Chris Fabry Live

Martin Simiyu

Martin Simiyu is founder and Executive Director of Possibilities Africa. Growing up in a small remote village in utter poverty, Martin was only ten years old when his father died. His mother raised him and his nine brothers and sisters in a two-room mud hut. But unlike most, Martin always knew there was more to life. He never lost his dream and vision for a better future. He studied hard and was only one of three students in his high school to qualify for college. After graduating from college in Nairobi, he came to the United States where he received two master’s degrees: one from Biola University in Organizational leadership and one from Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago in Intercultural Ministry. In 2004, Martin returned home to Kenya and formed Possibilities Africa, where he provides overall leadership to the ministry and oversees the development of its activities in Africa.

• PossibilitiesAfrica.org

John Fuder

Dr. John "Doc" Fuder serves as the Director of Faith-Community Mobilization for Together Chicago and leads the Chicagoland United in Prayer movement. Doc is the Founder and Director of Heart for the City and has a passion for equipping the broader body of Christ to engage more deeply in contextualizing the Gospel in their local communities. His passion to teach and train others to engage the city comes from his many years of experience in ministry in California and training students in Urban Studies at Moody Theological Seminary. Doc is the author of A Heart for the City, A Heart for the Community, Neighborhood Mapping, and the Chicago Neighborhood Prayer Guide. Doc holds a B.R.E. from Prairie Bible College, an M.A. in Religion from Pepperdine University, and a Ph.D. from Biola University. He and his wife, Nellie, have three children and two granddaughters and live on Chicago’s north side and are part of Park Community Church.

• TogetherChicago.com

Merrell McIlwain

Merrell McIlwain graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and Vanderbilt University School of Law. After practicing law for 25 years, he enrolled at Moody Theological Seminary and earned a Masters Degree in 2004. He then became the Director of the Legal Department at Focus on the Family. Merrell has served as a Director of Possibilities Africa since its inception in 2004, and was an Adjunct Professor of World Religions at a community college in South Carolina. Now a writer living in North Carolina, he is married to Cheri Lyn, his wife of 50 years. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.