MEANINGFUL LIFE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY PARTNERS

Samuel Huddlestone

Dr. Samuel Huddleston is the Assistant Superintendent of the Northern California and Nevada District Assemblies of God. Dr. Huddleston graduated from Bethany College in Santa Cruz, CA in 1980, and later attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Rafael, CA. From 1981 to 1988, he accepted a position at Church on the Hill in Vallejo, CA, where he served under Pastor Terry Inman. While there, he enrolled at Azusa Pacific University, where he earned a master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. He served as Executive Director of Match-Two Prisoner Outreach from 1988-1994, a program started by California Governor Ronald Reagan. It was a statewide program that provided incarcerated men and women, one-on-one prisoner visitation with those on the outside. He also served as the founding pastor of Lighthouse Covenant Fellowship in Benicia, CA from 1993 to 2004, a church that began in his and his wife’s living room. He served as the lead Pastor for 11 ½ years until he was elected to his present position. Dr. Huddleston has also served as Dean of Students at Bethany University under Dr. Everett Wilson. While serving under Dr. Wilson, he decided to continue his education at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. In May 2006, he graduated with a Doctorate of Ministry degree. He has published an autobiography, “Five Years to Life,” which has inspired many people across America and throughout the world, giving them hope for a new beginning. He has also shared his testimony with thousands – including, government officials, businessmen, colleges, high schools, and prison inmates – reminding them not only with words but also with his very presence, that God has the power to put broken lives and broken relationships back together again. Dr. Samuel also has a second book titled “Grand Slam.” Currently, Dr. Huddleston assists in giving oversight to over 450 plus churches in his district of Northern California and Nevada. He also serves on the Executive Presbytery of the General Council Assemblies of God. Dr. Huddleston resides in Rancho Cordova, CA with his wife of 30 years, Linda, their three married children: Royce, Andre, and Ericka, and their 13 grandbabies.

Ps. Steve Dean Madsen

Pastor Steve Madsen is the Founding Pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California – USA Cornerstone, led by Pastors Steve and Brenda Madsen, was born in 1992 as a home Bible Study. Over the past 30 years this church has matured into a regional mega-church with multiple campuses and ministries leading the way in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pastor Steve is known not only for his love for his congregation but also for his strong passion for helping those in need all over the world. In 2007, Pastor Steve Madsen entered into a partnership with Meaningful Life International in Ghana to drill fresh water boreholes providing safe clean water to deprived rural communities. In addition to this he trains Ghanaian leaders in Biblical principles of servantleadership. He has led the way raising much needed funds to build Doron Medical Center which is now providing exceptional free medical care for deprived rural communities. Pastor Steve recently turned Cornerstone Fellowship over to next-generation pastors in order to launch Restore, a ministry that pastors the pastors all over the world. Pastors Steve and Brenda live in Livermore, California. They have three married sons and six grandchildren

Randy Fiorini

Randy Fiorini was born in Turlock, CA, where he was raised on his family’s tree fruit and wine grape farm. After graduation from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1975, Mr. Fiorini returned to Turlock and assumed managing partner responsibilities for Fiorini Ranch. Interested in agricultural industry affairs, Randy was elected to serve as the Chairman of the California Canners and Growers, Chairman of the California Cling Peach Advisory Board, and was appointed by two Presidents to serve on the US Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Fruits and Vegetables. In addition to farming, Randy has found time to serve as director on many local boards, including Faith Home Teen Ranch, Hope Unlimited International, and is the past president of Emmanuel Medical Center, Rotary Club of Livingston, and the Merced County Farm Bureau. Recognized for his agricultural leadership and on-farm achievements, Randy was selected by the United States Jaycees in 1987 as the Outstanding Young Farmer in the United States. Randy’s public involvement with water issues began in 1992 when he was elected director of the Turlock Irrigation District. He served in that capacity for 16 years. During that time, he also served as president of the San Joaquin River Group Authority, president of the California Farm Water Coalition, and as president of the Association of California Water Agencies. In March 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Mr. Fiorini to serve on the Delta Stewardship Council. Randy was reappointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2016, serving a total of 11 years on the Delta Stewardship Council, 5 years as the full time Chair.

MEANINGFUL LIFE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GHANA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rev. Kofi Ahlijah (Ph.d.) Executive Director

He graduated from the University Of Cape Coast and received his first Master’s Degree in Theology (Th.M.) from the International Theological seminary, Florida in 2003 and his second Master’s Degree in Governance and Leadership (MGL), from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2007. He obtained his PhD in Organization Leadership from the School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship at Regent University in Virginia Beach, USA. After graduating from college, Rev. Kofi Ahlijah served for seven years as the Director of Field and Member Care for Pioneers Africa. Pioneers-Africa is a Missions Agency that recruits, trains and deploys missionaries throughout the continent of Africa. He is the team leader and the CEO of Meaningful Life Int’l, the President of the Doron Medical Center and an adjunct lecturer at GIMPA and Fountain Head University. Kofi is happily married to Dr. Lenusia Afua Ahlijah (a medical doctor at the Tema Polyclinic) and they are blessed with an amazing daughter – Dorinda Enam Adjo Ahlijah

Dr. Lenusia Ahlijah Medical Director & Co-founder

Dr. Lenusia graduated from the University Of Ghana Medical School. During her medical schooling, she was never idle. She was an active member of the Ghana Medical Students Association and undertook various mission trips with Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical students Associates and served as a leader in the Christian Medical Fellowship. After graduation, Dr. Lenusia Ahlijah worked at the Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and later moved to the Tema General Hospital. She is currently the Medical Director of the Tema Polyclinic. She is a Consultant Family Physician and the first Geriatrician to be trained in Ghana Their vision is still to see the gospel of Jesus Christ taken to the doorsteps of every living soul in the deprived communities in Ghana, especially the youth. Being particularly concerned about the growing statistics of wayward youth in Africa, it has become their passion to help individuals develop a personal vision for life.

Dr. Jacob Belba Smith Board Chairman

He is a Research Scientist with the Forest Products Research Institute (FORIG) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He was one of the first academicians to establish the MSc (Wood Technology) programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He has nearly ten (10) Scientific/ Technical publications to his credit. He has over 24 years working experience with Supper Paper Products Company (SPPC) as Mill Manager with responsibility for Production, Environment Management and General Administration. His activities have helped him develop an in-depth understanding of local Industrial Environment Management practices and associated problems particularly with the Pulp and Paper Industries. His focus has always been on the application of appropriate Technology wherever possible. He has participated in programmes to prepare Environment Management Plans and advised on their implementation and monitoring. He has interacted extensively with the EPA since 1990 in the preparation of the Environment Management Plans (EMPs). He single-handedly prepared the master EMP for SPPC and made over GH¢5,000.00 (Five Thousand Ghana Cedis) for SPPC in 1990. He is the Ex – President of the Industrial Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship Int. (FGBMFI), Tema. He has other interests like community development activities (local Preacher). Currently the Chairman of MLI-Ghana Board of Directors, Dr. Belba Smith is married with four children.

Mrs Rejoice Anane

Mrs. Rejoice Anane serves on the advisory board of Meaningful Life International. She has worked in various capacities at the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority for the past 31 years. She has transitioned from the position of Training manager to serve as the organization’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in charge of their transit trade. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management, a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development and a second Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, all from the University Of Cape Coast. She has traveled widely and coordinates several training programs including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Rev. Prof. Ivy Drafor Amenyah

Rev. Prof. Ivy Drafor Amenyah is an ordained minister and a lecturer at the Ghana Methodist University. She holds a BSc. And MSc. from the University of Guelph, and has a Ph.D. from the University of Ghana (in collaboration with Cornell University). She also has other qualifications in Leadership Training from ‘Training Resources Group’ and Certification in Mentoring Orientation. She has training in teaching Sunday school, training in Proposal and Scientific Writing from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and International Foundation for Science (IFS). Rev. Prof Ivy Drafor Amenyah is also endowed with skills in Community Development and she is a fellow on CGIAR’s Gender and Diversity Award Program. She has a passion for teaching and inspiring young people and working with rural communities. She has worked with the University Faculty for about 18 years, teaching courses such as Economics for development, Micro and Macro-Economics, Project Management and Research Methods. Her research has focused on concepts and initiatives to improve farm and household management within a community development framework. She recently worked on a project which looked at access to water and sanitation for persons with disabilities and developing a program to carry out a value chain analysis for maize and rice with their implications for food security in Ghana. She serves on the advisory board of Meaningful Life International.

US BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Grant N. Perryman Exec. Director, MLI, USA

S erves as the current Executive Director of Meaningful Life USA while also holding the Secretary / Treasurer position on the Board. He co-founded Meaningful Life USA, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 charity nonprofit in 2010 with the sole vision of raising money for their sister agency Meaningful Life International. Grant graduated from Howard University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and earned his Master of Social Work degree from San Francisco State University in 1987. He is a member of Lighthouse Covenant Fellowship, an Assembly of God church in Benicia, Ca, where he served in several ministerial positions including Drama Director, Prison Writing Ministries, Praise Dance Team, Sunday School Administrator, Sunday School Teacher, and Youth ministries. In the year 2000, Grant made his first of many short-term visits to Ghana, West Africa representing the mission team of Lighthouse. It was then he met Dr. Rev. Godwin Ahlijah and God merged their lives for such a time as this. Grant has written 2 children’s books relating to his missionary work in Ghana. The first, Ama’s Dream, deals with Meaningful Life’s passion for drilling freshwater wells, organizing medical outreaches, and church planting. The second juvenile book, Siko Ahenfo (Golden Kings) deals with MLI’s fourth vision of leadership training. Grant lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, who has also made several trips to Ghana. They were married on March 6, Ghana’s Independence Day, and included elements of the Akan culture into their wedding ceremony. They share four adult children and one grandchild.

Matt Perreault

Matt and his wife Amanda Perreault live in Livermore in northern California. Together they have 4 children; Kelly 22, Avery 19, Keith 16 and Blake 8. He is a credentialed minister and licensed CPA, serving as the partner-in-charge of the SEC & Technology audit practice at the accounting firm Armanino LLP. Matt & Amanda are actively involved in their local church (https://www.sunsetcc.org/), where Matt serves as director of international missions and he and Amanda participate in youth & marriage ministries and a variety of community outreach programs for underprivileged youth and families. Matt serves as a local leader for project shoebox (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/), and he and Amanda are active supporters of SF City Impact (https://www.sfcityimpact.com/), providing schooling & Mentorship for inner city youth. Matt also serves as treasurer for Mercy and Grace prison ministries (https://mercyandgrace.org/). In December 2018, Matt & Amanda prayed for family unity, centered on a 5 year plan to raise funds and travel to Africa to install a water well. God dramatically accelerated the plan; 2 months later, Matt & Amanda met Godwin, and within 5 months a new well had been bored, giving living water to villagers in a remote region of Ghana

Tim Ochs

Tim Ochs graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham school of Anesthesia in 1985. He has been a practicing Nurse Anesthetist for 35 years. Tim and his family lived in Ghana and served alongside MLI for a year in 2013. In addition to working with MLI, Tim is a co-founder of Black Oak Ministries in Tennessee; their mission is Christ-centered development, and to encourage deeper relationships through their facilities, fellowship, and retreats. Tim is married with four daughters.