Board of Directors
Children to Love International operates under the governance of a Board of Directors comprised of a majority of independent members. Each individual on our board has a heart to see the hands and feet of Jesus reach the least, the littlest and the lost.
In 2003, John Penrose took on the role of President for Children to Love, after working as a senior executive in banking and other business enterprises for 24 years and with Youth for Christ for 10 years. He has made dozens of trips over the years to our various ministry sites. He and his wife Sandy live in Bakersfield, California, and frequently open up their home for pool parties to their 21 grandchildren.
Jordan Lewis (Board Chairperson) became involved with CTL in 2013 after he traveled to Romania to see the ministry there in person. In addition to being a Financial Advisor for Barnes Wealth Management Group Jordan is also co-founder and Managing Partner of Grant & Lewis, a business & real estate services firm. Jordan also serves the community of Bakersfield through LiFT, an organization committed to fulfilling the biblical mandate to love and serve the lost and broken in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Rich Abel (Vice-Chairperson) and his wife Mary have always been interested in outreach/ministry (supporting three children through World Vision, working with The Mission at Kern County, working with the Gleaners, and also an outreach in northern India & Nepal). After attending a CTL Banquet, they began supporting a boy in India and later traveled to Romania with CTL. Rich and Mary continue to be amazed by the dedication of the CTL partners and staff. Rich came to Bakersfield 25 years ago to work for Fastrip Food Stores and along with a great management team oversees 88 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Together he and his wife (who he’s madly in love with) have four children and five grandchildren.
Greg Gibbons (Board Treasurer) has been involved with CTL since its earliest days, and was deeply changed by his early experiences traveling to Bucharest, Romania and seeing the devastating conditions of the children there. He is passionate about moving things forward and continually improving the way CTL does ministry. Greg is now retired and looks forward to participating in growing God's kingdom, utilizing his many years of experience in the construction industry.
Heather Sproul (Board Secretary) worked in PR and sales before discovering her true calling as a homeschooling mother. After raising her four children she worked briefly as a history teacher. She connected with CTL after her first trip to India with her family in 2008 and served on a banquet committee the same year. She has now visited both Romania and India. She enjoys bringing people together for a good cause and teaching Sunday School. Heather believes there is no greater investment than those we make in the lives of children.
Bob Green (Director) worked with college students through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship since 1985, and also serves on the member care team with Servant Partners. He became involved with CTL in 2005 when he led a week long training seminar for the Romanian staff team. In addition to Romania, Bob and his family have also been to India. Bob is always thinking about the cross-cultural implications of the actions CTL takes. He has especially enjoyed being involved with the ministry as it has grown to serve more children in more places in recent years.
Carol Wilcox (Director) fell in love with CTL in 1999 as a fund raiser banquet volunteer. Inspired by CTL’s vision for the Romanian abandoned children, she and her husband, Hank, served as missionaries with CTL in Romania and the USA from 2002-2005. Now well into retirement from 30 years of full-time pastoral ministry in Music, Children's Ministry and Facility Administrative roles, Carol still loves to organize anything, edit all things written, and embraces every opportunity to elevate the vibrant ministry of God through CTL.
Ben Haymond (Director) first traveled to Romania with CTL in 2004, and through that trip his eyes were opened to our responsibility, as followers of Christ, towards the least of these. After re-connecting with CTL over the last few years and seeing the work that God is accomplishing through this ministry, he is excited about bringing the love of Jesus to children all over the world. Ben recently relocated to Idaho and enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.
Cheryl Levey (Director) has a love for children that began as she taught elementary and Jr. High students for over 16 years and continued after her retirement when she was appointed Director of Children's Ministries at RiverLakes Community Church in Bakersfield. Challenged to participate in short term missions, she began to serve with International School Project in 1991, teaching educators around the world and writing curriculum. Cheryl currently serves as Director of Global Mission at RiverLakes where she promotes the mission of CTL and recruits team members to serve in our partner countries.
Ken Harlander (Director) and his wife first learned of CTL while attending Laurelglen Bible Church in the early nineties. They would hear about the challenges in the Romanian orphanages and what CTL was doing to meet those challenges, and over the years the couple has sponsored children and attended CTL banquets. Ken has participated in missions trips through Students International and recently felt called to become more involved in the global mission of the Church which led him to his position on the CTL board. Ken is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has always particularly enjoyed working with teens and children.
Scott Rossi (Director) recently joined the CTL Board after he and his wife traveled to Lviv, Ukraine in 2019 on one of the first CTL mission teams sent to Ukraine. Scott has a passion for working with young children, since he is a grandpa to four grandchildren himself. He recently retired from the produce industry after 40 years (but still does some consulting part-time). He is looking forward to a new challenge in ministry and working with CTL's Board and staff members in all the different areas of ministry.