Paul J. Duda - Director, LAC Commission on HIV/AIDS

Paul with his wife Lana served as Assemblies of God World Missionaries to Ecuador since 1989, where they pioneered churches and discipled Pastors. Paul directed Global University in Ecuador from 1991-2003 and served as Dean of Distance Education for the Seminary in Quito. Paul holds a BA from Southwestern A/G University and an MA in Management from Regent University in Virginia. He taught missions at Evangel University from 2001 – 2004. Paul has served as Regional representative for the Global Aids Partnership since 2003. He has a vision to partner with National churches and health organizations to make an impact on the HIV/Aids crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean. “This crisis can and must be stopped before Aids threatens whole nations as in Africa.”

Lana R. Duda – Trainer and Committee member

Lana served as a missionary to Ecuador along with her husband Paul and three sons from 1989 until 2003. She is an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God, a committee member, and a trainer for the LAC Commission on HIV/AIDS.  Lana earned a B.B.A. in Management from Evangel University.  She is currently enrolled in the Master’s Program at Global University.  She has an extensive background in church planting, leading worship, Children’s Ministries and Women’s Ministries.  She has a keen understanding of what it feels like to deal with stigma.  Her oldest son has Asperger’s Syndrome.

Pam Frey – Trainer and Committee Member (Mexico Rep)

Pam and her husband Butch have served as Assemblies of God World Missionaries since 1986. Currently living in Mexico City, they serve as area directors for the country of Mexico. Pam has a M.A. in counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and is the mother of two children.

Paula Hansen – Trainer and Committee Member

Paula serves as an Assembly of God World Missionary to Latin America and the Caribbean and works with Resource and Development Ministries. She is involved in coordinating resources and training materials requested by the missionaries and national leaders throughout the region, enabling them to be more effective. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse in the state of Washington as well as a Licensed Minister with the Assemblies of God. She serves the Commission on HIV/AIDS as a member of the leadership team as well as an HIV/AIDS Seminar trainer.

Cynthia Nicholson - Trainer and Committe Member

Cynthia and her husband Dick serve as Regional Directors for Latin America and the Caribbean. During their eleven years of missionary service in Argentina, Cynthia was director for ICI-Global University for that country while also involved in church planting ministry with her husband. Cynthia is an ordained minister and holds a masters in counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. She presently travels extensively with her husband, teaches counseling-related courses and speaks in national church conferences and seminars. Cynthia has three children and eight grandchildren.

JoAnn Butrin, PhD – Director, International Service Ministries of the Assemblies of God World Missions

Dr. Butrin began her medical missionary service in 1972 in the country of Zaire, Africa . For 14 years she worked with mobile clinics and rural hospitals in forest areas as well as community health promotion projects within the local churches. JoAnn recognized the unique blend of evangelism and the meeting of physical needs. She is an RN, with a BS from Evangel University, an MS from Penn State and a PhD from the University of Minnesota.
JoAnn later joined the staff of the Assemblies of God worldwide medical missions organization, HealthCare Ministries. In 1996 she was appointed as Director of this exciting outreach, traveling to many countries around the world, often with teams of volunteer health professionals, offering physical and spiritual care. JoAnn has authored three books concerning health care in developing countries and ministry to persons with AIDS. She has lectured in many locations around the world on community health, AIDS, Christian Relief and Development and Singles in Ministry.
She has recently assumed the position of Director of International Service Ministries. In this position she continues to speak, write and travel promoting compassion ministries. She continues to serve as the Director for the GAP(Global AIDS Partnership) focusing on HIV/AIDS, but now gives oversight to seven international ministries, including HealthCare Ministries. Dr. Butrin continues to have a heart for AIDS ministry and serves as an advisor for the LAC Commission on AIDS.

Johan Mostert, PhD. - Associate Professor of Community Psychology

Johan serves at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. He is a native South African and over the past 30 years has been serving the Church in South Africa as a pastor, a social worker and counseling psychologist. He holds five degrees in the human sciences including a PhD from the University of Pretoria. He has vast experience in the field of compassion ministries and for 11 years was National Director of Welfare for the largest Evangelical Church in South Africa. Since 2000 he has been a consultant to national churches in Africa, and international development agencies on the role of the church in HIV/AIDS. He has trained pastors from 9 African nations to respond effectively to AIDS and has consulted with Samaritan’s Purse’s AIDS program and the Crossroads Strategy of Campus Crusade for Christ. He has been a speaker on this subject with Bruce Wilkinson’s “Turn the Tide” in 2003, at the NAE National Conference in Washington DC in 2004, and the Wheaton Students AIDS Summit in 2005. He is married to Andrea, and they have three married children and six grandchildren. Dr. Mostert serves as an advisor to the LAC Commission on Aids.