Go Near Ministry
Nancy Puddephatt
Nancy Puddephatt loves being involved with children and ministry that touches the lives of children. This former teacher has seen her passion evolve into serving with missions in Kenya and on the board of Go Near ministry.
After an early career in sales and marketing, she found her true love and avocation in teaching. She taught junior high religion, character education, and conducted the junior high gifted and talented program at Christ Lutheran School for many years. Her greatest joy is to see young people get to know God through His Word.
Nancy has lived in Little Rock for 34 years. Married to Bill for 32 years, she’s the mother of twins, Will and Caroline, 28. An avid reader, she says if she doesn’t have any other book on hand, she will read the phone book. Her 20-year book club is near and dear to her heart.
She became acquainted with Go Near at Community Bible Study. Nancy felt their mission dovetailed with her favorite scripture and found a new calling on her life to get involved. Now she is living that out with serving with Go Near.
David Mangan
Serving with Go Near Ministries is a family affair for David, his wife Rachel, and his teenage sons Andrew, Luke, and Matthew. After his wife went on a mission trip to Kenya, David developed a heart and passion to serve with Go Near as well.
Caring about orphans is a natural fit for this Hot Springs family. They have served as a foster family for the past 10 years and helped numerous children in their home.
David works as the Neuroscience Account Manager at Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Inc. This lifetime Arkansan uses his skills to help Go Near by serving on the board as Treasurer.
“My wife, Rachel, has always had a strong desire to care for children in need and has been to Kenya on a recent mission trip. Her life-changing experience with Go Near opened up this opportunity for me to use my experiences and gifting for the benefit of the ministry.”
Board of Directors
April McMorran
April McMorran has a passion for life, and for children! Caring for orphans resonates with April at home: she and her husband adopted two young children just when they thought their nest was full.
After a mission trip to Kenya, the people she met and served there forever changed her heart. Now she serves on the GNM board to empower others with zeal to serve widows and orphans.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Human and Child Development/Early Childhood Education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and uses those skills while ministering in Africa and in Arkansas. She is also helping to develop educational and creative programs for the children to be conducted by the mission teams.
A talented artist, she makes jewelry, loves to cook, decorate, and read books. When she is in Kenya, April orchestrates art projects with the orphans and school children. Her dream is to create saleable children’s art to empower and change their lives.
“My heart has been changed…transformed forever since going to Kenya. As long as I have breath left in me, I will continue to return there over and over again until I fulfill whatever God has planned for me to complete!”
Belinda Shelton
In the summer of 2012, Belinda Shelton and her daughter, Allyson, were called to Kenya on a mission trip with Go Near Ministry. Belinda and Melody Taylor have been friends since junior high school days and stayed connected over the years.
While reading Melody’s blog one day, Allyson knew that it was time for her to go to Kenya. Belinda desired to work with the orphans in Kenya for years, but it wasn’t until Allyson called saying, “Mom, we are going to Kenya this summer,” that the dream became reality.After serving the people of Kenya, Belinda was hooked and now serves on the Board of Directors with Go Near.
When she’s not using her organizational and administrative skills to help the people of Kenya, she serves as the Executive Assistant for the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She loves children and is around them any chance she gets.
The loves of her life are her two beautiful, adult children, Allyson and Andrew, her son-in-law, Camaron, and her granddaughter, Jordyn. Belinda attends The Summit Church and serves on the welcoming team.
A follower of Christ, she chooses to “trust the Lord every moment and follow where He leads.” From Arkansas to Kenya, the dream unfolds in serving others.
Cheryl Williams
When Cheryl recently felt the call to take a mission trip to Kenya, it was a perfect fit and the perfect timing. This empty nester was ready to fill her arms and heart by loving on orphans and teaching children.
It is something she has spent her life doing in raising her own children, being a foster mom, rocking babies at Baptist Hospital, or working and serving with ministries having their focus on children.A background in teaching, her love for children is contagious.
She earned her Bachelors of Science in Education at Ouachita Baptist University and her Masters in Education at the University of Central Arkansas. She then taught in the North Little Rock School District before becoming a home school teacher for 18 years.
Cheryl currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Go Near Ministries. She helps Melody in a myriad of roles which include planning trips, raising funds, managing budgets or updating websites.
This mother of three young adults, Andrew, Stephen, and Sara, is married to Paul, a physician in Little Rock. Cheryl and her husband lead a Discipleship Group through Fellowship Bible Church. Cheryl leads women’s Bible studies, mentors children at an inner city after school program, serves on the Volunteer Board of Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and much more.
“It is amazing to see how God has been preparing me for this chapter of my life. I feel blessed to see how God is guiding and growing this ministry. I am humbled to know He has chosen me to be part of it.”
Stephanie Lacey
As a Director of Go Near Ministries, Stephine uses her legal skills and talents to guide and advise the ministry.
An Attorney at Law and Adjunct Professor, she graduated from South Texas College of Law and John Brown University. She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney, Harris County, in Houston, Texas.
When she is not busy as a wife, mother to her tennage son, or caretaker for her mother-in-law with Alzheimer's, she teaches online Ethics classes in the Graduate Business Program at John Brown University. Stephanie also works out of her of her home office serving God's church with her law degree.
She is passionate about seeking "justice for the oppressed-whether the lonely and poor in LR or abroad." This counselor seeks God's wisdom as she provides it for many.
Amy Daniel
Amy does not like the light of attention to shine on her, but she shines the light of Jesus everywhere she goes and radiates His beauty inside and out.
Amy serves on the board of Go Near and speaks before groups to help raise funds and awareness of the ministry.
A former Texas transplant, she attended Southern Methodist University. She has resided in Little Rock for the past 22 years. Amy has been married to John for 26 years. This mother of 3 sons, one daughter, 4 dogs, and a granddad runs a busy household.
"I love the integrity and heart of Melody Taylor—who she is when no one is looking. Go Near is such a real, transparent example of Jesus’ hands and feet in today’s world. I went to Kenya with my daughter, and saw a truly pure ministry.”
Peggy Jones
With a background of serving on over 30 boards, Peggy quickly jumped on board Go Near ministries after meeting Melody Taylor. She saw the need for supportive body to come alongside Melody Taylor in accomplishing the goals of Go Near.
Peggy is a talented writer and editor. She has a background in marketing, banking and investments and worked in her family's business, Crews and Associates.
Her love of children is evident in serving as a Children's Leader at Community Bible Study and teaching Sunday School at Second Baptist church in Little Rock.
Married to her husband Jim for 34 years, she has two sons, Turner and Brooks.
"I am honored and blessed to be a small part of such a mission minded organization."
