Juna Abantu Ministries USA (Juna USA) is a 501 (c) (3) religious charity set up to help support orphans in Uganda, Africa in partnership with a local Ugandan NGO, Juna Amagara Ministries (JAMU) that has schools, dormitories and health centers in 4 different Western Uganda communities.
John Gilgagon – President
After 16 years as a finance manager and capital assets manager for the Presbyterian church of Orchard Lake along with 28 years of scouting teaching multiple skills preparing many youth for young adulthood. (I always have been a teacher of a moral life to the young.) I grew up in a manufacturing factory where we would teach all levels of skills to non-high school graduates and ex-convicts who had few skills prior to coming to work. The workers would advance to other jobs in shipping, quality, machine repair, machine set-up, receptionists, payroll, purchasing and other skills. In my lifetime I have either managed assets, served others or taught. I am still doing this today as a licensed fiduciary.
Pat Brady – Director of Operations
Pat is an entrepreneur with a passion for helping affected children in Africa. He has founded and assisted ministry organizations working in Uganda, Africa for twenty years. He is happy to be working once again with his good friend and spiritual advisor Ben Tumuheirwe.
Joe Strauss – Finance
Joe is a sole practitioner providing accounting, tax, and business consulting services to individuals, small to medium sized businesses, and tax exempt organizations. He has 35 years of diverse financial experience as a firm owner and as a credit union executive.
Throughout his life, he has served his Southeast Michigan community and church on various boards and committees.
Joe’s family includes his wife of 38 years, 2 daughters (sons-in-law), and 3 grandchildren.
Besides spending time with his immediate and extended family, he enjoys being a sports fan of local professional and college teams, playing golf, and camping at his northern Michigan property.
He wants to provide Juna Abantu USA with sound guidance and service that maintains a strong organization, allowing it to help as many children and families as possible.
Dr. Rev. Ben Tumuheirwe – Founder and Chief Executive Director JAM Uganda
Ben Tumuheirwe is a Christian who loves Jesus and people and has a godly desire for them to be saved.
Ben was born and educated in Uganda. He also did Studies at Wheaton College, IL and Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL, USA.
Working in Schools and in Churches in Uganda as a servant of Christ for over 30 years made him have a passion for caring for people by providing education for children and youth as well as healthcare and food supplies for people in the communities where the schools of the children catered for are located . Married to Lilian and father to Marvel and Najuna, Ben is a team builder skilled in teaching God’s Word and disciples and mentors others to actively join in the work of saving(Juna) people (Abantu).
Marvel Nimurungi – Communications Director
Marvel is a Graduate Student at Moody Theological Seminary pursuing her MA. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is passionate about holistic ministry, advocacy, education and the arts! She grew up watching her parents (Ben and Lilian) follow God’s call on their lives to serve others through Juna Amagara Ministries and is seeking to be faithful to the same fire that now burns within her.