ServLife International, Inc.

Darren says, “If we commit to opening our eyes and looking for God’s movement and fingerprint, we will see him in a more focused way and come to understand with more clarity his purposes. Out of this understanding we hear the call to engage in his purposes . . . to turn the other cheek, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the orphan. These are the purposes of God and these are what ServLife is about.”

Darren Moore is a lawyer with Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C., a Fort Worth, Texas law firm which represents individuals, closely held and family businesses, professional practices and charitable organizations within its areas of legal practice. Mr. Moore was born in Lubbock, Texas on December 11, 1973. He earned a B.A., cum laude from Texas A&M University and his J.D., magna cum laude from Baylor Law School where he served as Editor in Chief of the Baylor Law Review.

Mr. Moore was admitted to practice law in Texas in 2000 and before the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas and United States Tax Court in 2001. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas; Tarrant County Bar Association; Texas Young Lawyers Association and Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association.

Mr. Moore’s practice focuses on the areas of civil litigation and representation of nonprofit organizations. In his litigation practice, he represents both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving a wide array of claims in state and federal trial and appellate courts as well as various alternative dispute resolution forums. Mr. Moore’s nonprofit practice includes representation of religious professionals and religious organizations as well as representation of other types of tax-exempt entities. He advises clients on a wide range of matters including organization of various types of exempt entities, obtaining and maintaining tax exempt status, risk management, employment issues, and other business issues.

Mr. Moore is an adjunct professor at Baylor Law School where he co-teaches Nonprofit Organizations. Mr. Moore is a frequent speaker on topics related to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. Additionally, he speaks regularly to churches and church leaders on legal compliance as a part of Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C.’s lecture program, Keeping Your Church Out of Court.
 

Michael Baynes owns and leads Landale Corp. a real estate investment, brokerage and consultancy firm in Southern California. His 22-years of experience with a wide range of real estate assets and developments underwrites Landale Corp in both residential and commercial developments and investments.Michael spent several years with one of London’s largest property investor-developers, Speyhawk PLC. He partnered with and supported the CEO and chairman to negotiate contracts, manage investments, appraise property, and coordinate operations for the company’s billion-dollar portfolio. Prior, Michael began his career with his own development company refurbishing historic town-homes in London. He then worked in construction management as the Assistant to the President of Property Development and Acquisition at Lyonaise Des Eaux-Dumez in Paris. 

He holds an MSc in land economics from Cambridge University and a BSc, with honors, in land management. He later became an associate member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (ARICS) he is a fully qualified California Broker and a graduate of The Masters Program.

Born and raised in London, Michael first came to the US on an athletic scholarship to join the rowing team at Kent School in Connecticut. He returned to the US in 1996 and moved to California where he met his wife Synthia. They continue to live in Southern California with their daughter Tatiana.

Elizabeth says, “From micro-enterprises to caring for orphans, ServLife is doing just what its name says - serving human life on our planet. Believing in the worth of every human being, this organization is bringing hope, healing and indigenous equipping to some of the most marginalized and oppressed people in our world today. And it’s being done always with the shape of the local context in mind, simultaneously dignifying and celebrating God’s uniqueness throughout global community.”

Elizabeth Hankins is a human rights activist and cultural strategist who consults for organizations in transition. Her recently completed novel, The Calling, which addresses the long-running plight of southern Sudan, will be released in April of 2008. Elizabeth lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two daughters.

Jon is currently an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He works exclusively in the main inner-city hospital of Indianapolis specializing in Trauma, Burn and Obstetric Anesthesia. He feels especially blessed to be in a position to help train our next generation of young doctors. His desire to become a physician occurred in his early teens. As one of eleven children in rural Indiana, he chose the state institution of Purdue University for Engineering. To earn money for college, he worked as an academic counselor and a research assistant in Biomedical Engineering. His seeds for anesthesia were planted at this time as the wonders of life and technology intermingled. He remained in his home state of Indiana for the next 8 years where he earned his MD degree and became a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist.

Jon feels very fortunate to have been brought up by two wonderful parents, who by example, centered the family’s life around God and His teachings. At one point, his mother and father attempted to adopt 9 children who had lost both parents in an accident. Vacations always included other children, less well off, sharing in the fun and joy of family togetherness.

A life time of learning continues to mold his faith each and every day. Seeds are an important analogy to Jon. Not only in planting them in others, but in the daily process of becoming that kernel of wheat that John 12:24 speaks of, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Paraphrased by Joel after their recent trip to Nepal, India and Thailand, “It is not about trying, but rather about dying.”

Jon has particular interests in the orphanages associated with ServLife. He remembers looking down on the streets of Bihar from the roof top of the ServLife Children’s Home, and this prayer coming to mind, “Let me look on the crowd as my Savior did, til eyes with tears grow dim. Let me view with pity the wandering sheep; and love them for love of Him.” Our part is not always known but the fact remains, the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. Matt 9:37
 

Click here to read more about Joel Vestal.