advisors

1. Jim Thomason | President Emeritus

“I am convinced that God has ordained Dr. A. K. Lama to work among his people in India in a mighty way. I have been blessed to be a part of this ministry.”
Jim, a graduate of Georgia Tech, worked 16 years for Westinghouse Power System, 25 years as representative of Electrical Power Equipment, 5 years as Residential and Commercial Real Estate agent, and 6 years as associate on IMB Development council (SBC). He has traveled to England, Romania, South America and India on mission trips.
He is the founding President of TLA.

2. Dr. Danny Wood | Emeritus Pastor Shades Mountain Baptist Church

Rev. Danny retired as Sr. Pastor of the 7,800-member Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Aug 2021. As a graduate of Auburn University, he earned an M.Div from Southwestern Theological Seminary in 1986 and Doctor of Ministry from Beeson Divinity School in 1919. He travelled to India twice to train Pastors through TLA ministries.

3. Dr. Felix Theonugraha | President Western Theological Seminary

Dr. Theonugraha is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America who last served as Vice President for Student Life and University Services at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. He majored in Psychology and English at the University of California, Berkeley, and then attended seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School while under the care of the Central California Classis. He completed his Ph.D. at Trinity in Educational Studies.

4. Rev. Jon Opgenorth | President, Words of Hope

Rev. Jon Opgenorth serves as president of Words of Hope. Previously, he served for 18 years as senior pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. In preparation for ministry, he received a BA in Religion from Northwestern College, and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.

5. Angela & Greg Olexa | Associate Board Members

Angela received her degree in Public relations from the University of Florida. She has spent most of her career as a homemaker raising her two children. Her daughter, Abby, is an accountant in Dallas, Texas and her son, Anderson, is finishing his degree in supply chain management at Auburn University. Angela has has spent the last seven years as a Pharmaceutical sales representative.
Greg, a graduate of the University of Florida, has more than 23 years working in the pharmaceutical sales industry. He has a devotion to international missions and has been to more than 16 different countries. He serves as a deacon at Shades Mountain Baptist church in Birmingham, AL and is involved in ministry to men. He and his wife Angela have two grown children, Abby and Anderson.