Honduran Board of Directors:
President: Dinora Lopez – Dinora is the director of Ruach Bi-lingual school in Comayugua. She has a heart to serve her people and to see a difference happen. Her heart is to raise up a future generation of leaders to make a difference in Honduras. Dinora is very active in her church and in other ministries happening in the area. Her and her husband have many connections and are able to get things done quickly!
Vice President: Saul Martinez is the community named “mayor” of the village Lo De Reina – where El Ayudante resides. He is a farmer by trade and grows coffee, corn, and beans. Saul is a friend of everyone within a 25 mile radius and is always working to improve the conditions of his community. His wife is the assistant director of the local school and together they work to collaborate with El Ayudante in any way they can.
Treasurer: David Duron graduated the National Autonoma University of Honduras with a degree in public finance. His understanding of finances, especially in the Non-governmental faction is a huge asset to El Ayudante. David has experience working in a bank and is now in charge of all the finances as well as everything administrative at his church – CCI Comayagua.
Secretary: Joel Zavala is a school teacher and church leader in Tegucigalpa at CEAD Assembly of God church and school. Joel’s has roots and passion for the area of Comayagua as he grew up near Comayagua and his family is from Comayagua. Joel has a huge heart to serve and to show the love of Jesus to his country. He is willing to sacrifice his time to assist in any needs that arise. Joel has a wonderful wife and 2 young boys.
Legal Voice: Emilio Chirinos is a social rights lawyer with a passion for justice and improvement in his country. He is a great asset to our team for making the contracts, advising on all legal matters, and ensuring that we are following all that the government stipulates. He is very active in his local church.
Voice: John Mattica and his family have been missionaries in Honduras for almost 10 years. In the past he has led El Ayudante, done circuits of pastors trainings and church seminars, and recently founded Honduran Fellowship of Ministries and Missionaries as well as pastors the English speaking church in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Him and his wife are a huge source of support, advice, and experience.
Voice: Mirian is a general physician at a local Christian Clinic in the area. She graduated from the National Autonoma in Honduras in 2010 and has since been working at Clinica Emanuel as a general doctor. She frequently assists as a doctor to free clinics and desires to improve the health care of her country while showing the love of her Father, Jesus Christ.
USA Board of Directors
Mark Northern is a resident of Bells, Tennessee and joined El Ayudante as a Director in 2002. Mark attends Christ Community Church in Bells where he has served on the Board of Trustees and as its Chairman. Mark is married and has four sons. He is the Vice-President of Logistics for The Pictsweet Company in Bells.
Bob Fargarson is a resident of Memphis, Tennessee and joined El Ayudante as a Director in 2001. Bob attends Redeemer Evangelical Church where he teaches a co-ed Sunday school class. He has also served as a Trustee for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary at Mill Valley and Love Worth Finding Ministries of Cordova, TN. Bob and his wife have eight children and twenty-two grandchildren plus a grandchild from Mexico. He is an Attorney at Law in Memphis, TN.
Allen Watts is a resident of Brownsville, Tennessee and has served as a Director for El Ayudante since its incorporation in August of 1998. Allen attends Brownsville Baptist Church where he serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. Allen is married and has two sons. He is Director of Tennessee and Texas Operations for The Pictsweet Company in Bells, Tennessee.
Mel Cox, founder, is a resident of Brownsville, Tennessee and has served as a Director for El Ayudante since its incorporation in August of 1998. He is a member of Brownsville Baptist Church. Mel is married and has three children. He is a pharmacist with Walgreens in Brownsville.
Dr. Eddie Pate is a resident of Brea, California and joined El Ayudante as a Director in 2006. Eddie has served as a Senior Pastor at North Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas and First Baptist Church in Barstow, California. He served for eleven years as a Church Planter, Strategy Coordinator and later a Strategy Associate with the International Mission Board, SBC in Northern Africa and the Middle East. Eddie is presently the Director of the David and Faith Kim School of Global Missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminar. He is married with four boys.
Javier Garcia is a resident of Brownsville, Tennessee and has served as a Director for El Ayudante since its incorporation in August of 1998. Javier attends Iglesia Bautista Cristo Rey in Brownsville where he serves as a Deacon and Trustee. He also serves as the Sunday School Director, a Sunday School Teacher, and on the Planning Committee. Javier is married and has three children. He is a fabricator and technician in the maintenance department of Lasco Fittings, Inc. in Brownsville.
Mark Harwell is a resident of Brownsville, Tennessee and has served as a Director for El Ayudante since its incorporation in August of 1998. Mark attends Brownsville Baptist Church where he serves as a Deacon and is involved with the Gideon – Brownsville Camp. Mark is married and has one son. He is an Operations Specialist Supervisor I with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Region 4, West Tennessee.