Craig Burford

Chairman of the Board

Craig Burford is married to De’Anne and they have three children — Maddie, Catherine, and Sam. Craig received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University. Craig is the Manager of International Business Development for Square D Company (Schneider Electric). He has fifteen years of experience in international business, having spent 6 years with his family in positions in SE Asia (Indonesia & Singapore).

“During my travels around the world the one thing that consistently stops me in my tracks is the site of street children and the seeming lack of hope in their eyes. The hopelessness in the world is truly oppressive with the sheer numbers of orphans causing one to wonder if anything can really be accomplished. This, in addition to the abandoned & helpless widows on every continent, really provides a test of our faith in action. I really believe in the mission of Providence World Ministries and can easily envision its impact on the global community, one person at a time.”

Guillermo Argueta

Guillermo is an attorney in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who has been involved with PWM since its humble beginnings. He is married and a father of four, and also serves in the men's ministry at his church.

John Batelaan

John, his wife Tracy, and their two sons (Cory and Zachary) reside in Folsom, California. John received his BS degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento and his Juris Doctorate from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento. John spent 11 years working in the Sacramento Superior Courts and a brief time as a prosecutor for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office. For the past 8 years, John has operated his law practice in Folsom.

“After visiting La Providencia in Honduras for the first time in 2007, myself, my wife Tracy as well as our oldest son Cory fell in love with the work taking place in Siguatepeque. The passion of those that were dedicating their lives to the ministry at La Providencia was contagious. It was evident that God was loving the children of Honduras through these people and we desperately wanted to be used by God in this ministry. My family continually asks God to show us further opportunities to serve Him at La Providencia and we of course look forward to every chance we get to go and visit our ‘Extended Honduran Family.’”

Phil Darke

Phil Darke, his wife, Becca, and their four children, live in Folsom, CA. The Darkes are also expecting the birth of their fifth child in March 2011. Phil received his Juris Doctor Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law, and his B.A. Degree in Rhetoric and Communications from U.C. Davis. Before coming on-board with PWM as Research & Development Director in October 2008, Phil worked as an attorney with different firms in Sacramento, CA, and Atlanta, GA, and as a clerk for a federal judge in Honolulu, HI. Phil currently serves as an Elder at River Rock Church.

“In 2004, God captured my heart and ignited a passion within me for orphans, widows, the sick, the poor and the oppressed throughout the world. In furtherance of that ever-growing passion, God has blessed me with the tremendous opportunity to serve alongside some amazing people involved with PWM. After visiting La Providencia in August 2006, God made it clear to me that He has called me to be a part of this ministry for many years to come.

“It is my prayer that God will use me, the Board, the PWM staff, and all of our ministry partners to make much of His name in Honduras and throughout the world every minute of every day. I also pray that, through PWM, we will all stop living ‘comfortable’ lives and start going where we can only go if God is with us. That we will make goals that will be fulfilled only if God is behind them and is their source and driving power. We need to make our dreams as big as our God! ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26).”

Josh Eaves

Treasurer

Josh Eaves grew up in a missionary family. Both of his parents worked with international students. His family spent time in the Philippines and Uganda. As the son of missionaries, Josh was taught at an early age that it was part of his responsibility to share the blessings he received with those around him. Josh currently works in healthcare, working for various startup companies.

In his spare time, Josh works with a number of organizations and ministries. He serves on the Board of The Phoenix Club, a not for profit that raises money for The Boys and Girls Club, he also works regularly with Interface Ministries, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. In June of 2009, Josh organized a soccer team of Burundi refugees to play in World Cup Nashville, a new soccer tournament aimed at uniting different members of the international and refugee communities in Nashville with the Nashville Church community. Josh first went to Honduras in high school, when he and some friends raised money to rebuild houses after Hurricane Mitch. From hat time he has had a draw to the people and orphans of that country because of the love they showed him.

Josh graduated is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. He is married to Sarah Fuqua Eaves and has a son, Parker.

David Hurlburt

Dave and his wife Tricia, and their six children (Danielle, Benjamin, Belle, Jared, Trent and Theresa) live in Sykesville, MD. Dave received a Bachelors of Arts in Accounting from Cedarville University. Dave has worked as a Government Auditor for several years, and is now a Financial Analyst for a consulting company. Dave and Tricia started the Open Hearts orphans ministry at their local church, Winfield Bible Chapel.

“Almost six years ago, my wife and I were called by God to adopt Theresa, our sixth child, from Kazakhstan. It wasn’t until I saw the orphanages in Kazakhstan and began to learn about how serious the orphan problem is in this world that Trish and I both realized that we needed to do more for the fatherless. It is clear in scripture that this call is made to the church, believers in Christ. I feel honored to be called to serve as a board member for La Providencia. This ministry is the perfect blend of deep spiritual conviction and wise counsel. Their loving and effective way of reaching not only the fatherless, but the community in and around Siguatepeque, Honduras is inspiring. I look forward to helping in any way that I can to further this Kingdom-building ministry. Prayers of God’s faithful are also coveted, as Trish and I plan to go to Ethiopia very soon to adopt two children (8 and 11). Orphan ministry and adoption have been our passion for several years now, and we thank God that he woke us up to this calling.”

Steve Sandfort

Steve Sandfort, his wife Becky, and their three children — Rachel, John, and Joseph live in Keller, Texas. Steve is a 1989 graduate of Concordia University–Chicago, Illinois. He received his Masters of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne, Indiana. Steve serves as Pastor of Church Planting for Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Colleyville, Texas and is currently planting a church in Saginaw, Texas. He has been active with Providence World Ministries since 2004.

“When I first visited La Providencia, the only thing visible was the foundation for the medical center, just a grid-like collection of concrete and block situated on the side of a mountain. By the faithful witness and work of His servants, God was transforming a mountainside into a medical center. Providence World Ministry’s staff and volunteers have continued to live out their faith on that mountainside and throughout Honduras. I believe when the Church is engaged like this in the community - believers living a transformed life — by God’s grace the Spirit brings about transformation in hearts and lives. This transformation is why I consider it a privilege to serve on the Providence World Ministries Board of Directors.”

Mark Smith

Mark is married to Neuzi Olivia Camara Smith, who is a full-time mother, homemaker, and artist, and they have a daughter, Isabelle Elena Smith, who is in her early years of elementary school. He is a 1978 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture. Mark has over 27 years of experience in the building construction industry and has been a Registered Architect since 1985 with licenses in nine states. Mark works as Vice President of Architecture services for an architectural/environmental consulting firm in Nashville, Gobbell Hays Partners, Inc.

Mark is involved in Providence World Missions because he has felt led by the Lord to a service that can be performed in this area to spread the Gospel by showing Christian love to orphans and widows. Mark has a strong philosophy of utilizing Paul’s tent making approach to mission service and had been searching for some time for an area where he could use his professional experience to serve the Lord more fully. Once he heard Alfredo’s testimony, the Lord moved in his heart to be involved and that was all that was needed to get started.

Mark and Neuzi’s only option for a child was through adoption and Isabelle has been a great joy in their life. This experience along with having experienced many parts of the world where children are systematically abandoned and left to the streets has given Mark a sense of urgency to provide family for orphans in need. Therefore; he sees value to the mission of PWM and hopes with the Lord’s blessing to be able to serve as faithfully as possible to help fulfill at least a small portion of the need that exists in the world today.

Sonja Zeyl

Secretary

Sonia Zeyl, her husband Derek and their three kids (Noah, Anneke, and Phoebe) now live in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. They moved there about three weeks ago from sunny El Dorado Hills, California!

Sonia received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She specialized in youth and family mental health and worked as an outpatient mental health counselor and as a medical social worker in the Sacramento area hospitals. All along she has had a passion for children and education, leading to many opportunities for service and advocacy not only in her career, but also through homeschooling and church organizations.

As of one month ago, she is a homemaker of the ordinary kind as she is no longer working part time, homeschooling full time, and in full time ministry. She also has stepped down from two Northern California Boards giving her some newfound flexibility and the opportunity to join PWM.

“I am honored and blessed with this opportunity to serve God in this way and to continue to experience the power of his work through his servants in his kingdom.”