Introducing Our Board Members

We have been blessed with a truly amazing group of diverse people who rally around Awake and Alive. We thought you might like to meet some of them!

Keith Sarber - Has over 15 years of professional experience in relationship development among corporate and non-profit accounts. Most recently is serving as Assistant Director of Community Investment at the United Way of St. Joseph County. Priorities include cultivating key relationships, funding impact, annual giving, major gifts and managing the organization’s events with staff and volunteer committees. I love to paint large murals, draw, sing, dance, swim, read (nonfiction), play with my kids, wife, and dog not necessarily in that order. I am very happy to be near completion of my Bachelors degree at Goshen College. Awake & Alive is very important to me because I believe in the mission, leadership and goals. I can be super critical of hypocritical Christians who sit around and complain, whine and condemn the current state of affairs. I think (and sometimes say), “Why don’t you do something about it, why don’t you work toward a solution.” And Awake & Alive is actively working toward the solution.

Yemi Mobolade - I'm a local missionary in Colorado Springs. Originally from Nigeria, I have both a local and global calling. I'm a co-founder and pastor of theMovement church, a new network of missional communities (simple churches) on a Christ-centered mission to bring healing, reconciliation, wholeness, and “shalom” to the people of Colorado Springs. I am working on completing my M.Div at A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary while anticipating beginning my Doctorate degree in Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary. In my spare time I am working on completing my first book: The Way of the Cross: Reimagining the Cross as a Kingdom Lifestyle. I'm excited to be a part of Awake and Alive because I acknowledge the calling and passion that God has placed in Jolene and Danielle and I'm honored to be a part of this Kingdom work on my home continent!

Meggan Armburstmacher – I live in Michigan and have been married for almost 10 years to Ryan. We have adopted 2 children from Ethiopia. Rylee is 4 and Ezzie is 22 months. I am a Hair Stylist/Salon Manager at an AVEDA salon part time and also spend time as a “31” consultant. I also am an advocate for people who don’t have a platform to speak up for themselves. I am so excited to be a part of Awake & Alive because after returning from Ethiopia on both of our trips, I hold true to the saying "I need Africa, more than Africa needs me"!!! I have been forever touched and changed by the country and its people! I can't wait to dirty my hands and get more involved as an advocate for the children of Ethiopia!

Justin Lugbill - I live in Chicago with my wife of 5 years, Erica. We are both business owners. I own an online Christian bookstore and a Marketing consultancy. Erica owns an interior design firm. Both being self-employees, we live pretty unique lifestyles. We get to spend a lot of time together with two home offices! We both love to spend time outdoors. We also have a passion for travel. In fact, our pipe dream is to live in cities around the world, for a few months out of each year. I am excited to be a part of Awake and Alive. There is such a need for what Danielle and Jolene's non profit is doing. I believe that, for the first time in history, we have a legitimate shot at alleviating the sorts of poverty and destitution we sadly see around the world. Study after study has shown that one of the most important factors in social mobility, is education... and that is what Awake and Alive is all about! I plan to help A&A with their online presence (website, social media, marketing, and PR). One unique thing that we've been able to do so far, is set up a fundraiser with my bookstore, where 6% of sales go to Awake and Alive when you use the fundraiser code AwakeandAlive at checkout. In addition, the code will activate free shipping (over $25) for you! With a price match guarantee, free shipping, and 6% of your purchase going to Awake and Alive, you'd be crazy not to at least try it out! :)

Eyob Zeleke - God has blessed me with a wonderful wife, Melat Yilkal, and two adorable sons Lewy (4) and Lukas (18 months). I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and came to the U.S about 12 years ago for college. We have made Goshen, IN our home. I work for Dexter Axle, a manufacturing company, as an Application Developer. I am also the prayer team coordinator for our church and help organize periodic and annual events for Ethiopian youth and students in the Midwest region. Some of my hobbies include, playing guitar and keyboard, playing basketball, but most importantly playing with my boys :) I am excited to share the burden and passion of Awake and Alive as the ministry strives to help the kids in Kechene for a better tomorrow. I hope to contribute to the growth of the ministry one way or another, including teaching Amharic :)!

Danielle Black –I live in Elkhart, Indiana with my husband of 12 years, Karl. We have four incredible children by birth and adoption: Braden (10), Kole (8), Owen (6), and Selah (3). Before kids, I was a high school English, speech, and drama teacher at both a public high school and later at an alternative school. I know how much an education matters! These days, I seem to have even less free time between mothering, working in the education field part-time, and helping run Awake and Alive, but I do enjoy rare moments reading, playing the guitar (learning to!), and connecting with others. I also really love drama—the legitimate theater kind—but haven’t had much of an outlet for that as of late! Being a part of Awake and Alive is like a kiss from God for me. I get to do what makes me feel alive—anything that involves the continent of Africa and the beautiful people from there—and I get to live out God’s heart a little better by advocating for orphans and widows.

Jolene Shrock - I live in Goshen, Indiana with my husband of 7 years, Darin. We have 3 precious children, all adopted from the beautiful country of Ethiopia. Claire is our radiant 3 year old. She is super sweet, a natural born leader and loves to dance. Benjamin is our rambunctious 2 year old. He loves banging on stuff, throwing balls, and wrestling with his daddy. Stella is our sweet and spirited 2 year old. She is very curious and passionate about everything she does. I love being a stay at home momma but also love working one day a week at the fRiNgE SaLoN. During my down time I enjoy reading, watching movies and spending precious time with Darin. Awake and Alive is an amazing channel for me to pour my God given passion into. There has been lots of learning and lots of prayers during the start up of Awake and Alive, but to be in God’s will and know that He is in control, it is the only place I want to be!