Ministries or Non- Profits we Serve
Businesses we Serve
Profile of Board Members
Ambrose Sunny O. Okorie, Ph.D., C.Eng, MIEE
Sunny as he is often called
was born in Enugu (Coal City) Nigeria to Emmanuel and Margaret Okorie. He is the
3rd of 6 children – 4 boys and 2 girls.
After graduating with a
bachelor’s degree (’79) at Portland State University in Portland Oregon, he
immediately pursued and earned his Master’s degree (’81) in Computer
Engineering. He finished his Ph.D. work in Expert Systems / Artificial
Intelligence in 1997.
Following some job stint at
HP in Vancouver as Development Engineer and the Multnomah County Data Processing
Department between 1979-83, he returned to Nigeria to work for the Government. A
year later, he joined the FUTO as an academic staff and rose to the rank of a
Senior Lecturer in 1993. He founded Solid Rock Computers (Nigeria) Limited
in 1989 to provide computer sales & support services as well as the training
of skilled labor at the Solid Rock Computer Institute, Aba. While at Aba, he
authored the flagship computer training book – “Computer
Fundamentals: Introduction and Utilization” now used in many tertiary
institutions and colleges. He also co-authored “Computer
Studies for Junior Secondary Schools” used in most Federal Government
Schools in Nigeria and West Africa. He has also published over a dozen papers in
professional journals & conference proceedings.
He joined Inference
Corporation as a Knowledge Engineer and Consultant after his Ph.D. work &
sojourn in Lafayette, Louisiana early in 1997. A few years later, he decided to
minimize the grueling traveling schedule of a Consulting job by switching to
Equiva Services, LLC – jointly owned then by Shell, Texaco & Saudi Aramco.
He is a chartered
electrical engineer-electronics (C.Eng, & member of the IEE London), a
Registered / Professional COREN Engineer in Nigeria, and currently a senior
analyst & project lead working with OLAP technologies to support various
business units.
For Community &
Christian service, Sunny has been extensively involved with various Church
groups and fellowships for several years. These include the FGBMFI (both in USA
and Nigeria) as a Chapter Officer & Treasurer, Scripture Union as Group
President, NIFES (Nigeria Interdenominational Fellowship of Evangelical
Students) as Zonal Chairman covering 5 States; various Church elder-ship /
Deacon positions at Foursquare Gospel Church Owerri, Aba Worship Center, Living
Word Ministries, Aba, etc. He has been a Sunday school teacher for many years,
including at the Lafayette First Baptist Church in Louisiana & the Owerri
Foursquare Gospel Church. With his wife and a few others, he also helped pioneer
Portland International Fellowship and beginning in 1977, collaborated with
Portland First Baptist Church for several years ministering to International
Students. For a number a years (1976-82), he was a leader for the local branch
of ISI (International Student’s Inc.) in Portland as well as Inter-Varsity
Christian Fellowship & Campus Crusade for Christ.
His vision for RNM is to
grow it to a multi-national strategic relief agency that transfers
appropriate technological skills to needy people groups around the world
while advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the vital interactions of
nationals with RNM volunteers. The
core projects of RNM will include the provision of affordable water wells to
rural communities through drilling and pump maintenance training of the local
people, and the use of country-specific V-TEN* curriculums for
teaching computers and other vocational career programs.
Sunny likes to share his
faith or testimonies with small groups of people and individuals from various
countries. He sees himself as a helper in the Body of Christ and assists
likewise in his local church community.
He is married to amiable
Ogechi F. Ochi-Okorie since 1978. Their marriage is blessed with 3 children –
Amarachi, 20, Chidiebere, 18, and Chinonso, 15.
V-TEN* Vocational
Technical Education Network – a program jointly developed with Grace
Network Ministries, Inc. based in Portland Oregon.
Ogechi Florence Ochi-Okorie
Ogechi Florence (nee Ikeji)
is third of seven children born to Michael and Felicia Ikeji of Umuchoke Amaigbo
in Imo States of Nigeria. She grew up mostly in Enugu where she finished High
School before proceeding to the USA to join her then fiancé (Sunny Okorie) and
for her university education.
She completed a bachelors
degree program in Foreign Languages (French) with a minor in Education at the
Portland State University in Oregon, and a certified teacher.
Oge’ is also a Certified
Nurses Aide (CAN).
She married in the 1978 to
A. Sunny Okorie and their marriage is blessed with 3 children.
Two of these are in the
university ( & plan graduating in 2002 & 2003, respectively) while their
youngest with great athletic gift is in High School and a varsity club football
player.
Prior to getting married
she taught for several years as an Elementary School Teacher in Nigeria.
Following her graduation
she taught for a few more years, but devoted more time to rearing her children.
Later in Nigeria, she also helped grow their family business – Solid Rock
Computers LTD at Aba by working as a Project Manger / Supervisor.
Oge’ loves to sing and
has served as a member of the Choir in Church, been a Sunday school teacher for
several years in a number of local churches, including the Nassau Bay Baptist
Church & All Nations Church. She has been a leader in several women’s
groups in the Church and other Christian fellowships. As a trained Bible
Scholar, she is addicted to the things of God and a fervent prayer warrior in
the Body of Christ.
Meriel M. Ije Bernhard
Meriel's grandparents
emigrated from Germany to establish a family operated farm in the Western region
of the State of Oregon around 1900.
Meriel's parents, Ed and
Hilda Keller continued the family farming tradition at that location where
Meriel and her brother were born and raised.
She obtained her university
education at Eastern Oregon College where she earned her BS in Elementary
Education.
She worked as an elementary
school teacher for several years including a year in Germany at the US Military
Children's School where she met her husband, David Bernhard, who was stationed
there with the U.S. Army. Meriel serves as an organist and in related musical
ministries at her
She has been married for 33
years to David who works as a baker. Their
marriage is blessed with 3 grown Children. Their only daughter has graduated
from the university while the youngest is on his way to completing his
university education by the end of the 2002 academic year. Their eldest son
operates his own landscaping business.
Her vision for RNM is to see more effective community development in rural villages including the supply of sanitary well water. She is a Christian who serves others by endeavoring to meet their needs and resolve their problems, thereby advancing the Kingdom of God.
Norma Kates
Norma Kates is the only
child born to Curtis and Evie Smith. She grew up in the oil fields of East Texas
attending school in Jefferson and on to Marshall for 2 years at E. Texas Baptist
College (ETBC). She had devout Christian parents who instilled strong
convictions in her from birth. She lived through the World War ll years
when it seemed all the country was firm in their faith. Her heart and mind
have been filled with Jesus and His love since birth. She is
committed to ETBC because of its strong Christian influence in her life.
Norma played piano for the
small Methodist/Baptist Church they attended when she was 9 years old and
continued playing for revivals wherever she was needed. Also she enjoyed
playing with student preachers for revivals during college days. After 2
years at ETBC came marriage to James Kates, a petroleum-engineering student at
L.S.U. (Louisiana State University) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, just back from the
army Air Corps and flying school at the war's end. Both graduated from LSU
and off to careers and many moves in LA and Texas before finding a home in
Lafayette for the past 30 years, which they have loved. James retired from
Pennzoil and has enjoyed playing golf and traveling along with our church
activities. He is a deacon and Sunday School teacher with great faith and love
for our savior. He has been a very strong father image for 3 sons who are
all strong in their faith. We also have 5 grandchildren.
Norma received a B.S.
degree in English and Spanish from the school of Education, LSU. After teaching
3 years she pursued the rearing of 3 sons. At age 53 she received the
M.Ed. at her local University, then USL (University of Southwestern Louisiana in
Lafayette). Since then she has enjoyed growing in Bible study plus going on
mission trips to Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, Canada, and on several in the U.S.
doing summer missions.
Norma also served as
pastoral assistant in 2 hospitals --Lourdes and Charity. She currently
mentors young women in her home and reaches out to Internationals at the
University. She considers herself on mission for the Lord wherever she
goes.
Norma and James have shared
in the burden to reach more souls with the love our Jesus Christ in rural
African communities, especially in the Nigerian village of Ogberuru. As a
director of RNM, Inc. she is praying and laboring together with other American
volunteers who are sent to bless people around the world with better health,
welfare and Christian education.
Presently she is working in
the Spanish Mission ministry in her church. She is a fervent Spirit-filled
Christian who loves people and El Senor.
Samson Otuwa, M.D.
Dr.
Sam Otuwa is a Houston-based Pediatric Anesthesiologist at the Texas
Children’s Hospital. He is board certified in both Pediatrics and
Anesthesiology. He also completed a subspecialty fellowship in Pediatric
Anesthesiology. He was an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics
at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston between 1997 and 1999. He
is presently a clinical associate at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
He
is married to Grace Otuwa and their marriage is blessed with 4 children.
He
is an active member of the Abundant Life Christian Center in LaMarque Texas and
the Men’s Fellowship group of the Church. Dr.
Otuwa aggressively supports the work of ministry in various segments of the
Kingdom of God.
Along
with provision of clean drinking water for all, his vision for RNM is to foster
the delivery of primary health care to needy children and poor families around
the world while using every bit of the opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ
with them.
Gabriel Anoruigwe
Mr.
Gabriel Anoruigwe graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in Chemical
Engineering / Chemistry with a Minor in Mathematics in December 1996.
He was raised in the small rural community of Ogberuru. He is the Fourth child of Mr.& Mrs. Ezekiel Okonkwo Anoruigwe.
Gabriel
is happily married to Monica and their marriage is blessed with two beautiful
daughters.
By way of work & career background, Champion Coatings have employed Gabriel in Houston, Texas as a Research and developmental Chemist for over 2 years.
Currently Mr. Gabriel is on the Executive Board for the ODA (Ogberuru
Development Association, Inc. USA as Secretary), and ORSU UNITED (a Social /
Community group as Treasurer).
Mr. Gabriel feels that the ministerial work with RNM would be his first biggest opportunity and privilege to truly serve His master. His aspirations and vision is to use the offices of Relief Network Ministry Inc. to reach the needy and the poor all over the world.
Dr. Larry Garza, Pastor, All Nations Church, League City, TX.
Larry Garza was working for Exxon Corporation in Houston, Texas and was a student of metaphysics. Jesus Christ revealed Himself to him at the Yoga Institute of Houston in 1983. Larry had a powerful conversion experience that completely changed the direction of his life.
Their exciting church
services are characterized by insights into God's Word illustrated by amazing
missionary adventures. After a decade of ministry, Churches have been built,
souls have been saved in places like Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Burma, Kyrghyzstan,
Iran, India, and many other countries of the world.
He is married to Linda
Garza, and their marriage is blessed with 4 children.
Larry and Linda oversee
Heavenly Vision Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka and they have a ministerial
alliance in the nation of Burma. Heavenly Vision is a ministry that is very
unique in its scope and activity. Larry and Linda have been trailblazers and
pioneers in remote mountain, jungle, and desert areas in exotic pagan places. At
the same time they have ministered to thousands in the cosmopolitan centers of
the world. God has given them amazing testimonies of faith as a result of their
obedience to take the Gospel to the pagan world.
January 2, 2000 by the
direction of the Holy Spirit Larry and Linda began All Nations Church in League
City. The Church is a World Center for gospel activity. The heart of a world
missionary, combined with intense intellectual pursuits, has produced a ministry
characterized by a powerful revelation of faith and astounding insights into the
Bible, history, archaeology, and world cultures.
Ordained by: Pastors, John
Osteen, Richard Vaughan, Robert Dowdy.
Some Nations they have ministered in are: Cambodia, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Kenya, Kyrghyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Siberia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
Rev. Yemi Ayodele
Yemi Ayodele is the Senior Pastor of vibrant Church & Ministry in Southwest Houston called Church of the Nations.
