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LUCHA MINISTRIES
Our Leadership
About / Leadership
Core Team
Executive Director
Kenny Park
Kenny was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved with his family to Chile at the age of 2. After graduating high school, he moved back to the States and earned his BA in Government and Spanish from Western Kentucky University. Subsequently, he served for two years as a Journeyman missionary in Oviedo and Denia, Spain.
He attended Southern Seminary in Louisville, after which he met and married his wife, Leslie. Together they moved to her hometown of Virginia Beach for several years, during which they welcomed their three children, Hannah, Caleb and Judson into their family.
In 2003, they moved to Warsaw, VA, when he was called to serve as pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church (Emmerton) and associational missionary to the Latino immigrant and refugee community on the Northern Neck, where they continue to live and work. The 20 years of on-the-job training has provided Kenny a breadth of experience in ministering to people from all walks of life, through all the seasons of life.
Kenny’s passion is to make the love of God in Christ a reality in every way possible, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Program Director, Immigration Legal Services
Greg Smith
Greg Smith is one of the founders of LUCHA Ministries, Inc. An ordained minister, Greg has worked in Latin America and served in various denominational organizations, primarily in the area of leadership development and theological education.
He holds B.A., M.Div., and M.A. degrees as well as a Th.M and Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies.
Greg is currently employed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and is the Director of LUCHA's Immigration Legal Services program and serves as its Accredited Representative.
Immigration Attorney (retired)
Bill Botts
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Accredited Representative - Immigration Legal Services Program
Melani Corral
Melani Corral is a first generation student at University of Mary Washington and is planning on graduating May 2024 with a BA in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. Her plan after graduating is to attend law school to become an immigration attorney. She has been an intern at LUCHA since her junior year of high school in 2019. On May 13, 2021, she was granted DOJ accreditation, which allows her to continue assisting the immigrant community with legal services.
Program Director, Cinco Panes
Aida Kent
Aida has been serving with LUCHA since its beginnings in 2004.
A native of Puerto Rico, Aida manages all aspects of the Cinco Panes (Five Loaves) food distribution ministry. Aida is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers as well as screening and scheduling families for assistance.
As a CNA and former hospital employee, Aida also engages in direct Case Management for families in crisis or for those dealing with ongoing medical needs. Aida is passionate about serving the immigrant community.
Social Worker
Sue Smith
Sue, one of the original founders of LUCHA, oversees human needs ministries and seeks to raise awareness about issues of mental health in the Latino community.
Sue loves Latin America and travels frequently, seeking to introduce others to the rich cultures of the Americas.
Sue holds a D.Min, degree, with a focus in Pastoral Care with Latino Immigrants, as well as B.A., M.Div., and MSW degrees, with Social Work Licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia (LMSW). She is a former Rotary Peace Fellow (Class 30), with a Professional Certificate in Peace and Development Studies.
Board of Directors
President
Pamela Jones
Pamela Jones, in her role as Cultural Services, Special Projects, and Civil Rights Coordinator for Mary Washington Healthcare, supports the organization in creating and implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategies.
She brings a wealth of experience from the healthcare field and has a strong interest in issues of social justice. Pamela proudly claims her Puerto Rican heritage and has been a part of LUCHA since 2004.
Secretary
Mary Ellen Durfee
Mary Ellen Durfee has a passion for the Latino immigrant community and actively engages with families of her students. She holds an M.A. degree in English as a Second Language and an M.S. in Secondary Education. She is also a Certified Reading Specialist in Virginia. Mary Ellen is an ESOL teacher for Prince Williams County Public Schools.
She has been involved in several ministries in area Hispanic Christian churches since 2004 and has been with LUCHA since 2019.
Treasurer
Sue Smith
Sue Smith brings experience from designing and coordinating various community development and disaster response projects in Latin America and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Peace and Development Studies as a Rotary Peace Fellow. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration along with M.Div. and M.S.W. degrees. She earned a D.Min. in Pastoral Care, is a Licensed Master of Social Work, and has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.
Sue is employed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Board Member
Rev. Larry Jiminez
Rev. Larry Jimenez is a native of Bolivia and the father of two Bolivian-Peruvian-American preschoolers.
Larry, an ordained minister, holds a B.A. in Communications and a Master in Theological Studies (M.T.S.) and serves as Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Spanish Language Ministry at Chancellor Baptist Church.
He has been involved with LUCHA since joining the church staff, and Larry became part of the Board of Directors in 2020.
Board Member
Judy Maggio
Judy Maggio holds a B.A. in Biology with M.S. Project Management credits. Judy is a retired Executive-level Federal Director with budgeting and administrative expertise, and her parents were from Panama and Puerto Rico.
She has been a LUCHA volunteer since 2012, serving as a Spanish translator, and then the Project Adelante Program Director until May 2020. Judy also leads a bi-cultural Girl Scout Troop.
Sue is employed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Board Member
Greg Smith
Greg Smith is one of the founders of LUCHA Ministries, Inc. Also an ordained minister, Greg has worked in Latin America and served in various denominational organizations, primarily in the area of leadership development and theological education. He holds B.A., M.Div., and M.A. degrees as well as a Th.M and Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies.
Greg is currently employed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and is the Director of LUCHA's Immigration Legal Services program.
A special thanks to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for the opportunity to have Greg and Sue Smith, CBF Field Personnel, serve in a voluntary capacity on our staff.