The Founders

Emmanuel and Blessing Oluwayemi and a team of Nigerian church leaders founded Life Builders Ministries International in 2001. Emmanuel spent fourteen years on the faculty of West Africa Theological Seminary in Lagos, the region's largest non denominational seminary, serving as a professor, academic dean and vice president for academic affairs. He has also been senior pastor and district superintendent with Gospel Faith Mission International, an indigenous evangelical church with over four thousand branches worldwide. Blessing, an ordained minister, worked alongside him as a teacher and women's counselor. Through two decades of ministry, Emmanuel and Blessing have built a network of Nigerian church leaders who now form the core of Life Builders' leadership team. Emmanuel holds a PhD degree in Educational Leadership from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. The Oluwayemi's have four children.

The Board of Directors is an active body of International leaders who have chosen to partner with other leaders in Africa for the purpose of glorifying God by offering their talent, treasury and time in order to fulfill the mission and vision of Life Builders Ministries International in Africa.

The US Board of Directors

Tina Iosue has been an active board director since 2007. She has served as Treasurer and Secretary, and is currently serving as Co-Chairman along with Kelly Weis.

Tina holds a BME (Music Education) and has taught pre-school music and private piano lessons for many years. She is a long time member of her church choir. She is the co-owner of  Iosue Associates, Inc., a sales and marketing company, along with her husband, Carmine. She also owns a retail yarn shop, Mia Bella Yarn & Accessories, with her daughter, Sarah.

Tina has been involved with Womens' ministries in different capacities, including Small Group Leader and Bible Study Facilitator. 

She has been married to Carmine for 45 years and they have six adult children, two sons-in-law and six grandchildren. 

Kelly Weis has been an active board member since 2014. She began serving after returning from a short-term mission trip to the Life Builders campus in Lagos, Nigeria and is currently serving as Co-Chairman along with Tina Iosue.

Kelly is a member of NorthBridge Church in Antioch, IL and served 5 years as a staff member and 7 years as a Special Events Ministry Leader.  She currently volunteers her time wherever she can and helps facilitate a couple’s Bible Study.

In the past, Kelly taught preschool in her hometown of St. Louis, MO and was a Program Assistant at a center for children with Special Needs.  After moving to Antioch, IL she spent 3 years working as an Instructional Aide at a local elementary school, 5 years working for her church, and 8 years as a staff member at a local Physical Therapy Clinic.

Kelly and her husband, Steve, have been married for 30 years.  They have 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and 2 beautiful granddaughters. 

Greg Thomas has been an orphan sponsor through Life Builders for several years, and he’s been an active board member serving as Treasurer since 2016.

Greg holds an undergraduate degree and two graduate degrees from Northwestern University, and he currently works as an independent marketing and strategy consultant. 

Greg and his wife Jennifer keep themselves occupied by trying to keep up with their four young kids.

Nigeria Board Members

• Pastor Emmanuel Oluwanimotele, B.A., M.Sc., (Board Chairman) is District Pastor, The Gospel Faith Mission International, Akure, Nigeria
• Reverend Olubambi Francis, B.A., M.A., (Board member) is National Executive Director, Vision International Christian Ministries, Lagos, Nigeria
• Pastor Olusegun M. Okundare, N.CE., (Board Treasurer) is Senior Pastor and District Pastor, The Gospel Faith Mission International, Ode-Aje District, Ibadan, Nigeria
• Pastor Folaranmi Jacob, B.Sc., P.D.G.E., (Board Secretary) is General Overseer, Soul's Preparation Bible Church, Ise-Ekiti
• Reverend Pius Usenu, B.A., M.A., (Board member) is a Seminary Administrator and Lecturer, West Africa Theological Seminary, Lagos, Nigeria
• Aleem R Ola, H.N.D., (Assitant Secretary) is a Technician with the Chevron Oil Company, Lagos, Nigeria
• Reverend Emmanuel Oluwayemi, Ph.D. (Board member) is President and Founder of Life Builders Ministries International
• Blessing Oluwayemi, B.A. (Board member) Co-Founder of Life Builders Ministries International