Robert Powers
Chairperson
Greater Richmond Chapter of CEF
I grew up in Northern Virginia and attended Annandale High School. I hold a BA from Virginia Tech with a double major in political science and history. In 1974 I returned to Va. Tech completing master’s coursework & thesis in Urban and Regional Planning program.
I enjoyed a career as an executive salesperson and director of several software consulting practices. In the latter half of my career I was entrepreneurially driven and over two decades owned several businesses most recently working as the sole proprietor of a sales and marketing consulting business. I “retired” early in 2021.
Kathy, my wife of 39 years, and I were born again having accepted Christ on July 8, 2007, while attending Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC). We were baptized together at TRBC by Pastor Jonathan Falwell on August 12, 2007.
We were blessed to have two sons. Our oldest resides in Midlothian, VA while our youngest lives in Lynchburg, VA. We are proud grandparents of two grandsons, Sawyer and Jack.
I am currently a member in good standing at Red Lane Baptist Church here in Powhatan, Virginia. I participate in a weekly small group bible study and currently serve on the church buildings and grounds committee. I’m active in the community and presently serve on the Powhatan Schools Strategic Planning Steering Committee.
I served in leadership positions with the Central Virginia Chapters of both CEF and Young Life. Following discussions with the State CEF Director, I accepted the Greater Richmond Local Committee position in 2021, currently serving as the Chairperson.
I came to CEF prayerfully asking the Lord to direct the application of my life experiences to building the ministry. I have a heart for children and believe it vital that they come to know and experience the joy and freedom of personally knowing Jesus Christ.
William Montgomery
Committee Member
Greater Richmond Chapter of CEF
I grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from Edison High School. After serving in the US Air Force, I returned to Virginia. I attended VCU and earned a BS from the School of Community Services in Outdoor Recreation Development and Planning.
I spent over forty years in business and financial consulting providing business services, strategies and solutions to client’s unique business and corporate needs. I retired in 2016 after representing companies such as IBM, Oracle and other business software solution providers.
I have been involved with many organizations, including Church Youth Ministries, Youth Sunday School, Deacon Ministries, Prison Ministries, Transportation Ministries, Serve like Christ Ministries and elected Church Council member. I reside in Chesterfield County, Virginia with my wife Kay. We are very proud of our adult children, Mason and Kathryn, both of whom have attained Masters Degrees.
I was introduced to the Lord as a young child while attending a Vacation Bible School in the sixth grade. I met my wife in church at a wedding. We were subsequently married and joined Bon Air Baptist Church together in the fall of 1984. We have been blessed to be a part of the ministry since then.
My wife and I share our love for the Lord together and are proud and blessed to be able to say we have raised two Christian children who love the Lord. We were able to do this with the help and influence of a Christian community and youth ministry at Bon Air.
I became a member of Christian Evangelism Fellowship in April, 2021. I have a heart for children and believe CEF can be a vital resource in helping them to come to know the Lord and develop a lifelong personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Charles Hankins
Committee Member
Greater Richmond Chapter of CEF
My roots are in Southside Virginia where I grew up on a tobacco and dairy farm. I received a BS degree in Civil Engineering from VPI&SU (aka Va Tech) in 1972 and worked in the telecommunication industry for Western Electric / AT&T in Richmond until the plant closed in 2001 and began training for my current employment in consulting engineering and site plan development on historic 9/11.
I grew up in nurture of a Christian home and church attendance and followed two of my buddies in “joining the church” and being baptized, but in reflection my true conversion was later as a teen when I yielding to the Lord calling me to repent and trust Him for salvation.
I married my high school sweet heart Carolyn also in 1972 and we were blessed with four beautiful daughters who love the Lord, married and gave us six grandchildren who brighten our days.
We are members of Sandston Baptist Church near RIC airport where I’ve served as Sunday School Director, deacon, treasurer, prison ministry director and trustee.
I have a heart for children and had started teaching in children’s’ Sunday School when I was invited to serve on the local committee of Child Evangelism Fellowship in April, 2015. and believe CEF can be a vital resource in helping them to come to know the Lord and develop a lifelong personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I have been treasurer of our chapter since 2016.
Carol Hensley
Committee Member
Greater Richmond Chapter of CEF
I grew up in the Southwestern part of Virginia, Wise County. I attended Coeburn High School and married my high school sweetheart. He was in the Army stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. I was a wife and mother for the majority of my adult life.
The mother of 2 adult boys, grandmother to 7 children, and great grandmother of four. After the children were in school I started working part time at jobs around the military bases where we were stationed. After the move to Richmond, I began working full-time in customer service with UPS, James River Corp. and retired from Overnite Transportation to care for my husband.
I was first introduced to Jesus in the third grade by John Henry, a gentle and loving man that was starting a Christian camp in the area and came to the schools. He wanted us to memorize Bible verses and for that we would win prizes with a week at camp as the grand prize. Shortly after that a small church opened in our town and I began to attend with my sister, I was saved and baptized in September, 1961.
I am a member of Oakwood Memorial Baptist Church, joining after our move to the Richmond area after my husband’s retirement in 1986. I now reside in the Mechanicsville area with my son and his family.
I became a member of CEF in 2020 prayerfully asking the Lord to allow me to make a difference in the lives of young children by introducing all to Jesus Christ and discipling them in cooperation with a Bible believing local church.
Jennifer Trainham
Committee Member
Greater Richmond Chapter of CEF
I am a graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in accounting. After graduation, I worked in a variety of industries, including a bus contractor, the 700 Club, scrap metal recycling and specialty property management. I currently own an accounting firm.
I accepted Christ on December 5, 1986 and have spent the last 35 years volunteering in ministries including the following: children’s ministry, youth ministry, VBS Director, bus ministries for children, developing a single Mom’s ministry, and prayer coordinator for Community Bible Studies. I have also taken 13 mission trips.
I am happily married to my husband, Tim, and we have two married daughters and one precious granddaughter!
My passion is evangelism and discipleship. During the summer of 2021, the Lord began to impress upon me the need to reach the unchurched children in our community. My concern for unchurched school age children grew daily until I began to search for evangelistic organizations for children. To my utter delight, God introduced me to Child Evangelism Fellowship® through an internet search. I am so thankful to be part of the Greater Richmond Committee and I am so excited about what God is going to do in the future!
My life verse is Matthew 28:19-20.
Michael Felton
Ministry Coordinator
Greater Richmond Chapter of CEF
I am a native of Norfolk VA but currently have resided in Richmond for 21 years. My wife, Faye, is my beloved companion, partner and the most devoted co-laborer in the ministry that I could ask for. We have two beautiful daughters (Jennifer & Jamie), two wonderful sons in law (Darrick & Reginald) and one grand pup, Spike.
I was educated in the Norfolk school system and later attended various higher educational institutions. I completed my studies and earned three Doctorate Degrees – Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Sacred Theology.
Currently I am the Senior Pastor at St John Baptist Church in Richmond VA for 21 years and have served as role of Pastor for 27 years. My ministry’s deepest desire is to teach, serve and equip the people of God for service and life eternal. God has given me a passion for kingdom work. I have served from Deacon to Preacher, to Ordained Pastor and later be-came an Instructor and Director for one year at a Bible Seminary.
In August 2022, I became the Ministry Coordinator with CEF Greater Richmond. My wife and I are thrilled, and I thank God for the opportunity to serve in making a difference in the lives of our children. I look forward to all the things God has prepared for me.
Galatians 2:20