Meet Our Board of Directors

Jenn Dugan

Jenn is honored to serve Growth Ministries, Inc. as a board member to see how God moves in the lives of inmates.

She graduated from the University of Central Missouri in May of 2006 with a degree in communication, minoring in speech communication. Jenn married Brad in June of 2006, which simply changed her lifelong military affiliation from dependent child to dependent spouse. She worked as a fitness instructor throughout college and following graduation until welcoming her first child in 2007. Since then, Jenn has focused on her calling as a wife and mother, from navigating challenging work schedules to homeschooling her three daughters. She also works as a Noonday Collection ambassador, creating marketplaces in the US for disadvantaged artisans around the world.

Jenn received the gift of salvation in April of 2000, allowing her the privilege of being a child of God for the past 21 years. Throughout this time, God has gifted her opportunities to serve as a student ministry intern and positions of leadership in women’s ministry. She has also participated in and co-lead groups for care ministry for the healing of sexual abuse and children of alcoholics. The past three years God has opened her eyes to the racial inequality present throughout this country and how God wants her to use her privilege for His glory. Her heart has been moved to learn the truth about race relations and how, as believers, we can represent Jesus with love in these discussions.

 

Jackie Spencer

Jackie served in the field of education for 31 years as a teacher, professional developer and administrator and is now serving as a licensed real estate agent in the states of Kansas and Missouri. In 2019, she joined Growth Ministries, Inc. as a volunteer at the Topeka Correctional Facility ministering to women on financial literacy.

Jackie attended the University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and the University of Missouri, Kansas City, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration. 

Jackie surrendered her life to Christ as a teenager in Wichita, KS and began ministering through song at various churches.  It was through this venue, she met her husband, Paul of 32 years and was blessed with three sons, one daughter and two grandchildren. Jackie and her family presently reside in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  

Pastor Mike Hernandez

Mike serves as the Pastoral Care Pastor at Church of the Harvest. He has served in this position for six years. Mike oversees such areas as the men’s ministry, discipleship (which includes small groups), adult education, local outreaches and pastoral counseling. Before this role, he served as the Administrative Pastor as well as the Young Adult Leader and Hospitality Leader at Church of the Harvest. Before attending Church of the Harvest, Mike served as a Youth Pastor at Heartland Assembly of God in Ankeny, Iowa.

Mike has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Iowa State University where he studied business. He served in Human Resources for 15 years prior to full-time ministry. He worked in the field of Compensation at companies like UMB, DST Systems, MidAmerican Energy (Des Moines, IA) and Farm Bureau Life Insurance (West Des Moines, IA). He loved the field of compensation because it combined the technical ability of crunching numbers along with working with and helping people.

Mike’s passion is helping people become all God has called them to be. He builds relationships to understand people then challenges them to have the faith to follow God’s call. Nothing makes Mike happier than seeing someone follow God’s call and change their world!

Mike has been married to his wife, Janel since 1994 and has four children. His hobbies include running and spending time with his family. Mike currently resides in Olathe, KS.

Keith Mitchell

Keith studied at Central Missouri State University and Purdue University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.

Keith is currently a Missouri Licensed Life and Health Agent and Broker. Keith is also the Founder and CEO of The PearlieMae Group. The PearlieMae Group is a non-profit social enterprise business incubator known for creating a different blueprint for economic and community building. 

Keith is in the process of gaining approval to launch the Emancipation Credit Union as its Founder and Chairman.        

Keith brings 20 years of contract sales, customer service, contract research, and contract management for various organizations; 5 years insurance sales; 10 years business management consultation; 25 years of service in church ministry administration and also serves as a board member of a Christian school.

Lonnie Johnson

Lonnie studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri Kansas City and later became certified in computer programming at Unified Training Center of Kansas City. Lonnie is the Chief Information Officer at KVC Health Systems and has been employed there since 2000. Lonnie has worked in the technology field since 1988.

Lonnie has enjoyed leading evangelistic outreach teams in the greater Kansas City area for the past 15 years. He is an Elder at Church of the Harvest in Olathe, KS and has accompanied their global missions team to the Philippines and Mexico distributing medicine and sharing the Gospel of Christ.

In 2016 Lonnie, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, founded Growth Ministries, Inc. along with his wife Cyndi. The ministry’s main focus is sharing the love of Christ and equipping convicted felons with the tools needed to be successful in society.