Board of Directors

YouthReach International is blessed to have a diverse Board of Directors, which provides oversight, direction, and encouragement to the staff and teams.

The following men and women are current members of the Board of Directors.

• Patrick Bennett, Board Member, is an Area Director of Healthcare for Kronos, Inc, where he is a 10 time Kronos Legendmaker for overachievement of sales quota. Pat has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Lipscomb University, and is a Mid-Level Leadership Program graduate from the SMU Cox School of Business.
  
  Patrick is married to Cynthia, and they enjoy raising their two boys, Brooks and Nathan in Nashville, TN, where he also serves as a Board Member for the Lipscomb University National Alumni Council and serves on the Ministry Coordinating Committee at Otter Creek Church.
  
  “My involvement with YouthReach has given my family and me the opportunity to spread our gifts and blessings internationally to kids who so need Jesus Christ. Serving as a vessel to pour out peace, joy, and kindness to the children of Russia has been a life changing transformation and journey for my family. With the ministry’s continued focus on mentoring, we know that the kids are cared for, loved and nurtured year round.”
  
• Dr. Robert L. Foster, Board Chairman, is Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Religion at Texas Christian University. Currently, he attends and serves in the Storyline Church, a new church plant in the city of Dallas, Texas.
  
  Robert has a PhD in Biblical Studies from Southern Methodist University, as well as a Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Science in Mission, Master of Arts in Old Testament (all from Abilene Christian University), and a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Ministry from Kentucky Christian College.
  
  “As we continue to live into the future of this ministry, we see so much good that God is doing through our work with youth in Russia and Ukraine. We are delighted to participate in the shaping of young lives into the image of Jesus and look forward to the unexpected ways that God will grant us to see the fruit of the kingdom in the days to come.”
  
• David Hennessey, President, is the Executive Director for YouthReach International. David previously served as Director of Professional Services for ScanSource, a bar-code and wireless data collection distributor. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Jacksonville University.
  
  David left his professional career in 2005 to bring his business knowledge to this ministry. His wife, Lisa, and five girls (Kristen, Sasha, Erin, Lauren, and Meghan) have been very supportive of this move, and have personally served in Russia and Ukraine for six summers. Through their YouthReach International efforts, the Hennessey’s met Sasha while living in Russia. They were immensely blessed to be able to adopt her in the summer of 2008. Their family lives in Grayson, GA.
  
  “It is truly a blessing to use my business skills to serve the Lord in this ministry. By helping create a vision, developing a plan to reach the vision, and monitoring progress, we are able to deeply touch children’s lives and give them the hope of Jesus Christ, thereby expanding the Kingdom of God.”
  
• Greg Perry, Founder and Treasurer of YouthReach International, serves as Co-Chairman of the Missions Committee at Otter Creek Church of Christ in Nashville, TN. Greg has a Masters degree in Biblical and Related Studies, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Education, both from Abilene Christian University (ACU).
  
  Greg founded World Wide Youth Camps in 1993. Before that, he started summer Leadership Camps at ACU for 4th through 8th graders and was Director of Kadesh Life Camp. Greg is married to Jana, who supports him and the ministry without reserve. They live in Nashville, TN with their first child, Seth Larkin, who was born in November of 2009.
  
  “Expanding the Kingdom of God through reaching out to children gives me great motivation every day. Because of our focus on reaching out to children and sowing the seed of Christ, we watch for positive change will happen in the places where we have been led to partner with the Lord in his work.”
  
• Wayne Tomlinson, Board Member, is President of Tomlinson Real Estate Investments, a commercial real estate development company in Nashville, TN. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Mathematics Department of Lipscomb University. Wayne received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Lipscomb University and completed his Masters Degree at Ohio University.
  
  Wayne and his wife Vickie have two adult children and two grandchildren. He serves as an Elder at Otter Creek church of Christ in Brentwood, TN.
  
  “YouthReach provides opportunity to connect with children and youth in areas where society has been repressed to know Christ. Offering the answer for lives that have very little hope is an exciting ministry because the transformations give incredible life now and forever. "
  
• Andrew Vick, Board Member, is Executive Vice President of Seventh Wave, a contract research organization located in St. Louis, MO that supports the pharmaceutical industry. He provides active leadership in the scientific community through his involvement in various associations. Andrew received his Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and PhD (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) from The Ohio State University.
  
  Andrew and his wife Mindy have two children (Owen and Olivia). They both attend and actively serve at their church, 2Rivers.
  
  “We have a responsibility to defend the fatherless. YouthReach International provides a quality opportunity to do just that, while also creating other opportunities.... an opportunity to fully utilize the talents that God has equipped us with, an opportunity to develop relationships with children, mentors and our domestic and international community, an opportunity to share His love, and many other opportunities aimed at expanding His Kingdom.”
  
• Matt Wood, Board Member, is an attorney with 15 years experience in the fields of sports and entertainment law, intellectual property protection and corporate finance. He is a principal and general counsel of The Essenza Group.
  
  Formerly with the Dallas law firm of Hughes and Luce, Matt received his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law and earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife, Susan have twin daughters, Addison and Keeley.
  

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is intended to be a group of advisors to provide advice and feedback to YouthReach International on direction and objectives.  This council is comprised of people who love the Lord, have a heart for missions and children, and can provide specific assistance to YouthReach International in unique areas.

Steve Allison

Janet Love

Capt Christopher Phillips, USAF, Ph.D.