LEMA Faculty and Staff
Joshua O. Amaezechi
President
Professor of Theology
Rev Amaezechi holds a Master of Divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors) in Industrial Technical Education from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He is currently an ordained minister of the Christian Reformed Church of North America and is a certified Master Trainer of Timothy Leadership Training for Christian leaders. He has served in pastoral ministry as an Associate Pastor of Bridgeway Community Church (New Jersey), and most recently as Lead/Missionary Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Plainwell, Michigan.
Being raised and educated in Nigeria is not Joshua's only connection with Africa. As President of Pax Africana, Joshua facilitated negotiations among Christian leaders in Kenya following the post-election violence of 2007. This resulted in the signing of the Limuru Peace accord. During his tenure as President, Pax Africana also provided scholarships to 45 students in Liberia. In 2014 Joshua co-founded the One-Degree Foundation in Nigeria with Rev. Christian Ezurike as its National Coordinator. Over the course of only two visits prior to the formal establishment of LEMA, Joshua trained over 160 Christian leaders in Nigeria.
Bernard T. Ayoola
Dean of Online Education
Dr. Bernard Ayoola also currently serves as the Executive Director of the African Resource Center of West Michigan. He is an ordained "Minister of the Word" in the Christian Reformed Church of North America and teaches as an adjunct professor of Systematic Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dr. Ayoola's educational qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., in Systematic Theology and Master of Theology, Th.M., in Systematic Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Master of Divinity, M.Div., in Pastoral Ministry from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Master of Divinity, M.Div., in Church Music from Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, in Ogbomoso Nigeria and a Bachelor of Science, B.Sc., in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Dr. Ayoola resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Adejoke and loves to play the piano and saxophone, compose/arrange music for congregational singing, and is passionate about activities that contribute to the spiritual and intellectual growth of African pastors and church leaders.
Elder Dave Glas
Projects Director
An ordained Elder in the Reformed Church of America (RCA), Dave heads up the Care Ministry at North Point Church and is a member of the Prayer Team. He is also a certified Stephens Minister. Dave brings with him many years of marketing experience from the GALLOUP Company (Member of the Kendell Group) where he currently works. He hopes to retire in 2019, to devote more time to LEMA. Dave is married to Jane and they are blessed with a daughter and two grandchildren. Dave and Jane consider their service at LEMA as an opportunity to give back to their Heavenly Father, to thank Him for His graciousness to them throughout their lives.
Emily Shumaker
Mission Administrator
My name is Emily Shumaker and I am so excited to be a part of the mission of LEMA! Over the last 10 years, I have been a social worker working with individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Last year, God made a BIG change in my heart. My husband, James, and I got married last May (2019) and since then we have been on a mission to discern what God has planned for our lives and our marriage. It was in July after the wedding that my own mental health needed a break. I took a two-month sabbatical and God clearly told me during that time to look for a line of work where He was filling me and not myself. Last October I took on a job as the Church Administrator at North Point Church in Plainwell, MI. Working for a church significantly changed my perception of “work” and I quickly went into the “Mission mindset”. Throughout the months at North Point, I learned of the LEMA mission and I fell in love. Spending a month in Zambia when I was in college impacted me to a degree that missions are not just an option, but a way of life. I am immensely blessed to be on the mission with LEMA. I am confident that God has aligned my steps and LEMA’s steps over the last few years to lead me to this exciting new chapter. I can’t wait to put in the time and effort to bring LEMA to its very best potential.
Rev Dr. John Nnoje
Adjunct Professor of Theology
Rev John Nnoje holds a Bachelor Of Theology, a Master of Theology, and a Doctor of Theology from the Nigerian Baptists Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho. He also holds a PhD in Christian Religious Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Ruth Veltkamp
Professor of Missions
Ruth Veltkamp holds a Master’s Degree in English from Michigan State University and another Master’s Degree in Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary. She was a full-time missionary in West Africa for 44 years, teaching in various contexts: secondary school, vernacular Bible schools, theological education by extension, and informal education with nomadic herdsmen and with Muslim religious leaders.
She has made disciples and trained many in praying for, living with, and sharing the Gospel with Muslims. For sixteen years she taught cross-cultural missions courses at West Africa Theological Seminary in Nigeria, also mentoring students for missions involvement. She has authored Taking the Gospel to Muslims and co-authored Overcoming the Enemy with Grace Holland, both textbooks published by Evangel Publishing House in Kenya.
Since 2013, Ruth has spent most of her time in the United States, teaching and mentoring for missions involvement, including the strategic work of forgiveness. She also travels back to Africa to teach courses and seminars.
Tibebe Eshete
E- Professor of African Church History
Prof Tibebe Eshete holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; a Masters's Degree from Addis Ababa University and a Bachelor of Arts from Haile Sellassai University, Ethiopia. He had taught as an Assistant Professor of African History at the famous Calvin College and as a Visiting Professor at many Universities including Missouri State University, Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, and Mekane Yesus Lutheran Seminary. He is currently a Visiting Professor at Michigan State University. Dr. Eshete is a committed man of God, passionate about leadership development in Africa.
Rev ThankGod Nwaozuzu PhD
Dean of Students
Rev Nwaozuzu's profile will be uploaded shortly.
Rev John Njuguna
E- Adjunct Professor of Christian Ethics
Rev Njuguna's profile and the picture will be uploaded soon.