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Jeff Ford serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Man Up and Go, a global non-profit organization that mobilizes men to fight for the fatherless as Jesus commands. Knowing Jeff for many years and the powerful story of God’s redemptive work in his life, the Board of Directors made him Man Up and Go’s inaugural CEO in 2015, a position he considers a conduit for his life’s work.
In addition to his role as CEO, Jeff serves as the Man Up Tampa Bay Cohort Chairman. He’s a 2017 Leadership Pasco graduate, former Eckerd Connects Advisory Council member and current Florida Support Services Advisory Council member, current Tampa Bay Foster Care and Adoption Alliance member, current Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council member, served as Guardian ad Litem and as a board member with the CS Lewis Society, and has summitted the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro, twice.
Jeff graduated from Wheaton College (IL) and has lived in the Trinity (FL) area since 2003 with his wife Liza. They have two children, Asher (adopted from Ethiopia), and Jolie (adopted from China). Jeff loves Jesus, pizza, golf, traveling, working out, and most recently, cycling while wearing those ridiculously tight shorts.
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.
Isaiah 1:17
For over 15 years, Stephanie has worked with churches and nonprofits with a goal to challenge followers of Jesus to embody Isaiah 1:17.
After graduating from University of Miami, she spent time practicing law before moving to Haiti in 2010 to help with earthquake relief work. Her experience in Haiti would radically change the trajectory of her life leading to work in 13 countries.
As a Pinellas native, she was excited to return to the Tampa Bay Area to continue serving those close to the heart of God — the poor, needy, oppressed, those suffering from injustice, the marginalized, foreigners, widows, and orphans. She has volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem and as a board member of several nonprofits in the area.
“When followers of Jesus are committed to the Great Commission and Great Commandment families, communities, and eternities are transformed.”
Vicki’s introduction to the Man Up and Go organization was through her first mission trip to Africa in 2013. The experiences of that trip are what inspired Vicki to become more involved in fighting for the fatherless. She has been to Africa every year since and has led multiple trips there. She believes God has specifically called her to love and encourage the women and children in Africa. Man Up and Go has given her the opportunity to LOVE BIG on the people of Uganda and Ethiopia.
Vicki has been married over 30 years to her high school sweetheart (Tom) and is the mother of 2 boys (Zachary & Logan). She was born and raised in beautiful Clearwater, Florida. She attends and serves at Calvary Church and served Man Up as a board member for 6 years. Vicki Joined the Man Up staff in 2021 as the Executive Administrator.
The Lord is using Man Up and Go to make a significant impact in the areas where we are partnering with the local church to engage, empower & equip the men, women and children we are serving. Change only happens when people do something.
Corey Henderson is a Husband and Father of four beautiful girls. He began his ministry with Man Up and Go in September 2022. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
David Green is a native of St. Petersburg, FL. He’s a husband and father of five children. David’s passion for ministry drives him to always want to lead by example, empower, educate and encourage young men, leading as God has instructed. David enjoys writing, speaking, and mentoring as hobbies.
After a short career in the CFL (Canadian Football League), David returned back home to Florida where he became active in his church as a youth minister and in his community. He has coached youth league and high school football and worked with young men through various programs such as Pinellas County Job Corps, as well as YAP (Youth Advocate Program). Now with Man Up and Go, God has extended his journey in the fight for the fatherless and making an impact in the lives of young men.
Deuteronomy 10:18 says our God gives justice for the fatherless. Therefore, we will go out into the mission field and do what thus says the Lord!
Allan grew up in Miami, FL with his sister and their mother. At a young age he quickly realized the impact of not having a father in the home. The lack of a father in his home created many challenges during his upbringing. God providentially used each and every one of those circumstances to bring him to a place where he would hear the Gospel and come to saving faith at 17. One of the main things that stuck with him often was that God is a father to the fatherless.
Allan learned of Man Up through one of the board members, Luke Sawyer, in 2018. Given that he comes from a home absent of a father, he loves that Man Up is an organization that is passionate about caring for the widows and orphans by getting to the root cause, the men.
Allan is the Digital Storyteller. He is a young man who is ready to do whatever is necessary to help Man Up grow and impact the Kingdom by discipling men. Allan and his wife Alexis have been married for 2 years now and are currently living out the fight for the fatherless not only in vocation but at home. They are fostering baby twins!
Husband and father of 5 children, was born and raised in Texas as the oldest of 6. His early childhood was thrown into chaos when his parents divorced at age 4. Split between 2 homes he bounced back and forth until he made the choice to live with his mother at age 11. There was not a fatherly or Christian example in his life until his early 20’s when the LORD saw fit to bring him to a knowledge of Himself. Taylor began serving in a local church in kids and youth ministries understanding the necessary role of mentor and father in every child’s life serving as a mentor and youth volunteer.
The Lord providentially brought Taylor and his family to Florida in 2017. They began to look for opportunities to serve and be in the community of foster care. In the following years Taylor found Man Up and Go and began serving in a Man Up 100 cohort in his area. Through this he was connected to the organization and the mission to bring a Father to every child.
He is now acting as the After-School Program Coordinator for kids in St. Pete seeking to provide a place of safety and gospel driven community and mentorship to the most overlooked in the foster care community.
Tim grew up in a single parent home with his brother and sister with their dad living several states away. He never had a good relationship with his dad growing up and relied mostly on incredible mentors and Godly male role models to help shape his view on what a man of God looked like. His mom made sure they were in church any time the doors were open therefore helping create a passion to serve the Lord.
Tim has been married to his wife, Dayna, for 19 years and they have a 14 year old daughter, McKenzie and 10 year old son, Parker. Life stays busy watching McKenzie cheer for basketball and football games as well as Parker playing basketball and baseball.
Man Up and Go was introduced to Tim through a former board member, Jim Barber, at a fundraising dinner in 2018. In 2019, the Man Up 100 cohort was formed. Shortly after launching Tim joined the leadership team as the Chamberlin and for the past two years served as Chairman. He is excited to be on the Man Up and Go staff so he can now devote full time his efforts for this great mission.
Shelleena (Shelly) began her role as St Petersburg Coach Mentor with Man Up and Go on January 2, 2023. She is originally from one of the beautiful islands in Jamaica, where she migrates for over ten years now. Shelleena has one handsome son by the name of Ethan. She graduated from St Petersburg College with a General Associate Arts Degree and now pursuing her Phlebotomist and Coding Certificates. I grew up with both parents and am grateful for the person they have raised me to be.
Shelleena is a member of the Christ Gospel Church where she part takes in the choir and the usher board. Shelleena was then led by The Lord to begin serving children who needed the most love, encouragement, and guidance through Healthcare and Job Corps Pinellas Center. She has been working with teenagers for over six years and God has been giving her knowledge and understanding while doing this ministry.
Philippians 4:11–13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.
Jim is a 50 something father of 4 kids, husband to Nancy for 29 years (yes, she’s a strong woman), avid runner, and lover of the Lord – striving to do more than just exist in the time God has given. His Christian journey has taught Jim God desires for him to love and serve others unselfishly. If he is not serving, he’s just existing. That’s why Jim loves mission trips to Africa – he gets to do more than just exist! He has an opportunity to show the children and people of Africa the same unselfish love the Lord has shown to him.
At his core Raul believes that every child suffers when the father is absent from their lives. Whether that is their earthly father or his/her heavenly Father. After Raul’s first trip to Uganda with Man Up and Go he saw first hand the amazing work this organization was doing to restore families through the Father. That trip sparked a passion for the MUG’s mission domestically and abroad that has fueled him to continue to spread the message and increase the impact the organization is having.
Laney became involved with Man Up and Go when she traveled to Ethiopia and Uganda in 2018 with a Man Up team. The mission and vision of MUG resonates with her personal values and passions to see men lead their families, empower women, and care for orphans. She is driven by seeing the Gospel changes people, break cycles of trauma, and redeem broken lives.
Laney is a clinical social worker with experience working in Florida’s foster care system. She and her husband Matt are currently foster parents because of their passion for helping restore biological families and protect vulnerable children. She believes God has placed her in her local community to make Kingdom impacts and show her neighbors the restoring love of Christ. Laney is passionate about teaching others how to care for vulnerable and dis-empowered people, while challenging societal norms and stigmas surrounding poverty and orphan care.
First introduced to Man Up and Go in 2014, Matt later participated in his first trip to Uganda in 2015. That trip opened his eyes to the plight of the fatherless and the meaning behind James 1:27. He believes Man Up is making a difference around the world as we support our ministry partners and LOVE BIG on the orphans, widows, and men that we serve.
Matt lives in Clearwater, Florida with his wife Amy and their three children. He works in Regulatory Compliance at ClearCaptions and serves in his local church at Lakeside Community Chapel.
Jason is passionate about the Man-Up movement because it aims to strengthen the family unit, which will occur as men throughout the world embrace responsibilities as husbands and fathers. None of us are perfect and all fall short of the standard set by the ultimate “Man Up” example in Jesus Christ. Man Up transitions lessons in loving and leading to action by serving orphans, widows, and men – some of whom have never experienced a positive male influence. Jason believes “Manning Up” is the formula to strengthening family units, communities, our nation, and all nations.
Jason lives in Clearwater, FL with his wife (Janna) and children (Will, Kylie, and Braden). He is a founder in The Sports Facilities Management, The Sports Facilities Advisory, Empower Adventures Tampa Bay, Empower Adventures Middleburg and actively serves at Calvary Church, Calvary Christian High School Board of Directors, and Board Chair for the Habitat For Humanity of Pinellas County.
Luke comes to Man Up and Go from working as the Country Director with Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the Dominican Republic. He has a passion for the Gospel of Jesus, justice, community development, multiculturalism, and authentic masculinity. He wrote his MA capstone project specifically on Latin American masculinity and the role of the father in both spiritual as well as socio-economic development. His time in the Dominican Republic was spent developing men through the avenue of sports. He is excited to see men come to know Jesus, grow spiritually, develop socio-economically, and become leaders both in the home, in the church, and in the community.
From his years as an inner-city Chicago math teacher and international school Principal in Jerusalem, Israel; Shane has developed a love for and a passion to serve those on the margin of our global society. At the age of 5, he and his family emigrated from Jamaica to the US and eventually settled in Clearwater, FL where he grew up before attending Wheaton College (IL) and meeting Jeff Ford, the Executive Director of Man Up & Go.
Through the eyes of his eldest daughter, Simone, Shane has been challenged to do more especially for the orphans and widows in our world. Her desire to eventually work for/own an agency addressing the needs of orphans and his relationship with Jeff and Jason Clement (another MUG Board member) led Shane to go on his first Man Up trip in June 2016. Since then, Shane continues to seek opportunities to steward TIME: Talent, Influence, Money, and Energy he has been entrusted with for Christ and His kingdom. As a travel junkie, Shane is ready to join any Man Up initiative or trip around the world and hopes to take Simone and her siblings on one of our trips in the very near future!
When not serving with Man Up, you can find Shane serving as the Executive Pastor for Legacy Church at North East Park in St. Petersburg, FL and leading community development work through other local churches, schools, and international trips. Shane and Sarah, his wife of over 20 years, make their home in Clearwater, FL with their three children: Simone, Anthony (Shane, Jr.; born in Bethlehem while the family was serving in Jerusalem), and Sophia.
© 2020, Man Up And Go
