Light of Africa Board of Directors
The Light of Africa Board of Directors: from the left,
Dr. Bill Lyons; Cindy Nelson; Eddie Hash; Sam Nelson; Roy "Pete" Peters.
Eddie Hash, Chairman of the Board
Well familiar with radio ministries, Eddie Hash built and managed three radio stations over the years, including KVIP, a Christian radio station in Redding, California. He brings to LoAN a breath of experience in radio programming and operational issues. He has also been a law enforcement chaplain for 33 years.
Sam E. Nelson, President
The eldest of the founder's five sons, Sam Nelson spent his childhood in Africa. He is presently the owner of North State Constructors, with twenty-five years experience in the construction of real estate developments. Having the heart of a philanthropist, Sam was selected to receive the Greater Redding's "Citizen of the Year" award in 1999 in recognition for his service to the community. He returned for a visit to the Congo in 2006, after a 43 year absence. What an emotional experience for him. "The people are still the same today but the needs are now so crushingly great" he says.
Roy F. "Pete" Peters, Vice President
Pete has practiced law as an attorney in the Redding area for twenty-eight years. He has been quite active in the community and served two terms as a member of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. His doctor, Dr. Don Nelson, recruited Pete to a number of causes, LoAN being one of them
Dr. William "Bill" Lyons, Secretary
Dr. Bill began practicing dentistry in the Redding area back in 1966, taking leave from his practice from 1968 to 1985 to commit himself to a ministry of healing and evangelism in Niger, West Africa. The experience and insight he has gained from working in a third-world environment is a valuable addition to LoAN.
Cindy L. Nelson, Chief Financial Officer
The spouse of Sam Nelson and co-owner of North State Constructors, Cindy Nelson brings to LoAN an amazing amount of energy, organizing skills and knowledge of financial accounting.
Light of Africa Field Coordinators
Joining the LoAN team in 2004, Camille and Esther Ntoto have brought a wealth of experience and training to the effort. Born of Congolese parents, educated in Belgium and in Kinshasa, fluent in French and English as well as several African languages, they are well qualified to advance LoAN's goals in the Congo. Both worked for a couple of years with Studios Sango Malamu, a Kinshasa, Congo, based Christian media organization, before attending and graduating from a Vanguard University in southern California. Their undergraduate degrees are in Intercultural Studies, with a minor in Communication for Esther, while Camille minored in Pastoral and Biblical Studies. Camille also earned a master degree in Leadership Studies. In addition, they have both earned certificates in Micro Economic Development.
Besides their educational qualifications, they bring to the project experience in working in third-world settings, and they are familiar with the social, cultural and political climate of the DR Congo. The work of producing and translating radio programming, as well as cultivating networks of media outlets is a task for which they are well prepared.
Together these members of the board and the LoAN field coordinators are active in implementing the LoAN mission. You can read about the work that is being done to make a media ministry a reality, and the work being done to offer humanitarian assistance. The latest updates on all these efforts are also available, including a special site for the N Team, featuring the efforts of Camille and Esther Ntoto. There is also opportunity for you to get involved in the LoAN effort.