After careers with the US Postal Service, Ron and Star started Sowing Seeds of Joy. Over the last 19 years, they’ve trained hundreds to go on mission; as members of churches in Arkansas and Texas, they’ve been instrumental in igniting the fire for missions where there has been no fire. Ron is an encourager and tremendous leader who brings passion and skill to cross-cultural work and travel. Star is a strong advocate for women, an incredible administrator and trailblazer for missions. As an ambassador for missions, Ron has spoken on more than one occasion at Dallas Theological Seminary’s WEC Conference, Missio Nexus’ conferences, No Needs Among Us Conference presented by Waco Missions, and The South-Central EMS Conference held on the SIL/Wycliffe campus. Their travels have taken them on countless excursions to Brazil, Belize, Kenya, South Africa, Austria, the Philippines, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Nigeria, Papa New Guinea, and numerous US locations. They are dedicated to creating missional experiences that give people abundant opportunities to encounter God. Through Sowing Seeds of Joy, they strive to be advocates for the homeless, the lost, the widow, the downtrodden, and those thirty and hungry.

Lee and Shelia Patterson are retired patient advocate and public school administrator, respectively. As a deacon and Deaconess, they serve as leaders in the Outreach and Fellowship Ministries at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, Dallas, TX. Shelia is an active life-time member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and volunteers whenever and wherever she can. Lee is quite active in politics, volunteering in local and national campaigns.  Their travels have taken them to Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Haiti, Bahamas, Thailand, Mexico and Belize. Shelia has launched a fitness ministry, facilitating fitness workshops and classes weekly. Lee is an entrepreneur and small business owner. Together they have five children and ten grandchildren. They consider themselves to be full time, short term missionaries and servant leaders for all mankind.

Certified family life educator who has worked in the social science and non-profit field for almost 10 years. She specializes in working with families in crisis including domestic violence, and sexual assault. By working in this arena Sharon has developed skills in advocacy, negotiation, management and conflict resolution. She has also worked as an adjunct professor and teacher assistant for local universities teaching courses in family science and social studies. She is also an alumnus of Florida A&M University and Texas Women’s University. In addition, she continues to remain involved in community service projects by volunteering with local and international organizations. Some of the organizations Sharon have worked and volunteered with include: Denton County Friends of the Family, Homeless Coalition, Texas Council on Family Violence, National Council on Family Relations and Samaritan Inn. Sharon has a heart for serving people and sharing the gospel with the lost for Christ.

Steven is a bank manager and Chanel is a marketing representative in the medical field. Both attend Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR; Steven sings in the choir, while Chanel serves as assistant director for the church’s nursery. As a member of the governor’s environmental board, Steven uses his banking and communication expertise to deal with difficult issues. Chanel is a dedicated mother and small business owner, putting her degrees in health administration and management/leadership to excellent use. Together, they bring a youthful zeal to our board. Both have travel abroad, with Chanel journeying nine times to Haiti as a youth.

Christopher and Angela Kemp met in a Perspectives class over 6 years ago. Prior to being married God allowed them individually to experience a glimpse of His heart in places such as Haiti, Spain, Uganda, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, and the Dominican Republic. These experiences only further fueled a passion as a married couple and family to invest in Kingdom growth and missions both locally and abroad. It is their heart’s desire to share, invest, encourage, disciple and serve all they cross paths with as a part of SSOJ Board.

A native of Mississippi, Evelyn C. Njoroge served in her church as Sunday school superintendent in Nairobi, Kenya where she and her family lived for 20 years.  She currently serves as pastor of the Children’s Ministry at Kingdom City Church, Pearl, MS.

Evelyn’s professional work has focused on promoting policies and programs that improve the quality of life for low-income/low-wealth families and individuals both in the United States and several Sub-Saharan African countries.  Much of her work dealt with institutional development, program development, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy.  She has served as consultant, trainer, director, researcher, and program coordinator with various organizations including: United Nations Children’s Fund, Ministry of Health (Kenya), African Medical and Research Foundation (Kenya), Piney Woods School (MS), Mendenhall Ministries (MS), and Coalition for a Prosperous Mississippi (MS).

Evelyn has a bachelor degree in sociology from Tougaloo College; a master degree in social science from the University of Chicago; and an MBA from the United States International University. Evelyn and her husband have three children and five grandchildren.

Kenneth R. Martin is the full-time pastor of Greater Archview Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR. The father of two adult sons and the husband of one wife, Laura, his passion for ministry and life can be found in Joshua 24:15. “But for me and my house we will serve the lord”. As a member of St. Mark Baptist Church, Ken embarked on one of our first missions trips to Kenya. Since that trip, he’s journeyed to Haiti and eventually became the first chairman of our board. His desire is for all churches to become missional and for every traveler to encounter God.

A native New Yorker who grew up in Harlem and Freeport, New York. Received my Bachelors of Science degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Skidmore College located in Saratoga Springs, New York. 

After spending eight years working in the Accounting profession at PBS Ch.13, Bankers Trust, and Goldman Sachs, I traded in my calculator and spreadsheets to pursue a career with State Farm Insurance. I worked in the Operations Departments of Accounting, Education & Training and Public Affairs for 10 years.   I opened my Independent State Farm Agency to assist customers to manage the risks of everyday life and realize their financial goals. I served in my community as a State Farm Agent for 13 years.

In 2012, I left my career as a State Farm Agent to serve as a Missions Coach with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM). Now I have the pleasure to coach and disciple individuals who God is calling to move towards missionary service locally and globally.

When I became aware of the issue of Human Trafficking, I volunteered to work for New Friends New Life (NFNL) located in Dallas, Texas.  NFNL assists women and their children who desire to leave prostitution.  This experience is why I am enrolled in a Master's Program at Liberty University in Addiction Counseling.  I desire to see the sexual exploitation of women and children ended in my lifetime.

Tamika was born in St. Paul, MN and transferred to Fort Worth, TX with her parents in 1992. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Denton and after graduating Tamika has worked for the City of Fort Worth as a Contract and Public Education Specialist. She then pursued a career in education working as a Special Education Teacher and Adult Basic Education Instructor.

​

Tamika is currently employed as the Administrative Assistant at Texas Christian University (TCU). She works in the TRIO program, which supports First generation, low income, and underrepresented student groups.

She also uses her administrative skills to assist Sowing Seeds of Joy with special projects.  Tamika leads a team and coordinated the Youth Travel, Learn, and Serve trip to Washington D.C. June 2019. God has called her to serve and work alongside Ron and Star as they join God in the work that He is doing.

Tamika has been married to her loving husband, Daryl, for almost 20 years and together they are raising two unique teenagers.