Rev. Michael G. Brown
President
Pastor Mike Brown has been around Faith Farm for most of his life. In 1959, when he was 7 years old, his father, Rev. Gurnade Brown, came to oversee the original Ft. Lauderdale Rescue Mission. In June of 1974, upon graduating from Bible College, Mike became a staff member at the Ft. Lauderdale campus. He was mentored in the Word and on the job by “Pappy”, Garland Eastham, Founder of Faith Farm Ministries, and later became Pappy’s assistant until his death. Mike served over 23 years with Faith Farm Ministries, working in almost every staff position and on all three campuses…including serving as CEO. In 1997, Mike left Faith Farm to serve as pastor of another recovery ministry in Indiantown, Florida, called Dunklin Memorial Camp, where he served as President of Dunklin International helping to establish other locations similar to FFM and DMC in the United States and other parts of the world. Mike, and his wife, Theresa, have two married sons, Dustin and Aaron. They also enjoy six grandchildren. Their son, Aaron, currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Okeechobee campus. On June 1, 2003 he and his wife, Theresa, founded The Gathering Church in Okeechobee, Florida, where he presently serves as Senior Pastor. Additionally, he is founder and CEO of Mike Brown Ministries International, where he continues to do consulting for recovery ministries at home and abroad. In 2008, Mike rejoined Faith Farm Ministries when he was invited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. He has a passion for the local church, ministry in the Word, and Worship music.
Bud Read
Board Vice President
Bud Read has been involved with Faith Farm Ministries since it began in 1951. He was a member of the original Board of Directors, currently serves as the Board’s Vice President and is a lifetime member. Not only has he been on the Board since the beginning, but he also worked for Ft. Lauderdale Rescue Mission during its first 24 years. Mr. Read is a retired master electrician. Mr. Read’s wife of 58 years, Deloris, is the daughter of Rev. Garland Eastham, the founder of Ft. Lauderdale Rescue Mission and Faith Farm Ministries. They have two daughters, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Mr. Read shares that, “Faith Farm is my life” but in his spare time away from Faith Farm business, Mr. Read collects stamps, postcards, coins and antiques.
Donna Marrah
Board Member
Donna Marrah is originally from Jamaica and is employed as the Director of Customer Care for Humana. She became a member of the Board of Directors at Faith Farm Ministries in February, 2007. Ms. Marrah says that she joined Faith Farm Ministries, “to serve God through serving others by contributing time and abilities in making decisions that will impact the success of Faith Farm Ministries.” She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Florida International University in Miami and her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Nova University in Davie, Florida. Ms. Marrah also serves as a Board Member of the Missions Board at Cooper City Church of God. She is married and has two children. Her favorite pastime activities include reading, singing and playing tennis.
Janice Beeker
Board Member
Janice Beeker is an attorney who is employed as Corporate Counsel for Aetna Life Insurance Company. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Queens, College of the City University of New York. Her Juris Doctor Degree was earned at the University of Miami’s School of Law and she is a member of the Florida Bar. Ms. Beeker joined the Board of Directors at Faith Farm Ministries in February, 2008, and says, “As I continue to serve Christ faithfully, I feel God will use my gifts and talents to assist this Christ-centered organization with its goals and mission.” Ms. Beeker has many additional roles, as well. She is married and has two children. She also serves as the head of the Women’s Ministry, with the Convalescent Ministry and His Hands Ministry, all located at Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale’s Plantation Campus. She still finds time to enjoy reading, fellowship and studying the Bible, as well as preparing Bible study materials for her small group.
Faith Bolton
Board Member
Faith Bolton became a Board Member in January, 2007, following in her late husband’s footsteps. Jack Bolton was a former President of the Board and a Pastor at Faith Farm Ministries for 25 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. Mrs. Bolton is a teacher at Wellington Christian School and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Florida Atlantic University. She also attended International Bible College and received a Christian Worker’s Certification. She is a member of the Reading Literacy Council and teaches adults to read. “They (Faith Farm Ministries) have given so much to the community and to me personally. I’ve seen so many lives changed through this ministry.” Mrs. Bolton brings 21 years of teaching experience to the Board, including having taught children of missionaries in Indonesia and in Ecuador. She enjoys reading and traveling.
Bennetto Harriott
Board Member
Mr. Bennetto Harriott is a Lifetime Board Member and has been on the Board for over twenty years. Born in Jamaica, Mr. Harriott came to the United States in December, 1960. He was self-employed for many years, but is also a retired employee of Broward County. In addition to being a mechanic by trade and training men for long distance truck driving, he also served several years in the Prison Ministry. He and his wife, Carmen, are members of Fort Lauderdale Rescue Tabernacle, the parent entity of Faith Farm Ministries.
James P. LaRose
Board Secretary
James P. LaRose, affectionately known as ‘Jimmy’, joined the Board in July, 2009. Jimmy is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CRFE) with a passion for the international nonprofit sector. His heroes are those of the charitable world who lay down their lives daily for the hurting and hopeless. He has spent the last twenty years supporting leaders who spend themselves in service to others. During his career, he has helped over 350 non profit institutions and thousands of development professionals. He specializes in major gift cultivation, special events, capital campaigns and board development among other things. Jimmy is a founder, officer and board member of multiple companies and wears many hats including conference speaker, development officer, and agency director. When not traveling around the world, Jimmy and his wife, Dianne, reside in Columbia, South Carolina. One of Jimmy’s interests has been the continuous additions to his vocabulary, reading the dictionary and using new words that stump us all again and again.