FHC Board of Directors

Jennifer Thomas

Jen joined For His Children in 2009. She served as the International Ministries Coordinator, overseeing short-term mission teams for many years. In 2018, she assumed the role of Executive Director, overseeing the staff of For His Children, connecting with donors, serving on the Board of Directors and promoting the organization around the world. Jen is a graduate of Gordon College with degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish. She also holds a master’s degree in Holistic Child Development. Jen, her husband Marcus, and their two sons split their time between Norfolk, Virginia, and Quito, Ecuador.

PRESIDENT

Jennifer Thomas

Andres Valenzuela

Andres Valenzuela

Andres was born in Quito, Ecuador and grew up in Kenya and Mexico. He serves as the Director of the School of Formation, a spiritual formation program training leaders to live deeply formed lives. The school is based in New York and serves leaders around the world. He holds a Master of Organizational Leadership from Alliance University. Andres has held various leadership positions at Alliance University over a span of 20 years and also owns a wedding and family photography business in the NY metro area. He’s an avid traveler and a fanatic of all things soccer and tennis. Andres, his wife Kim, and their 2 wonderful girls, Ana Sofia and Neomi, live in New York, NY.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Beatriz Valverde

Beatriz Valverde

Beatriz considers it both a privilege and a blessing to serve on the For His Children Board. Beatriz holds a degree in Industrial Psychology from the Central University of Ecuador and has further enriched her knowledge with a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Penn Foster College. She is married to Asad Zeidan, and together, they are proud parents of two wonderful daughters, Rozet Laila and Hanan Ghadir. They reside in Quito, Ecuador.

VICE CHAIR

Jhonatan Ayala

Jhonatan Ayala

Jhonatan is an experienced Senior Director with more than 18 years of global expertise. He is a specialized business consultant, particularly skilled in financial and tax matters. He's also a trusted advisor to family businesses. Jhonatan is passionate about giving back through social responsibility, collaborating with various non-profit organizations. His educational background includes master's degrees in Business Management and International Taxation, along with bachelor's degrees in Economic and Administrative Sciences. Jhonatan and his family reside in Quito, Ecuador.

TREASURER

Rachel Gunderson

Rachel is a Nurse Practitioner with an M.S. in nursing. She works in a family practice clinic, where she cares for patients of all ages, with a focus on the Spanish-speaking community in NW Missouri. Her mission journey began in 1987 when she went to Honduras, and she has been committed to serving the Lord ever since. Rachel also coordinates surgical mission teams in Latin America and has volunteered with For His Children for over 30 years. Her connection with FHC started in Ecuador, where she worked as a nurse and met FHC's co-founders, Melinda and Clark Vaughn. She is a mother of three and lives in Saint Joseph, MO.

SECRETARY

Rachel Gunderson

Rebecca Carpenter

Rebecca Carpenter

Rebecca is a visionary entrepreneur, accomplished business leader, and dedicated adoption advocate. She runs Sprout, a Benefit Corporation, and she is also a Presidential Leadership Scholar in the selective program run by the Presidential Centers of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. As an adoptive parent, she is a passionate advocate for children living outside of family care, and dedicates her energy to several adoption-related initiatives and organizations. She has volunteered as an ESL teacher for more than twenty years. She earned an MBA from the University of Virginia, and lives with her husband Eric, and son Jairo, in Alexandria, VA.

BOARD MEMBER

Erin Corniea

Erin Corniea

Erin has always had a heart for Ecuador after living in Quito with her parents who were missionaries there for twenty five years. After graduating high school in Quito, she returned to Minnesota, where she was born, to study International Business at Bethel University. Erin is an interior designer and recently started a ministry-focused center near downtown Minneapolis with her husband Peter. She is a homeschooling mom of four boys and a passionate community builder. Erin and her family live in Edina, MN.

BOARD MEMBER

Zack Johnson

Zack Johnson

Zack is a Christian leader, peacemaking advocate, and dedicated supporter of children in Ecuador. Born in Quito, Ecuador, to missionary parents, he grew up near FHC Quito, fostering a lifelong connection to the ministry. Zack earned his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on international and global affairs. His career spans development and disaster relief in Mozambique, service as a congressional analyst in the U.S. Air Force, and leadership at Sattler College, where he held roles from Director of Operations to President while teaching and shaping the institution’s Christ-centered mission. Zack lives in East Boston, Massachusetts, with his wife, Crystal, and their three children.

BOARD MEMBER

Maria Belén León

Maria Belén León

Maria Belén is a corporate lawyer, child advocate, and passionate supporter of justice and family well-being. Originally from Loja, she has practiced law for over ten years, focusing on corporate and family law with a special commitment to promoting the safety and well-being of children. Her dedication to justice and advocacy has also extended into volunteer and community work. Maria Belén is honored to serve on the FHC Board and contribute to its mission of supporting vulnerable children. She lives in Quito, Ecuador, and is a proud mother of three children.

BOARD MEMBER

Melody Roberson

Melody Roberson

Melody is an experienced social worker, passionate advocate for children and families, and dedicated FHC supporter. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Azusa Pacific University and has over 27 years of experience in Home Health Social Work, serving elderly and disabled individuals. Born in Quito, Ecuador, and raised by missionaries, she brings a deep cross-cultural understanding and a lifelong passion for service. Melody has also worked as a school counselor and held roles with Focus on the Family and the National Institute of Youth Ministry, coordinating large youth events. She and her husband, Michael, have supported FHC since 1999 through fundraising and volunteer efforts, and she is honored to serve on the FHC Board. Melody lives in Twain Harte, Northern California.

BOARD MEMBER