30 years of full-time pastoral ministry in Music, Children's Ministry and Facility Administrative roles, Carol still loves to organize anything, edit all things written, and embraces every opportunity to elevate the vibrant ministry of God through CTL.
Ben Haymond
Director
Ben Haymond first traveled to Romania with CTL in 2004, and through that trip his eyes were opened to our responsibility as
followers of Christ towards the least of these. After re-connecting with CTL over the last few years and seeing the work that God is accomplishing through this ministry, he is excited about bringing the love of Jesus to children all over the world. Ben relocated to Idaho and he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.
Cheryl Levey
Director
Cheryl Levey has a love for children that began as she taught elementary and Jr. High students for over 16 years and
continued after her retirement when she was appointed Director of Children's Ministries at RiverLakes Community Church in Bakersfield. Challenged to participate in short term missions, she began to serve with International School Project in 1991, teaching educators around the world and writing curriculum. Cheryl served as Director of Global Mission at RiverLakes Church in Bakersfield where she promoted the mission of CTL, but recently relocated to San Diego.
Ken Harlander
Director
Ken Harlander and his wife first learned of CTL while attending Laurelglen Bible Church in the early nineties. They would hear
about the challenges in the Romanian orphanages and what CTL was doing to meet those challenges, and over the years the couple has sponsored children, attended CTL banquets and joined a CTL team to Romania. Ken has also participated in missions trips through Students International. A calling to become more involved in the global mission of the Church led him joining the CTL board. Ken is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has always particularly enjoyed working with teens and children.
Scott Rossi
Director
Scott Rossi joined the CTL Board after he and his wife traveled to Lviv, Ukraine in 2019 on one of the first CTL mission teams
sent to Ukraine. Scott has a passion for working with young children, since he is a grandpa to four grandchildren himself. Since retiring, he and his wife Cheryl have been able to return to Ukraine with CTL, as well as visit CTL’s partners in Uganda, Romania and Thailand. He is looking forward to visiting India, and continuing to work with CTL's Board and staff members in all the different areas of ministry.
John Penrose
President
In 2003, John Penrose took on the role of President for Children to Love, after
working as a senior executive in banking
and other business enterprises for 24 years and with Youth for Christ for 10 years. He has made dozens of trips over the years to our various ministry sites. He and his wife Sandy live in Bakersfield, California, and frequently open up their home for pool parties to their 25 grandchildren.