Pastor Paul Nyende

Founder

Pastor Paul Nyende founded ROWAN Uganda in 2004. As head pastor of the Church of God in the village of Mawanga, he also fills leadership roles at the public school, in the local work of Compassion International, at the Mawanga Clinic, and with Church of God missionaries.

He was born in Mawanga in 1964 and has always felt a strong calling to minister to his own people. Even after living in Kampala in his early years, he made his way back to pastor a rural church. People see him as a father to the fatherless, counselor to the lost, an encourager to the downtrodden, and a mobilizer of the body of Christ. Though he has experienced persecution and hardship, he presses on with grace and humility. He is an excellent role model for the Mawanga community and a man after God’s own heart. Forever committed to his native village, he says, “Mawanga may not be on the map of the world, but it is on the map of Jesus Christ!”

Pastor Paul lives in Mawanga with his lovely wife Edith and their eight children. However, a visitor will find many other children living in his home.

Paul@loveROWAN.com

Kelsey Hargadine

Co-Founder

Kelsey is the co-founder and visionary behind ROWAN. Her responsibilities include coordinating teams, networking, fundraising, and working as the head spokesperson.

She was born and raised on a ranch in California. After accepting Christ as a teenager, God gave her a unique desire to serve in Africa. In 2002, she ventured to Mawanga, Uganda, on her first mission trip. Little did she know that would be the beginning of a lifelong calling to build God’s Kingdom in Africa. Traveling to more than 17 countries in the last eight years, Kelsey has developed a passion and zeal for every nation, tribe, and tongue. But if you ask her today, she would say her heart is “always in Uganda.”

Kelsey holds a bachelors degree in Human Communication from Colorado Christian University and a masters in International Intercultural Communication from the University of Denver. She lives with her husband Thaddeus in Colorado and frequently ventures to Uganda as she serves full time with ROWAN.

Kelsey@loveROWAN.com

Elaina Griffith

Treasurer

Elaina is the treasurer, and backbone of ROWAN. She is in charge of ROWAN’s accounting, communications, and fundraising.

A member of Kelsey’s home church in California, Elaina learned about the Mawanga community when Kelsey shared about her first mission trip there in 2002. Since then, God has placed a burden on Elaina’s heart to assist Pastor Paul in his efforts to care for orphans and widows. Her desire is to see hope, faith, and courage spread to each member of the ROWAN community.

She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and three daughters.

Elaina@ loveROWAN.com

Barry Wright

Secretary

Barry is an active board member for ROWAN focusing on community development projects.

Barry traveled to Africa in July 2008, with his wife, Ann, and their teenage son Andrew. While Ann had always dreamed of going to Africa, Barry had his reservations. But once he landed on African soil, he saw the needs of the Mawanga villagers and felt compelled to help. His goals are to help them be self-sufficient by growing and selling their own food and fuel.

Barry was born and bred in Southern California. He is serving his fifth year as deacon at the Acton Faith Bible Church. He enjoys playing guitar and singing with the worship team. Barry has worked for a water utility company for the past 31 years, supplying drinking water to 19 million citizens.

Barry@loveROWAN.com

Megan Fabry

Communications Director

Megan is ROWAN's voice. She tweets, facebooks, e-mails, wordpress-s, and is always ready and willing to talk to anyone who is interested in ROWAN.

She traveled to Mawanga, Uganda in 2006 and fell madly in love with the orphans and widows as well as the entire village. Fortunately for her, that love didn't go unrequited. She and ROWAN have been happily married, now, for five years.

She currently teaches English as a Second Language and Adult Literacy to refugees in Tucson, AZ. She always, always, always has a story to tell, and she considers her Mawanga ones to be her best.

Megan@loveROWAN.com

Dr. Richard Munassi

Medical Advocate

Dr. Richard Munassi is the medical advocate for ROWAN, and he brings a variety of talents and abilities to the team.

Born and raised in California, Richard attended high school with ROWAN co-founder Kelsey Young. After attending the University of California on a Chancellor's Academic Scholarship, he had the opportunity to live abroad to both study and volunteer at medical facilities in rural Asia, which convinced him that helping indigent populations overseas would be a lifelong endeavor. In the last few years Richard has lived and volunteered throughout the world, including assisting in the Caribbean following Hurricane Ivan and in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. His goal with ROWAN is to see that the medical clinic receives the aid needed to ensure that all people of Mwananga and the outlying regions may be given adequate healthcare.

Richard graduated from SMU School of Medicine in 2009, and currently lives in Los Angeles county.

richard@ruralaids.org

David Wafula

Uganda Board Member and Program Strategist

David’s role includes mentoring, strategic planning, and communication. He is a visionary who thinks outside the box. He has been under Pastor Paul’s spiritual care since he was a child and is passionate about ROWAN. He believes ministry to those living on the margins is the biblical response to Jesus' parable: “I was sick and you did not nurse me...”

David was born in 1970 in rural Uganda. He holds an M.A. in Leadership, a B.A. in Bible and Theology, and a Certificate in Education. David and his wife, Idah, have two beautiful daughters.

David@loveROWAN.com

John and Christopher

Operation Managers

Christopher and John serve as head volunteers for the ROWAN network. They visit the widows and orphans, oversee the ROWAN office, and help keep records.

Christopher and John grew up in Mawanga and are active in the church under Pastor Paul. They have been by his side since ROWAN began in 2004. In the toughest of circumstances, they are the ones smiling with the joy of the Lord, the source of their strength.

Martha Babiyre and Aidah Namuli

Literacy Teachers

Martha and Idah bring passion to ROWAN through teaching. They teach literacy classes to widows and community members in the ROWAN office—and the village hasn’t been the same since. As visionaries, initiators, and worshipers of God, they have helped transform lives.

Martha and Idah also teach at the Mawanga kindergarten and primary school. They have been best friends for more than ten years. They share a passion for investing in God’s Kingdom and teaching skills that will last a lifetime. They also love to sing.

Jim Hannington

Local Volunteer Coordinator

Jim is the local Volunteer Coordinator and Agriculture Specialist. He challenges young professionals in Kampala to join the ROWAN family and contribute their gifts and talents to the ministry. Jim assists in local fundraising for urgent needs such as building houses, food, clothes and school supplies.

Jim also has a passion for agriculture and is exploring new income-generating projects with local ROWAN staff and community at large.

Jim attends Watoto Church Central and is a graduate of Makere University. He currently works for UPEC: Uganda Environment Center as well as NTV: The local news station for the younger Ugandan generation. One would even find Jim on local billboards down town marketing local cell phone companies. He is a bright young man that is making a difference in his nation. His next dream? Attending Hillsong college in Australia.