Dusty and Cecily
Dusty went to culinary school with aspirations of working as a pastry chef for a cruise line. After a year at culinary school, he felt a pull to change the direction his life was going. He re-ignited his relationship with God and began spending as much time in Africa as he could. Lifebread was formally launched in August of 2007, one year after Dusty first set foot on African soil. Dusty is a 2010 graduate of Pepperdine University, where he studied Religion. Dusty hopes to someday adopt a child from East Africa. (Email Dusty!)
Cecily is a Colorado native with a passion for the outdoors and new experiences. Lifebread's Bakery Project 2009 was Cecily's first visit to East Africa. After the trip, Cecily came on board as Lifebread's graphic, merchandise, and web designer. Last July, Dusty and Cecily officially joined forces when they got married in Kamulu, Kenya. Cecily speaks French and hopes to learn Swahili someday. (Email Cecily!)
Russell
Russell Lingerfelt's passion for world missions brought he and Dusty together in the summer of 2006. He completed his Masters of Ministry at Pepperdine University and the trip he took with Dusty was his first experience in East Africa. After serving as an adjunct professor at Lipscomb University, Russell currently teaches Bible at a Christian high school in Houston, TX. Russell was on the founding board of directors in 2007. He is working on his Ph.D. through Fuller Theological Seminary, which will be complete after a 5 year stint serving in ministry in the Middle East.
Russell also runs an independent publishing company called William and Keats Publishing. Feel free to refer to Russell if you have any questions about getting your work published.
Chad
Dr. Chad Stephens, D.O., a Colorado native, has a history of missions and ministry leadership, ideal traits when it comes to his role as a director of Lifebread. Chad is a Doctor of Osteopathy. He lives in Texas, along with his wife, Cassaundra, and three children, Connor, Callee, and Cooper. In the summer of 2010, Chad, Cassaundra, and Connor all visited East Africa for the first time with Lifebread's Bakery Project 2010. When Chad is not administering spinal epidurals or adjusting backs, he can be found on the sidelines at his children's sporting events. You can't miss him; he's the one cheering louder than the coaches and all the rest of the parents combined.
Neil
Neil Reynolds, our newest member of the board of directors, joined the team in Spring 2010. Neil has served in various aspects of ministry for the past 10 years, including campus ministry, short-term missions, and is currently the youth minister at Westside church of Christ in Russellville, AR. In the fall of 2010, Neil completed his masters degree in Christian Ministry at Harding Graduate School of Religion. He also known for planning Christeens, an annual youth conference that occurs in the Spring in Russellville, and draws over one thousand attendants. Christeens continues to be one of the premiere youth conference events within the churches of Christ. Lifebread has been the missions focus at Christeens for several years running. Neil and his beautiful wife, Katie, and their daughter, Eden, serve as spiritual spotlights to everyone they interact with.
Jessica
Jessica Barnes' road to non-profit development started long before she knew Dusty, or Lifebread, or had ever set foot in Africa. Early in her college career, Jessica took on responsibilities as an intern for the Make a Wish Foundation. She later honed her skills working with Global Green, Lionsgate Pictures, and many other organizations in Southern California. Currently, Jessica is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, in Malibu, CA. Jessica's strengths lie in communication, rhetoric, organization, and making a mean lazagna. Email Jessica!
