Meet Our Board

 Janelle began serving with LCJM in 2007, leading Sunday church services for female inmates. By 2012, she was also ministering through one-on-one visits during the week. In 2021, she became a chaplain and, in 2025, was appointed as the official Lake County Jail Ministry Chaplain. That same year, she stepped into the role of Board Chairperson after serving on the board for four years.
Her passion for ministering to women, supporting recovery, and mentoring has been a driving force behind the ministry’s growth. Janelle enjoys Cleveland sports, especially cheering for the Cavs, attending Brandon Lake concerts, and serving in recovery and women’s ministries. She has been married since 2000 and is blessed with two adult children, a stepson, and three granddaughters. Janelle attends Freedom Assembly of God, whose members provide meals, transportation, and other support for LCJM’s recovery meetings. She credits her church family’s partnership as a key encouragement to her ministry work. 

 Shellie’s involvement with LCJM began when she and her husband, Russ, were asked to provide a meal for one of the ministry’s Friday gatherings. That simple “yes” opened the door to deeper service, helping with administrative needs, attending meetings, and ultimately joining the board as Secretary. Serving God alongside Russ has been a lifelong desire, and together they are passionate about walking with others in their journey with Christ.
Creative by nature, Shellie enjoys crafting, painting, crocheting, and woodworking, often with Russ’s help in their home workshop. Married since 2013, they share a blended family of six children and eleven grandchildren. Shellie was raised in church and learned the value of serving from her parents’ example. She and Russ attend Freedom Assembly of God, where their faith community plays an active role in supporting LCJM’s ministry.

Russell’s passion for sharing the Gospel began long before joining LCJM. He had been praying for God to lead him to a ministry where he could be used to reach people with the truth of His Word, especially in today’s world where the message has often been watered down. When Janelle invited him to join the board, she saw his deep commitment to the ministry’s mission.
Russell has a special love for Christian apologetics, studying how to answer questions about why we believe in God, the Bible, and the resurrection of Jesus with the goal of leading others to seek Christ. Outside of ministry, he enjoys riding motorcycles, sailing, canoeing, and working with wood and metal. Russell and his wife, Shellie, attend Freedom Assembly of God, which faithfully hosts LCJM’s monthly Connections Dinner.

 After retiring from Military and Federal Service with 44 years of combined service, Francisco prayed for God to guide him to new ministry opportunities. When he was invited to join the LCJM board, he knew it was a clear answer to prayer. Sensitive to God’s leading, Francisco brings a willing heart, a servant spirit, and a readiness to contribute in any way needed.
He is passionate about sharing his faith and mentoring young men and women. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, bowhunting, and backpacking. Francisco and his high school sweetheart have been married for 44 years, and together they have four daughters, ten grandchildren, and one more on the way. Born in Cuba and raised in the United States since the 1960s, Francisco and his wife attend LifePoint Church in Mentor, where his faith community actively supports his ministry outreach. 

Tom was invited to consider joining LCJM by one of the ministry’s first female volunteers. A pastor, evangelist at heart, and former alcoholic, Tom knows firsthand the transforming power of God’s grace. Saved in 1978 at Leroy Community Chapel, where he still serves, Tom has decades of experience as a Deacon, Elder, Congregational Chairman, and Pastor. He holds degrees in both Business and Biblical Theology and has been a follower of Christ for 46 years.
Outside of LCJM, Tom helps lead a team that takes the Gospel and worship to Vista Springs Nursing Home each month. He also enjoys reading and playing golf. Tom and his wife have been married nearly 53 years, with four children and thirteen grandchildren. His lifelong church family continues to encourage and support his calling to share Christ with others.

Todd’s journey with LCJM began not as a volunteer, but as a recipient of its ministry while incarcerated. In 2014, during his time behind bars, he devoted his life to Jesus Christ and quickly began serving from within, leading worship teams and helping conduct services inside the prison walls. After his release, Todd became a member of Lake Erie Church, where he served on the outreach team for two years, continuing his passion for reaching the lost.
Todd has a special heart for music ministry grounded in sound doctrine, and he has been serving with LCJM as a volunteer for three years, including the last two as a board member. He and his wife, whom he married in 2022, are blessed with two young sons. Todd lives in Perry, Ohio, and enjoys nearly all outdoor activities, from fishing to off-roading and more. His life is a living testimony of God’s power to redeem, restore, and call someone to minister where they once were ministered to.