Dr. John & Kelly Chesnut

President’s Forum Hosts

John serves as President & Chief Executive Officer of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, where his wife, Kelly, also serves as Spiritual Development Officer. Together they bring their unique gifts and shared passion to the organization — with the aim of seeing communities transformed when people experience God’s Word in a language and format they truly understand.

John and Kelly served in the pastorate for 13 years before joining Wycliffe in 2001 and moving to the Philippines. There, John served in a variety of leadership roles with SIL Philippines and SIL International, and Kelly led prayer and spiritual development efforts.

In 2011, they returned to the United States, where John served as Chief Development and Partnerships Officer for Wycliffe USA and Kelly continued in prayer ministries. Today, John remains passionate about partnership, believing that collaborative unity within the body of Christ provides greater opportunities for the advancement of Bible translation. Kelly, too, remains dedicated to intentionally infusing prayer into all aspects of the work and believes that when we are deeply rooted in Scripture, our very lives will manifest His love and provide opportunities for people to encounter Jesus personally in a way that captures hearts and transforms lives forever. In their current roles, they seek to encourage, inspire and care for people, striving to shine Christ’s light and love in all aspects of their lives and ministry.

John received a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Denver Seminary, and Kelly has a Master of Arts in Global Leadership from Wheaton College. They have seven children through birth and adoption and love the tapestry of nations God has woven together in their family. In his spare time, John enjoys the outdoors — whether hiking, teaching their grandkids how to fish or going on an early morning walk. Kelly loves snuggling with their grandchildren, reading a good book and sampling chocolate — in just about any form.

Richard & Christina Blumenfeld

Rich and Christina have one daughter, Elise, who is 7 months old, and they reside in Jupiter, Florida. Rich works in finance and is a founder of Stillwater Wealth Management with his partner Tyler Wright. Christina is a stay at home mom and registered nurse. They first heard about Bible translation a few years ago, and have loved being involved in a project with some of their closest friends who all share a deep love for God’s Word. They both love sports, being active outside, and time with their family, friends and church community.

Larry Cheng

A founding partner at Volition Capital, Larry focuses on growth equity investments in Internet and consumer companies. Larry currently serves on the boards of Arteza, Burst, Grove Collaborative (NYSE: GROV), Gamestop (NYSE: GME), Mozaic Payments, Recycle Track Systems, Rounds, Screenverse, Sensible Care, Super73 and U.S. Mobile. Prior to founding Volition in 2010, Larry was a partner at Fidelity Ventures, a senior associate at Battery Ventures, and an associate for Bessemer Venture Partners. Larry has also been board chair at Wycliffe Bible Translators, vice chair at The Winsor School, and is actively involved in various leadership roles at his alma mater, Harvard College.

Larry earned a B.A. in Psychology from Harvard College. He lives in Lexington, Massachusetts, with his wife, Joanne, and three daughters, Audrey, Maddie and Sophia.

Scott & Ashley Cochran

Scott and Ashley are both native Floridians and currently live in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Ashley spent nine years of her childhood in Peru as a missionary kid and went to school for most of those years on a Wycliffe base in Yarina Cocha, where she got to see the celebration of the completion of a few Bible translations. They have loved being able to join some of their closest friends in partnering to bring God’s Word to those who do not have it in their heart language.

Scott is an attorney and Ashley is an educator and loves health and nutrition. Scott and Ashley love being involved in and serving through their local church, trying new foods, spending time with friends and family, traveling and being outdoors.

Alexander & Nailya

Alexander has dedicated 17 years to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Initially serving as a missionary in India for seven years alongside his wife and two children, he then assumed the role of Executive Director for Wycliffe Bible Translators in Russia. Under his leadership for the past six years, the organization has facilitated translation projects for over 30 languages in the North Caucasus, focusing on remote and hard-to-reach communities.

Nailya has worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators since 2007. She contributed to the Bible translation of the Tatar Bible, which is her mother tongue. Later, she and Alexander served in India, where she worked as a linguist and wrote a Grammar of Amri Karbi, a language spoken in Northeastern India.

Currently, Alexander contributes internationally to Wycliffe Bible Alliance, supporting Wycliffe USA’s Global Partnership team in Russia with field management and organizational development. His vision is to empower local organizations to thrive in serving their communities with their unique capacities. Nailya works with FCBH in Scripture Engagement, focusing on providing people access to the Scripture. She also serves as a Translation Consultant with Wycliffe Russia.

Alexander is academically trained as a civil engineer with a master’s degree in Social Science and master’s degree in Linguistics from Gloucester College, U.K. Nailya holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Helsinki. They reside in Helsinki, Finland, with their children, David and Leysan.

Russ Crosson

Russ Crosson is Chief Mission Officer and senior partner of Blue Trust. Russ was hired in 1980 as the second employee of Blue Trust. Russ has worked extensively in all areas of financial planning, specializing in comprehensive financial, estate and philanthropic planning, as well as generational family wealth management and transfer. Russ serves as chief advocate for the heart and soul of the organization and works to ensure the mission of the company is carried out with integrity in every area, with a focus on making sure the company’s mission is passed down and inculcated into future generations.

Prior to his current position, Russ served as President and CEO of Blue Trust (2002-2017). From 1999 to 2002, Russ served as Executive Director of the National Christian Foundation (NCF). Russ is the author of several books including “Your Life … Well Spent,” “The Truth About Money Lies,” “What Makes a Leader Great,” “Your Money Made Simple” and” Leverage.” He has also been a featured speaker in many venues.

Russ graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and a master’s degree in Education. Russ and Julie live in Roswell, Georgia and are active in teaching and mentoring young married couples in their church. They have three sons, three daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren. In his spare time, Russ enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, water skiing and especially enjoys time with his grandchildren.

Sami & Andrea Elbadramany

Andrea and Sami live in Jupiter, Florida, with their one-year old daughter, Mia. They love God’s Word and are passionate about everyone having the same access to Scripture so they too can know Christ and grow in relationship with Him. Andrea is a registered nurse turned full-time mom and Sami works in finance. They stay busy with their local church, investing in community and spending time outdoors.

Chad Entinger

Chad Entinger is, first and foremost, a follower of Jesus with a heart and passion for all Deaf people to see and know God. Chad believes the most effective way to communicate the gospel with Deaf communities around the world is through sign language — their native, heart language.

Chad and his wife, Glory, are blessed with six children — Shekynah, Corban (married to Emma), Davan, Jadon, Lujah and Selah — and one grandson named Henry. A graduate of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., Chad served with Deaf Missions, an international Christian mission organization headquartered near Omaha, Nebraska, for 25 years. During Chad’s 18 years of leadership as the Chief Executive at Deaf Missions, the American Sign Language Bible was completed, thereby giving Deaf people the first full Bible in a sign language. Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, Chad will lead sign language initiatives with Avodah, a company based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that exists to make communication faster, clearer and more inclusive through AI-powered, human-centered technology.

Robb Esperat

Robb Esperat serves as Lead Pastor of Virginia Beach Community Chapel (VBCC), a church committed to "the whole Word for the whole world." VBCC has been involved with Wycliffe's work in the Philippines since the early 1970s. In 2023, Robb and a small team from VBCC got to travel to Dibagat for the Isnag Bible dedication; the church invested in the Isnag translation project for more than 40 years.

Robb grew up at VBCC and joined the staff in 2008. He received his Master of Divinity at Columbia International University and lives with his wife Ali, four sons, two dogs and a rotating selection of local critters in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Mart & Diana Green

Mart is the Ministry Investment Officer for Hobby Lobby and serves on the Board. In 1981, he established Mardel, a chain of Christian and educational supply stores. From January 2008 to April 2014, he served as the Board Chair of the Board of Trustees at Oral Roberts University and now serves as Trustee Emeritus. He also serves on the Boards of Come and See, whose goal is to increase the impact of The Chosen by expanding its reach to the largest 600 languages in the world and Come Near, an organization that is committed to sharing the life and love of Jesus in thought-provoking new ways.

Mart and Diana are leading champions of illumiNations, a collective impact alliance working to eradicate Bible poverty by 2033. Diana served on the Advisory Board for EthnoGraphic Media from January 2008 to April 2014. She led the Spouse Program for the spouses of the Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees for several years and also served on Bethany Children’s Health Center Board of Directors. They have four children and 13 grandchildren.

Russ Hersman

Russ and Lynda Hersman joined Wycliffe in 1976 to begin Bible translation among the Toposa of South Sudan. After a short while God moved them into administrative support. Lynda served as the Intercultural and Islamics Coordinator and Russ served as the country director of SIL Sudan. When Russ' mother's health deteriorated, they came back to the U.S. to care for her. During that time, Russ was the Wycliffe USA Personnel Director, then the Senior Vice President and finally the Chief Operations Officer. In 2019 he stepped down so the next generation could lead and took up the position of Field Coordinator for Sudan and South Sudan, the position he holds today as he works to usher both countries across the Vision 2025 finish line.

Russ and Lynda have three married children and 10 grandchildren. The family menagerie currently includes 10 dogs, three cats, two tortoises, a leopard gecko, a blue dart frog, a corn snake and a bunch of tropical fish.

Kammi Humed

Kammi came to the U.S. in 2007 from his home country of Eritrea, East Africa. His background is in translation and interpreting, and he is passionate about translating the Word of God into his mother tongue, Kunama.

In 2019, Kammi joined the Kunama Bible translation team. Their process is unique because the Kunama community is displaced and dispersed around the world. The Kunama New Testament team is in the process of finishing the New Testament from their various work locations across North America, while the Old Testament team works from Ethiopia.

Kammi has a Pharm.D. from the University Of Arizona and is currently living in Ohio with his wife and their four children.

Yohannes Mattews

Yohannes Mattews moved to Canada from his home country of Eritrea, East Africa. He works by day as a convenience store manager and volunteers as a translator on the Kunama Bible translation team.

The Kunama translation process is unique because the Kunama community is displaced and dispersed around the world. The Kunama New Testament team is in the process of finishing the New Testament from their various work locations across North America, while the Old Testament team works from Ethiopia.

Joe Mayers

Joe Mayers is a storyteller, a stage and voice actor, and founder of Think Forever – a ministry all about eternal perspective. Joe has a degree in acting from California Baptist University and spent time as a professional performer in Los Angeles before transitioning to faith-based work.

In 2016, Joe started performing The Bema Live, a one-man drama about the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers, based on the book by Tim Stevenson. After seeing the impact this story had on thousands of people all over the world, he and his team decided to start a ministry focused on gospel storytelling. In addition to performing for live audiences, Joe hosts the “Think Forever Podcast,” a storytelling show which dives deep into the narratives of lesser-known characters from the Bible and Church history.

Joe lives in Southern California with his wife and son. More information about his ministry can be found at www.ThinkForever.org.

Julie Medina

Julie Medina is currently serving as Senior Field Coordinator in the Americas and training facilitator for Global Partnerships. Starting at 15 years old, Julie has served as a volunteer in several nonprofit organizations, including Bible League, Plant With Purpose and UNTI (a Wycliffe partner organization in Mexico).

With a background in translation, interpretation, psychology and project management, Julie has over 20 years of experience working with vulnerable groups. She is currently living in Mexico with her dog, Bebe. Julie enjoys listening to podcasts, watching movies and spending time with family.

Hyatt & Anne Moore

Hyatt and Anne Moore are both working artists. Hyatt is an oil painter with results of his work scattered across the globe; Anne creates her work on a hand press and is known for the beauty of her unique approach. Hyatt and Anne joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and served in Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, British Columbia, and various U.S. locations throughout their 32-year career. Hyatt also served a five-year term as president of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

Hyatt and Anne make their home in Southern California. They have five adult children, scattered around the U.S.

Kwame Nkrumah

Kwame is from Ghana, West Africa, and completed Bible translation consultant training in 2009. He has served as Associate Director of Language Programs for the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT), with oversight responsibility for 40 projects. In addition, he served in leadership positions for the translation of the Paasaal and Delo New Testaments. He currently serves as Executive Director of GILLBT and coordinates the Old Testament translation in Delo, his language. Kwame, who speaks nine languages, holds undergraduate degrees in French, linguistics and biblical studies as well as a master’s degree in development management. Kwame’s wife, Nana, also is a Bible translation consultant.

Jonathan & Amanda Noël

Jonathan and Amanda Noël have spent nearly three decades sharing their music through recordings and live events, performing in theaters and leading worship in chapels. As passionate songwriters, some of their works have appeared on Grammy and Dove Award-winning albums. They’ve been pleased to write, perform, tour and/or record with such diverse artists as Andrew Peterson, Jars of Clay, Fernando Ortega, Point of Grace, Charlie Peacock, Andy Gullahorn, The Choir, Jill Phillips, Indelible Grace, Ron Block, Margaret Becker, Wendell Kimbrough, Taylor Leonhart and many others.

While still writing, recording and touring, the Noëls enjoy actively serving in their church and arts communities.

The Noëls will release a new, full-length album recording in early to mid-2025. The record will feature their original music and arrangements.

Prosper Nongnidé

Prosper Nongnidé is from the Republic of Benin in West Africa. He works with Wycliffe Benin as a translation consultant and language program manager. He also serves part-time with Global Partnership as a strategic innovation consultant for Francophone Africa and a field coordinator for Benin, Togo and Gabon. In 2020, he and his team completed the translation of the New Testament in the Idaasha language — his mother tongue.

Prosper holds a Master of Divinity degree in Translation Studies from Africa International University in Kenya. He is married to Cathérine and has three children.

Reverend Dr. Lisa Pak

Reverend Dr. Lisa Pak currently works alongside Rick Warren on the Finishing the Task (FTT) lead team. Her previous experience includes serving as the Regional Director for Ontario and Nunavut at the Canadian Bible Society, in addition to pastoral ministry and church experience in the United States, South Korea, Singapore and Canada with a particular focus on diaspora peoples, global missions, and the rising generations.

Lisa is a second-generation Korean Canadian and Toronto native, ordained by the Korean Association of Independent Churches and Missions (KAICAM). She holds a MDiv and a MABL from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has earned her Doctor of Ministry in Leadership at Tyndale Seminary. Lisa has traveled globally and is passionate about all diaspora communities and mobilizing the church, parachurch, women and the young generation altogether in collaboration to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all who have yet to hear.

Todd & Susan Peterson

The Petersons have enjoyed a connection to Bible translation for 20 years. Todd serves as one of five resource partners who provide visionary leadership to the Alliance of Bible translation organizations, illumiNations. These five leaders, along with the CEOs of the illumiNations implementing partner agencies, form the steering committee that meets regularly to prayerfully address the strategic planning necessary to eradicate Bible poverty by 2033.

Todd kicked for several teams over a 13-year NFL career and is now Chairman of Pro Athletes Outreach. He is Chairman Emeritus of Seed Company and sits on the boards of Passion Conferences/Passion City Church, the Young Life Foundation (formerly as chair) and The Gathering. Professionally, he's a member of the boards of three private companies and an adviser to the chairman/CEO of two others.

Susan serves with Todd as an illumiNations host and is the co-owner and CEO of Cabell’s Designs and Relish, both businesses primarily focused on the design and manufacturing of tableware. Relish has been featured in “Oprah’s Favorite Things” and on Good Morning America. She is a longtime trustee of Young Life and recently served as the Vice Chair of the board. She also serves with Todd on the boards of Pro Athletes Outreach and The Gathering.

The Petersons live north of Atlanta and have two adult children, Hannah and Zach.

Nard Pugyao

Nard Pugyao is a first-generation Isnag Christian from the Philippines. His passion for mission aviation and Bible translation spans more than 40 years. Nard and his wife, Sandy, joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1977. Nard served as a JAARS pilot/mechanic and Sandy as a teacher. Nard’s most memorable flight was delivering the first 500 copies of the Isnag New Testament to his home village. Since retiring from flying in 2017, Nard continues to share the impact of Bible translation work. He and Sandy faithfully support projects in the Philippines, especially the Isnag Bible which just recently was dedicated June 25, 2023 in Dibagat. Nard trained at LeTourneau College and Moody Bible Institute. In 1996, he was named “Moody Bible Institute Alumnus of the Year.” Nard and Sandy have two sons and three grandchildren.

Bob Shank

After 14 years as an entrepreneur in the building industry in California, Bob found that his time and financial investments in service to the Kingdom — alongside his marketplace career — were more aligned with his lifetime focus. In 1984, he sold his business to launch Priority Living, Inc. to minister to marketplace leaders.

In 1996, Bob founded The Master’s Program (TMP) to help leaders find their own Kingdom calling. Now serving Kingdom leaders in multiple languages, countries and continents, thousands of people have found their unique leadership contributions — and newfound clarity about their personal Kingdom calling — through TMP’s three-year experience.

Bob serves on eight national and international ministry boards and church boards, among them Samaritan’s Purse, The Jesus Film Project and Harvest. Bob and Cheri have been married since 1971. Their family — including two married daughters, two sons-in-law and seven grandchildren — live in the same zip code in Southern California; all of them are actively involved in local ministry and global missions.

Edson & Marcia Suzuki

Marcia and Edson Suzuki have dedicated their lives to linguistic research and Bible translation, serving indigenous communities in Brazil. Marcia, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, developed a passion for languages early in life, leading her to join YWAM in 1982 and pioneer ministries among indigenous tribes. She led the first team to live among the Sateré-Mawé people and has since become fluent in eight languages. Marcia serves as the International Dean of the College of Applied Linguistics & Languages at YWAM’s University of the Nations.

Her husband, Edson Suzuki, a Brazilian-Japanese YWAMer and linguist, shares Marcia’s passion for tribal ministry. Together, they lived among the isolated Suruwaha tribe in the Amazon rainforest, where they learned and analyzed the language and culture. In 2001, they initiated the first known oral Bible translation project with the Suruwaha people.

Marcia and Edson are also co-founders of ATINI, an NGO dedicated to providing sanctuary for indigenous families fleeing tribal infanticide. They currently reside at the YWAM Los Angeles base with their Suruwaha daughter, Kanani.

Karen Vergara

Karen Vergara is originally from Colombia but moved to the U.S. at the age of 11. Karen encountered Jesus as the Son of God through the Bible, inspiring her to passionately support Bible translation through prayer, financial contributions and community connections. Recently, her family was called to support the efforts of Bible translation for one of the largest unreached people groups, the Deaf. Alongside her husband, Jorge, and their son, Felipe, Karen’s family is dedicated to do all they can to fulfill Jesus’ command in the Great Commission.