Patricia Griffin, President & CEO
Patricia became passionate about reaching the unreached people of the world at a young age. She spent most of her childhood and teenage years in the mountain regions of the Philippines with no electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, telephones, or TV. She fondly remembers her family being the only white faces for hundreds of miles and being the first white children ever to be seen in the primitive villages where her parents traveled and lived. High school was spent in Manila at a boarding school for missionary kids where she met Ken, her husband. In her current position, Trish’s collection of degrees—Sociology, Nursing, and Family Nurse Practitioner—guide her dedication for reaching people through medical outreach and physical provision. Her love of foreign cultures and devotion to travel and to seeing the world propels the vision of PWI to reach farther than just one corner of globe. It inspires excitement to investigate outreach opportunities wherever they might exist, no matter how far afield or primitive the setting.
Joel DeLeeuw, Vice President
Joel’s passion for global outreach started at a young age when he lived in Mexico for a year, learning Spanish and experiencing the Mexican culture firsthand. He advanced his study of Spanish as a Sociology major at the University of Texas Austin, while his desire to reach the world increased. Joel's real passion has always been medical missions and this fire was fueled by mission trips to both Belize and Honduras and through working in an indigent care hospital right here in East Texas. He continues to prepare for medicine abroad as he begins his internship in 2021 after graduating medical school at Texas Tech El Paso, remaining active in missions and ministry. He will graduate with a master’s degree in Public Health as well as an M.D.
Skylar Hagler, Treasurer
Skylar grew up as a PK (pastor’s kid) and has always been highly involved in church, ministry, and outreach. His father was a youth pastor and guided the family’s vision and outlook to focus on people in need of Christ and in need of the Good News. Skylar has been on many mission trips in the United States and developed a global passion while studying Engineering at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. His intense study of water purification techniques coupled with the overwhelming need that exists for clean water globally inspires Skylar and fuels his desire to lead PWI with water projects around the globe.
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Ken Griffin, Treasurer
Ken, the oldest of 3 brothers, had an interesting life as the son of a pastor and missionary. His parent’s call to the ministry led the family to the Philippines to run the Serviceman’s Center at the former Clark Air Base in Angeles City. While at boarding school in Manila, Ken met Trish and after many years apart, they eventually were married. Ken credits his upbringing and time spent serving his country in the US Airforce and Army for his inspiration to reach primitive people groups with medicine, provision, and teaching. He spent many years as both a short-term and full-time missionary and admits he left his heart somewhere overseas on the mission field. Trish would tell you that Kenny loves PWI almost as much as he loves his Harley. His passion to lead projects and outreach in foreign cultures is on his mind and heart 24/7 and keeps the ministry engine running.
Corey Hagler, Director
Corey spent much of her childhood traveling and moving around the country in a tightly knit family with Christ-loving parents. Her desire to help and serve others led her to nursing school in East Texas, where she met and married her husband, Skylar. While in college, she traveled to Jamaica on a mission trip to build hurricane-proof housing, and her passion for missions was ignited. From there the flame was further fueled on a mission trip to Bucharest, Romania where she worked with orphans and foster children. Corey hopes to combine her devotion to Christ, her knowledge and proficiency in emergency nursing, and her love of teaching together to reach people groups who are most in need of assistance around the world.
Alexis DeGarmo, Director
Alex first journeyed outside of the United States when she was nine years old, and that short trip to Mexico stirred in her a desire to travel and see the world. As the daughter of missionary kids and the granddaughter of missionaries, the call to missions has never been far from her heart. Alex is a Physical Therapist's Assistant and hopes to use her education to reach hurting people around the globe. In 2016, while on a mission trip to Belize, she was able to use her training and gifts to minister to many people who came looking for healing and provision. As the newest board member of PWI she brings to the group enthusiasm, energy, and a strong desire to reach the nations. Her husband, Heath, who is a detective for the city of Longview Texas, and her two daughters continually inspire her to serve others and look for solutions to whatever problems she encounters.