Staff
Meet the Team
Behind Our Nonprofit Christian Organization
Dr. Ruth Lyons
President/CEO
Rev Dr. Ruth Lyons – Lives on the field and has served abroad 4+ decades in Central Asia.
GBC graduate 12/79. External Consultant Specialist on Central Asia & Islam. Serving with NAECHOG since 2012.
The Duties of the President
The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the board of directors, supervise and control the affairs of the corporation and the activities of the officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the board of directors.
Unless another person is specifically appointed as chairperson of the board of directors, the president shall preside at all meetings of the board of directors and, if this corporation has members, at all meetings of the members. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the corporation, execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments which may from time to time be authorized by the board of directors.
Board of Directors
Rev. Yoshiki Hosoda
I am bi-vocational Christian Minister who works for Automotive related parts Mfg. Co. Sales and serves as Associate Pastor of Lexington International Japanese Church. Lexington, KY. Serving with NAECHOG since 2011.
Dr. Richard Mansfield
Rev. Dr. Richard Mansfield is the Senior Pastor of the New Beginnings Church of God in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he has served from July 1982 to Dec 1995 and from July 1999 to the present.
He served as the Director of Campus Ministries/Campus Pastor for Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City and as the Director of the Southwest Ministry Center in Houston, Texas from 1996-99.
He is the Chairman of New Mexico Prays, a ministry of congregations from throughout New Mexico that pray 24/7/365 for the State of New Mexico. He married his high school sweetheart, Cindy, on October 27, 1978. They have two children: Ricky, age 41 and Ashlie age 36, Robert Husband, grandsons, Isaiah 18, Daniel 16, Gabrianna 7 and Anthony 6. Richard has served on the board since 2022.
Dr. Cliff Sanders
Rev. Dr. Cliff Sanders has been a pastor of churches in Texas and Louisiana until 1992. Since then Cliff served at Mid-America Christian University for 29.5 years in The School of Ministry in teaching classes and as Chairperson.
Cliff recently retired from MACU to join the pastoral staff team at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City, OK as the Director of The School of Wesleyan Studies. He serves at Crossings Community Church as an Elder, Ministry Staff Trainer, Adult Sunday School Teacher as well as developing and promoting The School of Wesleyan Studies. Cliff married to Becky Alexander Sanders for 43 wonderful years. Cliff joined the board in September 20
Rev. Jimmy Swogger
Rev. Jimmy Swooger is the Senior Pastor
of the Oakland Church Of God in Distant, PA. He has been senior pastor for 25 years of this rural, and yet growing church… located in western Pennsylvania… His wife’s name is Tammy and they have a son Alexander. Jimmy has traveled extensively in preaching camp meetings, revivals, Also Pastor Jimmy continues to travel extensively doing his concert/ventriloquism ministry… From churches, college campuses, schools, national conventions… professional sports teams …to the White House and campaign trail…working with several presidents. Jimmy has served on the board since 2022.
Rev. Malcom Tyree
Rev. Malcom Tyree serves as the Lead Pastor of New Vida Church in Dallas, Texas. New Vida is a multiethnic, multigenerational, bilingual (English y español) community of faith growing into the Jesus-life, juntos! A graduate of Mid-America Christian University, Malcolm has pastored locally in three congregations, served regionally as a conference leader, and worked across the Church of God Movement in leadership development. He is married to Christy and they have two adult children and one daughter in elementary school. Malcolm joined the board in September 2023.
Officers
Rev. Jimmy Swogger
Vice President
Rev. Jimmy Swooger is the Senior Pastor of the Oakland Church Of God in Distant, PA. He has been senior pastor for 25 years of this rural, and yet growing church… located in western Pennsylvania… His wife’s name is Tammy and they have a son Alexander. Jimmy has traveled extensively in preaching camp meetings, revivals, Also Pastor Jimmy continues to travel extensively doing his concert/ventriloquism ministry… From churches, college campuses, schools, national conventions… professional sports teams …to the White House and campaign trail…working with several presidents. Jimmy has served on the board since 2022.
The Duties of the Vice President:
In the absence of the president, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the vice president shall perform all the duties of the president, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on, the president.
The vice president shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws, or as may be prescribed by the board of directors.
Jean Hartley
Treasurer
Jean Hartley is the CEO of Hartley Tax & Accounting, LLC. She established this firm in order to provide ministers and Churches with expert tax consultation concerning ministry tax. She is a tax accountant specializing in ministry tax and accounting with 28 years of experience in the accounting field and 23 years specializing in ministry tax. She also specializes in missionary tax and nonprofit tax. She is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor. Jean graduated from Anderson University and is an enrolled agent with the IRS which gives her a special designation that allows her to talk to the IRS on clients’ behalf. She is a member of the National Association of Tax Professionals, Trustee of Servant Solutions (Church of God Board of Pension), and consultant for MinistryWorks. She has a passion for helping the minister and the Church.
The Duties of the Treasurer
Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the corporation, and deposit all such funds in the name of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the board of directors.
Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever. Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the corporation as may be directed by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements.
Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the corporation’s properties and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, and losses.
Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records to any director of the corporation, or to his or her agent or attorney, on request therefor.
Render to the president and directors, whenever requested, an account of any or all of his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be certified, the financial statements to be included in any required reports.
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as may be required by law, by the articles of incorporation of the corporation, or by these bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the board of directors.
Vickie Gann
Secretary
Vickie Gann is an RN who attended Gulf Coast Bible College where she met her husband Jackie Gann. They were married in the1976, and after he graduated from Gulf Coast Bible College; they served in the pastoral ministry for years. Jackie passed away in August 2021. They have one grown son, Jonathan. Vickie worked in the nursing field as a home health nurse, and in the hospital setting for many years until recently retiring. She attends and serves on several committees at West Side Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri; as well as volunteers in a free Medical Clinic that serves those who cannot afford health care. Vickie has served as Secretary since September 2022.
The Duties of the Secretary:
Certify and keep at the principal office of the corporation the original, or a copy, of these bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date.
Keep at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place as the board may determine, a book of minutes of all meetings of the directors, and, if applicable, meetings of committees of directors and of members, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present or represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof.
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws or as required by law.
Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the corporation and affix the seal, as authorized by law or the provisions of these bylaws, to duly executed documents of the corporation.
Keep at the principal office of the corporation a membership book containing the name and address of each and any members, and, in the case where any membership has been terminated, he or she shall record such fact in the membership book together with the date on which such membership ceased.
Exhibit at all reasonable times to any director of the corporation, or to his or her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the bylaws, the membership book, and the minutes of the proceedings of the directors of the corporation.
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may be required by law, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the board of directors.
Consultants for NAECHOG
Rev. Woodrow Wilson
Founding and Senior Pastor at God’s Community Outreach, Chillicothe, OH since 1995. Serving with NAECHOG for a few decades.
Rev. Donna Bevels
Donna is an ordained minister with twenty-seven years tenure serving in Missouri and Georgia. She also served as a Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator for eleven years.
She is actively serving as the Minister of Discipleship and Education at First Step s Church of God in Farmington, Missouri.She serves with NAECHOG as a Board member.
Special Recognition
Thank you!
NAECHOG Board, Officers and Consultants want to thank Connie Cissna, Jim Johnman and Kerry Miller for their years of service
Rev. Dr. Connie Cissna served the Church of God for over twenty years as a full-time evangelist, church planter, college pastor and instructor, and past National Association of Evangelism President. For ten years, she served as a local pastor and New Church Development specialist coaching 22 churches for the United Methodist Church. |Connie served sacrificially as President for a number of years and in September 2022 was given Emeritus status to honor and show the organization’s appreciation for her service.
Dr. Jim Johnman
Retired from Church of God Ministries and the Hispanic Concilio as Director of Church Planting of Spanish Language Churches and Director of Evangelism. Served fifteen years in National leadership capacity and 45 years in ordained ministry as a local pastor of the Church of God in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Kerry Joe Miller
I have been a ventriloquist since 1985, and I served in the United States Army from 1992 to 2002. Since 2002 I have spent my time supporting those serving and their families who remain behind and in ministry as a ventriloquist.