About Our Leadership

Board of Directors:

Jack strother jr.

Jack recently retired from his work as the President of the Commercial Bank of Grayson in Grayson, KY. He is the newest member of the Board and has already been extremely helpful in keeping the mission financially accountable. Jack has been friends with the HVCM for many years and we are thrilled to have him on board.

Keith Sergent

Dr. Keith Sergent is the Sr. Minister of the Murdock Christian Church in Port Charlotte, Florida. Keith is a long time friend of HVCM who has made a couple of trips to Zimbabwe, and has a passion for helping preachers and churches in that nation.

Larry Marshall

Larry is the Director of Alumni Relations at Kentucky Christian University and the chairman of the mission committee at First Church of Christ in Grayson, KY. He has a tremendous interest in world evangelism, and a desire to see college students serve in short-term trips.

Steve Rich

Steve is the Senior Minister of the Jamestown Christian Church in Jamestown, OH. He has been a strong supporter of mission work in Zimbabwe for many years, including making a trip to visit the work of Hippo Valley Christian Mission.

Dave Thurman

Dave grew up in Zimbabwe, and his family served with the Pemberton's at Mashoko back in the 1960's. He currently serves as Missions and Teaching Minister at The Church at Mt. Gilead, Mooresville, IN, and as chairman of the board. Since 1999 he has been making annual trips to Zimbabwe.

Steve Knisley

Steve has been at the Christian Church in Midland, TX now for 2 years. He is a graduate of Kentucky Christian College and is a dynamic speaker who has a heart for the lost, along with a desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Phil Lemaster

Phil is the Sr. Minister of Central Christian Church in Ironton, OH and a longtime friend of the Pemberton family and HVCM. He was one of the original board members, having served since the formation of the HVCM board.

Donna (Burris) Stroop

One of our newest board members, Donna grew up in Zimbabwe where her family served as missionaries, specifically in the Dine area until 1976. Donna went on to graduate from Puget Sound Christian College with a major in missions. Donna & her husband Steve live in Seattle during the summer and Arizona during the winter. Donna speaks on behalf of HVCM on the west coast states, currently raising funds to rebuild the clinic at Dine to honor her parents' work. Donna brings a new perspective to our board and represents us well.

Dr. Darel Pruett

Darel is the son of Dr. Dennis and Lucy Pruett, who along with John & Marge Pemberton, founded Hippo Valley Christian Mission in 1956. Darel and his wife Mary live in Islamorada, Florida where he is a dermatologist. Having grown up in Zimbabwe,and with a great understanding of the culture and language, Darel is a great addition to our board of directors.

Stateside Office staff:

Al Serhal- Executive Director

Al began serving as Executive Director for Hippo Valley Christian Mission in August of 2014, and has made more than a dozen trips to Zimbabwe. He was one of the original board members of HVCM, and has a great love for both the people of Zimbabwe and the work being done by HVCM. He has been a wonderful addition to the mission and continues to further the work of the Kingdom in Zimbabwe.

Patty Serhal - Office Manager

Patty is the wife of Al Serhal. After managing the campus bookstores at Point University in Georgia and Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, KY, Patty works full-time in the Mission office as well as manages the Mission Thrift Store located in Grayson, KY.

Cana Kidd - Director of Operations

Cana is the newest member of our staff, joining HVCM in August of 2017. She is a recent Business Management graduate of Kentucky Christian University and handles the finances for Hippo Valley Christian Mission.

Zimbabwe Senior Staff:

Zebedee Togarepi - Managing Director

Zebedee is a product of our mission schools, who went on to receive degrees from Zimbabwe Christian College, Kentucky Christian University (B.A.), and Cincinnati Christian University (MRE). He became an equal partner with John Mark and Bob over a decade ago, and since their deaths has done a tremendous job managing and overseeing HVCM schools, churches, health care facilities, and children’s work. He is the founder of the Zimbabwe Preaching Summit and was recently named chairman of the board of Zimbabwe Christian College.

Alone Gudyanga- Administrator of Orphanages

Alone not only administrates the Chiredzi Christian Home and Children's Village, but is also the preacher of the Village Church in Chiredzi. He is not only a graduate of ZCC, but also a registered nurse, and provides physical and spirtual oversight of our ministry to orphans.

Cephas Zivanai - Schools' Chaplain general

Cephas is a faithful preacher of the gospel who graduated many years ago from Zimbabwe Christian College. With a love for children and a gfit for teaching and music, Cephas works with the 26 HVCM schools to ensure that the Bible is taught and Christ is central to the entire educational process. He also leads youth revivals in conjunction with our schools.

Kufazvinei Vhurinosara - Financial Clerk/office manager

Kufa is our office manger in Chiredzi who also handles the finances, including payroll. He is a devoted Christian man, whose brother is a preacher, and he has been a wonderful addition to our misison staff.

Leanna (Pemberton) Nesbitt - orphan ministry leader

Since the early 1980’s Leanna has been serving HVCM, for many years as the wife of the late John Mark Pemberton, and then later through serving in the office at Grayson and our orphanages in Chiredzi. She is now our liaison between the orphanage ministry and US supporters.