Our Board

John M.

LJI Founder and CEO

John grew up in Helena, Montana, before attending college at Taylor University. He first came to Nepal in 2002. Two years later, he returned to Nepal and was inspired to start Love Justice. Since that time, he has lived primarily in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he continues his work establishing new programs for Love Justice and overseeing current ones. In addition to this work, John is a writer, thinker, lover of philosophy, and educator. He is married to a Nepali woman named Aksha and they have two sons, Jude and Blaise. They plan to continue living and working overseas for Love Justice and God's kingdom.

Bryan Kenney

Bryan grew up in Florida where he attended Bradenton Christian School before studying philosophy and biblical studies at Taylor University. Upon graduating in 2002, he made his first trip to Nepal and immediately felt compelled to serve the people there in whatever capacity he could. He has been a part of Love Justice since the ministry began, and enjoys visiting Nepal whenever he can to see how God’s work has unfolded over the years. Bryan is a small business owner in Nashville, TN, where he lives with his wife, Casie, and their two children, Georgia and River.

Jackie Patillo

Jackie Patillo, the president and executive director of the Gospel Music Association since 2010, is an energetic force for progress within the Christian and gospel music community, working tirelessly to bring all genres of Christian music together into one unified community, celebrating all voices under one banner of glorifying the kingdom of God. As leader of the GMA, Patillo is the driving force behind the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Honors, and the GMA Academy. Inducted into the Stellar Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2019, she also serves on the Gospel Music Trust Fund as a trustee, Lipscomb University's College of Entertainment and Artists Advisory Board, Anchor House TV Board, and Studio Bank Founders Advisory Board.

Jephat Chifamba

Originally from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Jephat attended a university in Harare. In 1994, he married his wife, Kudzanai, and they have two children: a daughter, Michelle, and a son, Tinomutenda. During their first year of marriage, Jephat became a church elder responsible for the children's ministry, and he has been a children’s church teacher for more than 35 years. Currently, Jephat is a professor of physiology and a deputy dean at the University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Jephat is also actively involved in the evangelism of children as well as orphan care work throughout the country of Zimbabwe. He is a coordinator and board chair of Love Justice Zimbabwe, and he was invited to the LJI board in June 2019.

Mike O'Hara

Mike grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and attended Lincoln Christian High School before doing his undergraduate work at Taylor University. He attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is a practicing physician in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife, Bekah. Mike has been a part of Love Justice since its inception, having been involved in starting the first family home in 2003. He also serves on the leadership team, which keeps him more closely tied to the daily operations, and he travels to Nepal every chance he gets.

Stephanie Adams

Stephanie lives outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Benbrook, Texas. She is a service advisor for the Professional Athletes Division of Ronald Blue Trust. She has a passion for helping clients build their wealth, give generously, and manage their resources wisely. Stephanie is a graduate of Taylor University and a long-time member of Bible Study Fellowship. Stephanie became familiar with Love Justice through serving on the Taylor University Business Advisory Council with Andrew Fennig in 2016. She is honored to get to participate in the work God is doing through Love Justice to stop human trafficking and care for orphaned and abandoned children.

Matt Allmand

Matt is the director of the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the University of Nebraska. He and his wife, Lori, are raising four beautiful daughters: Sydney, Callie, Emma, and Evie in Lincoln, NE. A career in manufacturing led to experiences in international business that made Matt aware of the difficulties and dangers that face so many children around the world. The drive to take action on these issues brought him to Love Justice as a supporter and board member first in 2010.

Mindy Honcoop

Mindy has a calling for people and creating healthy workplace ecosystems and has spent the past 20 years as a people leader and HR advisor for primarily technology-focused companies. She helps organizations thrive because communities and societies need organizations that prioritize stakeholder well-being. Mindy graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in social welfare and is currently finishing her MBA at Western Governors University. In 2008, Mindy and her husband went on a hiking trip through Nepal that changed their life perspective and left a mark on their hearts. Mindy is actively involved in her local church and recently became the ministry leader of the newly formed Hello Team which evolved the task of hospitality into an act of service to meaningfully connect and develop relationships with everyone who walks through their doors. Mindy lives in Austin, Texas, and when not working, she enjoys traveling and hiking with her husband and three dogs.

Pamela Shaw

Pamela is a devout Christ-follower who learned faith in action as the daughter of missionary parents. Passionate about people, Pamela has a heart to utilize her education, life experience, creativity, and leadership to unify the body of Christ and support organizations involved in anti-trafficking, family preservation, leadership development, media, mentoring, cultural change, education, publishing, and the arts. As the vice president of philanthropy and community engagement for Almex Group, a family company, Pamela has engaged with foundations, organizations, and events spanning the globe. From the Vatican to Carnegie Hall, from Alpha Leadership at Royal Albert Hall to the Dove Awards, from developing educational opportunities in Africa to ridding the world of human slavery, Pamela understands both sides of giving and the many challenges associated for both the donor and the recipient. While Pamela is American by birth, she calls Stoney Creek, Ontario, her home. Pamela has a blended family of six adult children and resides with her husband, Tim, and a lovable dog named Finnegan.