Nadia Castro joined World Vision Honduras in July 2017 after being involved with World Vision since childhood. She has a B.A. in communications and advertising with a minor in film and an M.A. in business administration focused on marketing. Nadia lives in Honduras’s capital, Tegucigalpa. In her free time she enjoys watching movies and doing adrenaline-filled activities.

Alyssa is an honors graduate of Indiana University in nonprofit management and fundraising. She has spent her career living out her calling to eradicate global poverty with World Vision. She began at World Vision as a senior church advisor and built two of the top Team World Vision fundraising cities. Since then, Alyssa has developed and led teams that partner with the local church all over the country. She now leads an incredible team that is responsible for bringing the transformational movement of Chosen and Vision Trips to life. She and her husband Connor live in Grand Rapids, MI, and welcomed their first child in July.

Rusty Funk is the co-founder of World Vision’s Pastors Gathering and has the honor of serving as the Associate VP of Church & Ministry Partnerships at World Vision. He describes this role as one of the top joys of his life as he gets to lead and serve alongside some of the most incredibly talented and passionate staff in the world. This staff is spread out around the country but united through the Holy Spirit in a common desire is to serve the local church while connecting them to communities in need around the world.

Eric has been with World Vision Zambia for 13 years, joining in July 2008 as a Community Development Worker in charge of child sponsorship. He was based in the community at the zonal office, giving him a wide experience of World Vision’s work unfolding in the field. In 2012, he joined the Communications Team, putting his skills for effective communication to use promoting the World Vision brand and public image for World Vision. Now as a Donor Liaison, he has hosted many groups and shared his love for World Vision’s work in Zambia. He is passionate about the holistic transformation of vulnerable children’s lives and their communities both practically and biblically. Eric holds diplomas in Social Work and Theology. Eric and his beautiful wife Nswana “Wana” Katambi have been married for 4 years. They love to travel to new locations and regularly check in on Eric’s mother in Lusaka.

Sarah is no stranger to World Vision where she has been working for the past 9 years. For most of that time with World Vision, she has worked directly with children in the community through child sponsorship. She has been pivotal in driving team collaboration to create enriching donor experiences, contributing to program advocacy, coordinating Chosen events, child protection case management, and documentation of impact stories. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in business computing and Postgraduate in monitoring and evaluation from Makerere University and Uganda Management Institutes respectively. During her free time, she takes part in community outreach programs as an alumnus of the Young African Leadership Initiative-civic leadership track. She is passionate about nature and her favorite pastimes are nature walks and game drives.

Justus joined World Vision Kenya in 2007 as International Church Partnerships Coordinator, a World Vision Hope Initiative program that engaged U.S. churches to respond to the HIV and AIDS challenge. In October 2009, he transitioned to serve as a donor liaison. Justus is inspired and motivated to serve donors in connecting them with the work of World Vision and its transformational work as anchored on the World Vision mission statement, “... to follow our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed...” Justus holds an MA degree in development studies from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, an MA in Christian counseling from International Leadership University ILU Nairobi, and a BA degree from Moi University. He is married to Margie N. Koech and together blessed with two children, Sharlene Cherobon and Kigen Koech.

Paul joined World Vision Malawi in July 2004. He managed the HIV and AIDS project in the northern part of Malawi for three years. Thereafter, he moved to the National Office to pioneer the office of International Church Partnerships. He moved into the donor liaison role in November 2009. Paul is excited to be part of God’s work through World Vision. Every day of his life is an excitement as he sees the faithfulness of God’s calling upon his life as he serves through World Vision Malawi. Paul has a Master’s Degree in strategic management from University of Derby, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s Degree in education science from the University of Malawi. He is married to Queen and together they have two daughters and one son.

Efrem Smith is a pastor, consultant, speaker, and author. He is passionate about life transformation, multiethnic development, thriving churches, and community development. As a product of the African American church, he also serves as a collaborative catalyst for African American church planting, disciple making, and urban empowerment movements. Efrem was the founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN, He served as the superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He also served as the president of World Impact, an urban missions organization. Currently, Efrem is the co-lead pastor of Midtown Church, a thriving and multi-ethnic community in Sacramento, California. He is also co-owner of Influential LLC, a speaking, consulting, and coaching ministry.

Steve is a biblical literature honors graduate of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, and led at senior levels at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, for over 16 years in a variety of pioneering efforts. In 2013, as a volunteer for World Vision, Steve completed a 3,100 mile-run from LA to New York, raising over $500,000 for clean water. In 2017 Steve was recognized on the floor of the U.S. Congress for his humanitarian work and as a role model for all Americans. Steve currently serves as the director of church engagement at World Vision. He and his wife, Frances, will celebrate 36 years of marriage this year, have two grown children and one grandson and live northwest of Chicago.