Our board of directors function is to govern and advise in our efforts to support research and community health programs including education, screening and treatment programs.
Dr. Sonny & Christie Acho – Founder’s
Sam Acho – Chair
C. Stephanie Acho
Dr. Michael Brooks
Dr. Shade Lester
Ade Otenaike
Beth Plumlee
Dexter Thomas
Ade Williams
Dr. Sonny Acho, Ph.D., is the Senior Pastor of Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church, a multicultural ministry located in North Dallas. He is the founder and president of Living Hope Ministries, a ministry devoted to bringing about long-term change in Africa through the local church. Every year Dr. Sonny Acho takes the good news of Jesus Christ to Africa and beyond with a group of medical professionals, pastors and volunteers through medical outreach, pastor conferences, and radio ministry. In addition to his ministerial service within the local church, Dr. Sonny Acho maintains a private practice in Dallas, where he ministers to a broader community of believers and non-believers. He is a highly respected mental health professional with a thriving practice in the DFW area for over eighteen years with a strong focus on family and marriage counseling. For 25 years Dr. Sonny Acho was a part of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, where he served as Associate Pastor over the Fellowship Ministry for about sixteen years. He served as an Adjunct Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary for five years, and is a national and international conference speaker. He has published two books, “Picking up the Pieces” in 1996 by Crossway Publishers and “If You Only Knew” in 2003 by Moody Publishers. Dr. Acho has been married for 29 years to Christie and together they have four children, Chi-Chi, Stephanie, Sam and Emmanuel.
Mrs. Christie Acho is a board certified family nurse practitioner in the DFW metroplex. She has a passion for helping people and co-founded Living Hope Ministries with her husband, Dr. Sonny Acho. In Africa during the medical mission work, she focuses on preventative care for the citizens there. Christie Acho maintains a home health agency in Dallas, where she excels in providing quality care for the elderly and those who need medical attention. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner’s as well as Texas Nurse Practitioners. She is the first lady of Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church in North Dallas and leads the lady’s fellowship at the church.
Sam Acho is the first son of LHM founder’s Dr. & Mrs. Acho. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin in the McCombs School of Business Honors program, earning a double bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. At the University of Texas at Austin, he was a starting defensive end for the longhorns and became a two-time All American, as well as MVP for the 2010 season. Sam Acho was also the winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy as well as the Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded to college football’s top scholar-athlete. Sam has a love for people and especially the people of Africa; his regular attendance with Living Hope Ministries missionary trips inspires many youth as he demonstrates his love for Christ through helping others. In April 2011, Sam will be drafted into the NFL, the team he will play for is currently unknown.
C. Stephanie Acho is the second daughter of LHM Founder’s Dr. & Mrs. Acho. She is a graduate of Syracuse University in the college of Human Ecology with a degree in Hospitality and Food Service Management and minor in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises through the Whitman College of Business. She worked at Loews Hotels in Orlando, Florida under the corporate management training program until she began her higher education at the University of North Texas. At UNT, she is currently pursuing a dual Master’s degree: MBA in Strategic Management and MS in Hospitality Management. While continuing her degree program, she was appointed a teaching fellowship in the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management where she teaches various classes; including special event management. Stephanie Acho maintains a small event planning business in Dallas, Texas and is currently the director for philanthropy and development for Living Hope Ministries.
Dr. Michael Brooks is a practicing surgeon in Fort Worth, Texas and a graduate of Howard University College of Medicine. He specializes in all types of general surgery as well as techniques on minimally invasive laparoscopy and was an instructor of surgery at Howard University; bringing a great knowledge surgery to the students. Dr. Brooks has served as both the Vice Chief and Chief of Staff for Plaza Medical Center and the Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Harris Methodist Hospital. Dr. Brooks has also been chairman of the Surgical Continuous Quality Improvement Committee at Harris Methodist Hospital. He is also heavily involved in his community, as he has been a board member of the Cassata Learning Center, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, the Van Cilburn Foundation, and the Community Health Foundation of Tarrant County. Since the early 2000s, Dr. Brooks had made yearly trips to Africa with Living Hope Ministries to perform life changing surgery at no cost. He is dedicated to helping those who otherwise could not help themselves and is a vital part of the LHM Operation Hope team.
Dr. Shade Lester is in private practice at Harmony Family HealthCare in Plano, Texas. She currently has hospital privileges at the Medical Center of Plano. She is licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and certified by the American Board of Family Practice. She has been practicing since 2002. She co-leads the Medical Ministry at Living Hope Bible Fellowship. Dr. Lester was chief resident at UT Southwestern and she is currently a member of the American Medical Association. Dr. Lester’s approach and practice of medicine is a comprehensive and holistic approach to the integration of physical, emotional and spiritual health. She and her husband, Dr. Ron Lester, view their practice of medicine as much more than a job. They see their practice of medicine as a platform given by God to impact both the physical and emotional health of His people. Dr. Lester received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Howard University Washington, DC 1994 and her Doctor of Medicine degree from Meharry Medical College Nashville, TN in 1998. Her Residency Training in Family Medicine was performed at UT Southwestern Dallas, Texas in 2001. Dr. Lester is married to Dr. Ron Lester. She and her husband Ron have three children.
Ade Otenaike is the President Wings of the Dawn International institute for Children (WoD), responsible for general supervision and management of WoD, works closely with board of directors and the staff volunteers to define and direct the strategic approach needed to achieve organizational and program delivery goals. He has a deep passion for serving the children of Africa to further advance sustainable literacy project in rural and sub-urban African communities. Ade has over 20 years experience as an independent consultant working with several government agencies and private corporation in Business Development, Project Management and Application Developer, he graduated with a BS in Computer Studies at University of Maryland, University College Adelphi, Maryland and a Master of Science in Non-Profit Management at Eastern University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ade is a progressive leader who brings hands on humanistic approach to program delivery and operational management. Ade works alongside with industry leaders in Non Profit as a nonprofit consultant with Manage2Mange L.L.C. developing self-sustainable capacity building strategies for grass root nonprofit organizations. Ade currently serves as a member of the Executive Council and Director of Administration at his church Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church. One of his goals in life is to continue to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate children and young adults in the world. Another goal is to leave a worthy legacy for his children and family.
Ade A. Williams has been in public service for 21 years. He began his career as a Budget Analyst with the City of Dallas in 1986 and rose to the rank of Senior Budget Analyst before embarking on a brief stint in the insurance industry. In 1989, he returned to public service as a Senior Budget Analyst with the City of Grand Prairie, Texas. He rose through the ranks as Fiscal Administrator and Budget Director during his 9 years of service at Grand Prairie. In 1998, he returned to the City of Dallas, Texas as an Assistant Director of Code Compliance for 8 years. In October of 2006, Mr. Williams was appointed as Assistant Director and Purchasing Agent for the City of Dallas, Texas. June of 2007, he was promoted to the position of Director of Business Development and Procurement Services. Ade has focused on increasing the capacity of M/WBEs over the last 3 years. He coordinated the first Mayor’s Supplier Inclusiveness Capacity Building Initiative for the City of Dallas. The initiative is aimed at addressing barriers to the ability of M/WBEs to increase competitive capacity. Under his leadership, the City Council authorized changes to the former GFE Program now named Business Inclusion and Development Program. These changes have strengthened M/WBE inclusion in the City’s contracting process. He also led his department to obtain the ISO 9001 certification in 2010. he is a member of the Dallas Fort-Worth Minority Supplier Development Council Inclusive Supply Chain working Group as well as a the Corporate Advisory Committee of the United States Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and DISD MWBE Advisory Committee. He is married to Moji Williams and they have four children.
