Jeff Chadwick
Executive Director
Jeff answered God’s call and began serving as Executive Director in April, 2016. He is responsible for providing the overall leadership, guidance, and vision for the organization. He is also the main point of contact and liaison between MCH and various ministry and business partners and churches. Prior to entering full-time ministry in 2003, Jeff worked for over 20 years as a petroleum engineer in various staff, management, and executive leadership positions. Since that time he has served in various pastoral positions relating to missions, outreach, administration, discipleship and preaching. Prior to joining MCH Jeff and Cheryl served as the pastoral couple of a church they planted in 2011 in the inner city of Richmond, Virginia. Since 2006 Jeff has also coordinated and led numerous mission trips to Nicaragua to help train church leaders, meet physical needs and plant churches. He continues this work today. His combination of organizational management, leadership, pastoral ministry and mission experience provides Jeff with an ideal background for serving as the Executive Director of MCH. Jeff has an M.S. in Petroleum Engineering from West Virginia University and a M.A. in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
Cheryl Chadwick
Director of Missionary Training, Kids, and Volunteer Ministries
Cheryl has served as Director of Children’s Ministries in various churches for more than 20 years and also with the SBC of Virginia. She enjoys sharing the love of Jesus with the children in our communities and also with her three grandchildren. Cheryl is very grateful and humbled to be a part of this ministry that has transformed lives for over decades in the inner city of Houston. In her position at MCH she helps Jeff with the overall management of MCH, with particular responsibilities to oversee and coordinate volunteer engagement, direct the children’s ministry programs, and to coordinate and supervise MCH’s summer missionary and intern programs.
David Cripps
Director of Outreach Ministries
In 2020, David and his family moved into the Near Northside to start New Life Baptist Church. Through the ministry, David and his wife, Adrianna, became connected with Mission Centers of Houston. They began to serve through some of the various ministries of MCH and have grown to love Mission Center’s vision for sharing the love of Jesus through meeting the physical needs of the community. In January of 2023, David joined the team as the Director of Outreach Ministries and is excited about this opportunity to help advance the message of the Gospel through MCH. David and Adrianna have been married for eight years and have four beautiful children: Julianne, Brookelyn, Whitten, and Gabrielle.
Greater East End (Joy Mission Center)
Noe Ortiz
Area Missionary, Greater East End
Noe is a native Houstonian who first started working with Mission Centers of Houston in 2001 as a summer missionary. In 2003, he met his wife Vanessa as they co-labored working at the Fletcher Mission Center. Noe and Vanessa returned from 2009-2014 to serve, live, and raise their growing family at the Fletcher Center. In 2017 God called the Ortiz family back to Mission Centers to serve in Houston’s Greater East End and the Joy Mission Center. Noe enjoys basketball, hip-hop, and discipling youth.
Vanessa Ortiz
Director, Joy Mission Center
Vanessa first started working with Mission Centers of Houston in 2003 as a summer missionary, where she met her husband, Noe, and became passionate about sharing the gospel. She and her husband came back to Mission Centers from 2009 to 2014 to serve, live, and raise their growing family at the Fletcher Center. In 2017 God called Vanessa, Noe, and their family back to Mission Centers to serve in Houston’s Greater East End and the Joy Mission Center.
Monse Rivas
Community Ministry Assistant
Monse lived in Magnolia Park, where Joy Mission Center is located, for 15 years. Years ago she came to understand Christ’s love for her while she was involved in the ministries at Joy. She has served as a volunteer to the community for over a year, and now, by God’s grace, she is a part of the Mission Centers of Houston family! Monse and her husband Alex have 5 children and also operate a catering business.
Greater Northside (Gano Mission Center)
Juan Ayala
Area Missionary, Greater Northside
Lucia Ayala
Director, Gano Mission Center
Juan and Lucia Ayala are new to Mission Centers of Houston. Juan is our area missionary to the greater northside, and Lucia is Gano Mission Center’s new director. Juan and Lucia have been married for more than twenty-four years. This year in July they will be celebrating their twenty fifth wedding anniversary. Juan and Lucia have two wonderful daughters Maribel and Monica. Juan and Lucia also serve at House of Grace Church, located in the north line area of Houston, as the pastoral couple for over three years. Overall, Juan and Lucia have been serving in pastoral ministry since 2001. They are very excited to be joining the Mission Centers team and what God will continue to do in the greater northside. The essence of their ministry will be feeding the needs of others both physical and spiritual, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone and help believers grow in their knowledge and walk with God.
Ana Rivera
Gano's Community Ministry Assistant
Ana first came to Mission Centers of Houston in 2001 to bring her child to the Gano Kids Club. After bringing her child four years to the kid’s club, she was asked by one of the MCH staff if she would like to volunteer. Ana has been volunteering at MCH for more than fifteen years. In 2006, Ana was invited to a program hosted by Second Baptist Church called Angels of Light where she believed in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Ana loves to shine the light of Christ and serve her community. Over the years she has had many health problems but none of which have never stopped her from serving as volunteer at Gano Mission Center. Ana is married to Jose and have two children and 6 grandchildren. This year by the grace of God Ana joined Mission Centers of Houston as Gano’s community ministry assistant.
Support Staff
April Canik
Communications Director (Contractual)
An accredited business communicator, April’s career transitioned from corporate communications to kingdom communications several decades ago. She has worked as the communication director of a large church, consulted with organizations of all sizes, and guided the marketing and development effort while on the board of Cypress Christian School. Joining the MCH team in 2022, she will help share the stories of God’s faithfulness throughout the ministry via newsletters, social media, video, events and other communication channels. April has two sons, two grandchildren and loves crafting, playing games and traveling.
Susan Schwartz
Bookkeeper (Contractual)
Susan’s career encompasses the banking industry, accounting work, and managing portfolios for numerous companies and non-profit organizations. She has also been (and continues to be) very active in the leadership of numerous civic organizations in Houston. Susan has volunteered at MCH for many years with her husband, including helping with fundraising activities. Susan joined the MCH team in 2018.
Laura Fernandez
Administrative Assistant
Laura Fernandez has been a volunteer at Mission Centers of Houston since April 2019. She has found her passion for helping others. Her kids often refer to MCH as her ‘Happy Place’ because they see how excited and happy she is to be there. She is now serving as the volunteer and service provider VISTA, where she will be helping build capacity for MCH so that they can better serve the community. Laura’s father passed away very young, therefore she has lived and witnessed how a widow, her mother, struggled having 3 jobs just to be able to provide for her 4 children. She understands what it is to live with needs. MCH has given her the opportunity to be able to help others through the food pantry ministry. While volunteering in this ministry she is able to give a word of encouragement to someone that needs it. Serving means the world to her. She loves God with all her heart, therefore she serves with all her heart.