It all started when…
A few dedicated Christ followers from various backgrounds in ministry and missions came together with a passion for heeding the Lord’s call to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) Compassion for Life began by answering this call, sharing Jesus’s love and compassion to underserved people around the world and making obedient disciples of Jesus who make more disciples, focusing on multiplication and ongoing movements.
Years later, Compassion for Life has launched Disciple Making Movements, trained hundreds to effectively make disciples within their own communities through Discovery Bible Studies, helped bring transformation into hurting communities by teaching people to become followers of Jesus, provided clean water, food and vital necessities, and built bridges and marketplaces that improved underprivileged communities. All this was done by following the Lord’s leading and direction and we look forward to seeing what He has for CFL in the future.
Our Mission
Compassion for Life helps people discover who God is, and understand Jesus’s gift of salvation through the Discovery Bible Studies. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to live a good life, and we are committed to helping people by offering a hand up, not just a hand out, through providing a variety of services and support, we build relationships with the people we serve.
BOARD MEMBERS
Anita has an extensive background as a administrative assistant at the senior executive level. She has a versatile skill set and is adept to filling several different roles within management. Those roles include but are not limited to maintaining financial records, bank account reconciliation, cash flow, billings, and bank reconciliation. In addition Anita has been a leader in event planning and fundraising. Her greatest asset is a natural ability to make everyone around her feel important and appreciated. She is the backbone of being a team player.
Dr. Dave Hunt and his wife, Lynn, joined Cityteam in 1984 where Dave served as Youth Director, then V.P. of Development and Expansion. In 2005, David transferred to the international division and relocated to Addis Ababa Ethiopia. During their five years in East Africa, Dave coached local leaders in disciple making and church planting throughout a seven-country region while consulting with numerous organizations in the start-up of simple schools, safe water systems and other humanitarian services. Lynn provided a service of rescuing high-risk babies who had little chance of survival in the tough environments where they lived and ran a guesthouse in Addis Ababa. Returning to the US in 2010, Dave was assigned to engage in the same disciple making and community development throughout North, Central, and South America. Currently, he serves with NewGenerations with responsibility for catalyzing mission movements and development in North Africa.
Dave completed undergraduate studies in Canada and later completed post-graduate work. He was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, Washington. Dave and Lynn are currently living with their two Ethiopian children, Tariku and Weyitu in Fallbrook, California. Their other three sons and six grandchildren live in California and Texas.
Andy has managed a successful financial advisory business for the past 22 years. Currently with Edward Jones Investments, he has been ranked in the top 300 financial advisors for the last six years in a row. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Cityteam Ministries, Chester, PA. He has also served on the Boards of the Delaware Valley Alzheimer’s Association, Main Line Adult Center, and the Charlestown Hunt Community Board. He is the past President of the Media, PA. Rotary Club and currently serves as a Board member. He has been married to his wife Amy for 30 years and has 3 adult children. They are active members in their home church.
Ryan has over ten years of experience as a church staff person serving as Missions Pastor and Office Manager as well as Family Pastor and Tech Support Pastor. He has been involved with child sponsorship, feeding centers, medical services, and short term trips as well as providing strategic planning and oversight for various charitable purposes supported by those churches. For three years, Ryan was the President and CEO of Light and Life Corporation, a non-profit organization working as a catalyst to connect North American resources with East Africa needs as well as working with partner organizations to help drive obedience-based discipleship efforts in that region. Ryan lives in Fallbrook, CA with his wife and two adult daughters and right next two his son and daughter in law who are soon to make him a grandfather! He serves as Office Manager at SonRise Christian Fellowship as well as the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for Compassion for Life.
A summa cum laude graduate of the Philadelphia Music Academy, Joel Krott has studied and traveled throughout Europe, including extensive musical study and research with renowned masters from the Royal Conservatory of Copenhagen and the Vienna Conservatory. He has participated in the Oregon Bach Festival under Helmuth Rilling.
Mr. Krott has expertly and graciously guided the West Jersey Chamber Music Society, an ensemble of professional instrumentalists and vocalists, from its inception in 1980, creating over 40 seasons of music that challenge and inspire both supporters and musicians. An accomplished organist, he is also the director of music ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, where he conducts five vocal choirs of various ages – a position he has held since 1972.
Activities of the choirs, in addition to providing Sunday worship music, include concerts with orchestra and international concert tours.
After graduating from Lafayette College, Joe pursued a career in banking, raising to Senior VP and Board Member of both Southeast National Bank and Fidelity Bank. When banking went 24/7 he set up his own consulting firm pursuing new approaches to purified water, rubber recycling, and more. Always active in community service, Joe was President of The Chester Jaycees, and The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, on the Boards of United Way of SE Delaware County and The Del Co Community Foundation. At Wallingford Presbyterian Church Joe served as an Elder and sang in the Choir. He also has served some 30 years on the Board at CityTeam Ministries, including as Chairman for a number of years. Joe is married, has 5 children and 10 grandchildren.
William Strine Sr. has served as the CEO of Media Real Estate Company for over 35 years. Media Real Estate is a design, build, lease, and manage firm specializing in residential and commercial properties. Bill has a background in civil engineering and is a licensed professional structural engineer in addition to being a real estate broker/salesperson in PA, NJ, and DE. Bill is very active in his community. He is a longtime member and former President of the Media Rotary Club. He is an Elder at the Media Presbyterian Church. He has served as a member of the Middletown Township Planning Commission, Director at the Rocky Run YMCA, and a former member of the Delaware County Tourist Bureau. Bill currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Williamson College of the Trades located in Media, PA. He also serves on the National Board of Directors of City Team Ministries in Chester, PA. In addition, he holds a 4th degree black belt in Roo Koo Kempo karate. Bill resides in Media, PA with his wife of over 58 years. He has three children and five grandchildren.
Greg is a retired San Jose Police Sergeant with over 25 years of leadership and training experience as well as many years of experience as a pastor and leader of a local church that has visited many of the communities supported by Light and Life Corp. He lives in San Jose, CA with his wife, Irene. Greg works part-time at the local mortuary as well as serving as an elder and the Pastor of Healing Ministries at Evergreen Valley Church.
Jerry Trousdale grew up in Nashville and attended Lipscomb University. His Junior year he met his future wife Gayle when they were volunteer camp counselors for kids at a Christian Camp on Short Mountain.
After they married in 1968, he attended Graduate School at Abilene Christian in Texas to study Missions before they deployed in 1971 to the interior or Sierra Leone among the Muslim, Mende people.
After four years in Africa, Jerry began doctoral studies in Missiology at Fuller Seminary in California. But that was interrupted when a Southern California church called him to be their pastor. Over ten years the church became a mission sending church, and a church that interceded for unreached peoples.
In 1990, Jerry and Gayle returned to Tennessee where he spent several years in Christian media: first, doing an afternoon drive Christian talk show in Nashville, before being employed at Thomas Nelson Publishers to launch the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, and later to serve as Director of Marketing.
In 1997, Gayle and Jerry sensed that God was calling them back to missions. He resigned from Thomas Nelson to pastor another mission sending church. In 2002, he discovered the phenomenon of Kingdom Movements happening in India and co-founded Final Command Ministries to empower great African leaders to catalyze Disciple Making Movements among 19 Unreached Muslim People Groups in Africa.
Since 2005, Jerry has served as Director of International Ministries for New Generations where, in partnership with hundreds of Global South ministries, more than 420 people groups have been successfully engaged in 29 countries. 113 of them have become Disciple Making Movements with at least 100 churches and four generations of churches planting churches.
In 2012, Jerry published Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling in Love with Jesus, which became a best-selling book for Thomas Nelson.
In 2014, Jerry asked Dr. Glenn Sunshine to co-author with him The Kingdom Unleashed: How Jesus’ 1st Century Kingdom Values are Transforming Thousands of Cultures and Awakening His Church. That book was a three year project, and was released in June 2018.
“Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ” (Colossians 4:3)
Richard’s greatest commitment is to work with churches, Christian agencies, and individuals who are committed to the fulfillment of the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20. He has spent the last 15 years training church leaders and individuals on making disciples who in turn “go and do likewise”.
In all, Richard has over 30 years of executive leadership experience working with churches and Christian organizations, including start-up design and program development. He has become well known for his ability to develop innovative solutions that deliver results to poor and underserved populations globally.
When asked what the biggest challenge facing the Church today is, Richard states, “the answer is found in Revelation 2:4&5… “You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first. Look how far you have fallen. Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first”. That requires a return of being obedient to Christ’s last words to us found in Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey”.
Mr. Yanoshak attended Drexel University (B.S. in Accounting), Villanova University School of Law (Juris Doctor degree) and was admitted to the bar in 1975. His practice areas include: income taxation, retirement planning, estate planning/administration, and estate/gift taxation. John is a C.P.A. in Pennsylvania and has been admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Currently, he is of counsel to the law firm of KAO Law Associates in Media, PA. In addition, John has been an Adjunct Professor at Widener University since 1990 in the following programs: Graduate Tax Program, Graduate Business Administration Program, and Undergraduate Business Law & Taxation Program. Previously, he was an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University. John’s professional associations include: Delaware County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Delaware County Estate Planning Council (President, 1997), and Delaware County Attorney-CPA Forum (President, 1996).
Personal
Rachel and her husband Bill reside in Harrington, Delaware. Bill is a retired police officer and currently works for the Delaware National Guard. Bill serves alongside Rachel in their ministry efforts. Together they have 5 children ranging from age 15 to 32 years of age. They are currently active members of Crossroad Community Church.
Ministry
Rachel is a nurse by trade and has relied upon her experience in this field many times during her various ministry assignments.
Having had a heart for missions her entire life, God has continually increased her love and compassion for other people. Particularly the lost and those less fortunate. Some of her ministry efforts include but are not limited to;
- Currently serves as the Prayer Coordinator for Compassion for Life, as well as DMM coach for the Delmarva area. In addition, she serves as an essential support to the staff when special projects require for additional assistance.
- Served in various ministry positions for over 20 years at Faith Community Church in Camden, Delaware.
- Home schooling for 20 plus years
- Led a team of youth to Kingston, Jamaica to serve at the Salvation Army School for the Blind.
Rachel is deeply passionate about making true disciples for Christ and mentoring others to do the same. Her personal mission statement comes directly from Christ in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and in earth has been given unto me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age”.
BOARD MEMBERS
Anita has an extensive background as a administrative assistant at the senior executive level. She has a versatile skill set and is adept to filling several different roles within management. Those roles include but are not limited to maintaining financial records, bank account reconciliation, cash flow, billings, and bank reconciliation. In addition Anita has been a leader in event planning and fundraising. Her greatest asset is a natural ability to make everyone around her feel important and appreciated. She is the backbone of being a team player.
Dr. Dave Hunt and his wife, Lynn, joined Cityteam in 1984 where Dave served as Youth Director, then V.P. of Development and Expansion. In 2005, David transferred to the international division and relocated to Addis Ababa Ethiopia. During their five years in East Africa, Dave coached local leaders in disciple making and church planting throughout a seven-country region while consulting with numerous organizations in the start-up of simple schools, safe water systems and other humanitarian services. Lynn provided a service of rescuing high-risk babies who had little chance of survival in the tough environments where they lived and ran a guesthouse in Addis Ababa. Returning to the US in 2010, Dave was assigned to engage in the same disciple making and community development throughout North, Central, and South America. Currently, he serves with NewGenerations with responsibility for catalyzing mission movements and development in North Africa.
Dave completed undergraduate studies in Canada and later completed post-graduate work. He was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, Washington. Dave and Lynn are currently living with their two Ethiopian children, Tariku and Weyitu in Fallbrook, California. Their other three sons and six grandchildren live in California and Texas.
Andy has managed a successful financial advisory business for the past 22 years. Currently with Edward Jones Investments, he has been ranked in the top 300 financial advisors for the last six years in a row. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Cityteam Ministries, Chester, PA. He has also served on the Boards of the Delaware Valley Alzheimer’s Association, Main Line Adult Center, and the Charlestown Hunt Community Board. He is the past President of the Media, PA. Rotary Club and currently serves as a Board member. He has been married to his wife Amy for 30 years and has 3 adult children. They are active members in their home church.
Ryan has over ten years of experience as a church staff person serving as Missions Pastor and Office Manager as well as Family Pastor and Tech Support Pastor. He has been involved with child sponsorship, feeding centers, medical services, and short term trips as well as providing strategic planning and oversight for various charitable purposes supported by those churches. For three years, Ryan was the President and CEO of Light and Life Corporation, a non-profit organization working as a catalyst to connect North American resources with East Africa needs as well as working with partner organizations to help drive obedience-based discipleship efforts in that region. Ryan lives in Fallbrook, CA with his wife and two adult daughters and right next two his son and daughter in law who are soon to make him a grandfather! He serves as Office Manager at SonRise Christian Fellowship as well as the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for Compassion for Life.
A summa cum laude graduate of the Philadelphia Music Academy, Joel Krott has studied and traveled throughout Europe, including extensive musical study and research with renowned masters from the Royal Conservatory of Copenhagen and the Vienna Conservatory. He has participated in the Oregon Bach Festival under Helmuth Rilling.
Mr. Krott has expertly and graciously guided the West Jersey Chamber Music Society, an ensemble of professional instrumentalists and vocalists, from its inception in 1980, creating over 40 seasons of music that challenge and inspire both supporters and musicians. An accomplished organist, he is also the director of music ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, where he conducts five vocal choirs of various ages – a position he has held since 1972.
Activities of the choirs, in addition to providing Sunday worship music, include concerts with orchestra and international concert tours.
After graduating from Lafayette College, Joe pursued a career in banking, raising to Senior VP and Board Member of both Southeast National Bank and Fidelity Bank. When banking went 24/7 he set up his own consulting firm pursuing new approaches to purified water, rubber recycling, and more. Always active in community service, Joe was President of The Chester Jaycees, and The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, on the Boards of United Way of SE Delaware County and The Del Co Community Foundation. At Wallingford Presbyterian Church Joe served as an Elder and sang in the Choir. He also has served some 30 years on the Board at CityTeam Ministries, including as Chairman for a number of years. Joe is married, has 5 children and 10 grandchildren.
William Strine Sr. has served as the CEO of Media Real Estate Company for over 35 years. Media Real Estate is a design, build, lease, and manage firm specializing in residential and commercial properties. Bill has a background in civil engineering and is a licensed professional structural engineer in addition to being a real estate broker/salesperson in PA, NJ, and DE. Bill is very active in his community. He is a longtime member and former President of the Media Rotary Club. He is an Elder at the Media Presbyterian Church. He has served as a member of the Middletown Township Planning Commission, Director at the Rocky Run YMCA, and a former member of the Delaware County Tourist Bureau. Bill currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Williamson College of the Trades located in Media, PA. He also serves on the National Board of Directors of City Team Ministries in Chester, PA. In addition, he holds a 4th degree black belt in Roo Koo Kempo karate. Bill resides in Media, PA with his wife of over 58 years. He has three children and five grandchildren.
Greg is a retired San Jose Police Sergeant with over 25 years of leadership and training experience as well as many years of experience as a pastor and leader of a local church that has visited many of the communities supported by Light and Life Corp. He lives in San Jose, CA with his wife, Irene. Greg works part-time at the local mortuary as well as serving as an elder and the Pastor of Healing Ministries at Evergreen Valley Church.
Jerry Trousdale grew up in Nashville and attended Lipscomb University. His Junior year he met his future wife Gayle when they were volunteer camp counselors for kids at a Christian Camp on Short Mountain.
After they married in 1968, he attended Graduate School at Abilene Christian in Texas to study Missions before they deployed in 1971 to the interior or Sierra Leone among the Muslim, Mende people.
After four years in Africa, Jerry began doctoral studies in Missiology at Fuller Seminary in California. But that was interrupted when a Southern California church called him to be their pastor. Over ten years the church became a mission sending church, and a church that interceded for unreached peoples.
In 1990, Jerry and Gayle returned to Tennessee where he spent several years in Christian media: first, doing an afternoon drive Christian talk show in Nashville, before being employed at Thomas Nelson Publishers to launch the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, and later to serve as Director of Marketing.
In 1997, Gayle and Jerry sensed that God was calling them back to missions. He resigned from Thomas Nelson to pastor another mission sending church. In 2002, he discovered the phenomenon of Kingdom Movements happening in India and co-founded Final Command Ministries to empower great African leaders to catalyze Disciple Making Movements among 19 Unreached Muslim People Groups in Africa.
Since 2005, Jerry has served as Director of International Ministries for New Generations where, in partnership with hundreds of Global South ministries, more than 420 people groups have been successfully engaged in 29 countries. 113 of them have become Disciple Making Movements with at least 100 churches and four generations of churches planting churches.
In 2012, Jerry published Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling in Love with Jesus, which became a best-selling book for Thomas Nelson.
In 2014, Jerry asked Dr. Glenn Sunshine to co-author with him The Kingdom Unleashed: How Jesus’ 1st Century Kingdom Values are Transforming Thousands of Cultures and Awakening His Church. That book was a three year project, and was released in June 2018.
“Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ” (Colossians 4:3)
Richard’s greatest commitment is to work with churches, Christian agencies, and individuals who are committed to the fulfillment of the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20. He has spent the last 15 years training church leaders and individuals on making disciples who in turn “go and do likewise”.
In all, Richard has over 30 years of executive leadership experience working with churches and Christian organizations, including start-up design and program development. He has become well known for his ability to develop innovative solutions that deliver results to poor and underserved populations globally.
When asked what the biggest challenge facing the Church today is, Richard states, “the answer is found in Revelation 2:4&5… “You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first. Look how far you have fallen. Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first”. That requires a return of being obedient to Christ’s last words to us found in Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey”.
Mr. Yanoshak attended Drexel University (B.S. in Accounting), Villanova University School of Law (Juris Doctor degree) and was admitted to the bar in 1975. His practice areas include: income taxation, retirement planning, estate planning/administration, and estate/gift taxation. John is a C.P.A. in Pennsylvania and has been admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Currently, he is of counsel to the law firm of KAO Law Associates in Media, PA. In addition, John has been an Adjunct Professor at Widener University since 1990 in the following programs: Graduate Tax Program, Graduate Business Administration Program, and Undergraduate Business Law & Taxation Program. Previously, he was an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University. John’s professional associations include: Delaware County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Delaware County Estate Planning Council (President, 1997), and Delaware County Attorney-CPA Forum (President, 1996).
Personal
Rachel and her husband Bill reside in Harrington, Delaware. Bill is a retired police officer and currently works for the Delaware National Guard. Bill serves alongside Rachel in their ministry efforts. Together they have 5 children ranging from age 15 to 32 years of age. They are currently active members of Crossroad Community Church.
Ministry
Rachel is a nurse by trade and has relied upon her experience in this field many times during her various ministry assignments.
Having had a heart for missions her entire life, God has continually increased her love and compassion for other people. Particularly the lost and those less fortunate. Some of her ministry efforts include but are not limited to;
- Currently serves as the Prayer Coordinator for Compassion for Life, as well as DMM coach for the Delmarva area. In addition, she serves as an essential support to the staff when special projects require for additional assistance.
- Served in various ministry positions for over 20 years at Faith Community Church in Camden, Delaware.
- Home schooling for 20 plus years
- Led a team of youth to Kingston, Jamaica to serve at the Salvation Army School for the Blind.
Rachel is deeply passionate about making true disciples for Christ and mentoring others to do the same. Her personal mission statement comes directly from Christ in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and in earth has been given unto me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age”.
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