"Small Things For Big Impact"
Meet The Mercy Joy Team!
William & Allyson Wiggins
Co-Founders, Mercy Joy Ministries
William and Allyson Wiggins have one son, named William. As a couple, they have always had a heart for serving others, with a special emphasis on helping and supporting missions in underdeveloped countries. They initially met Uganda's Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba in February 2012 through a mutual brother in Christ, Michael Lwanga. Mr. Lwanga’s testimony about his struggles and tribulations while growing up in Uganda like many others there, inspired William and Allyson to make a difference for the kingdom of God through missionary ministry.
Shortly after meeting Archbishop Kaziimba they formed a Mission Team and visited Uganda for the first time in 2013. They quickly developed an education and support outreach program in Uganda that focused primarily on creating Child Sponsorships. They also developed a Teacher’s College to train Ugandans to teach in village schools and a School Building Development Program. Today, they are excited to work alongside their Mercy Joy Ministries brothers and sisters to do God’s work in Uganda and beyond to help the needy and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Mr. Lance & Nancy Glaze
Board Member, Mercy Joy Ministries
Mr. Lance and Nancy Glaze are the proud founders of their 501(C)3 ministry God's Word For The World (GWFTW). They started GWFTW in 1999 primarily to provide Comic Book Bibles to children locally in Cincinnati, Ohio and eventually all over the world. With the help and support of many partners and friends, God has allowed them to supply over 100,000 Comic Book Bibles in five different languages all over the world.
GWFTW and partners have also distributed over 200,000 regular Bibles in 12 different languages, planted over 200 Churches, and have helped sponsor over 600 orphaned children all over the world. Mercy Joy Ministries is so honored and humbled for Lance to be on their Board of Directors and to continue a long-term friendship and partnership with GWFTW that started back in 2013.
Dr. Stephen & Margaret Kaziimba
Archbishop, Republic of Uganda
The Most Rev. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu was elected 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda on August 28th, 2019 and enthroned on March 1st, 2020 in Kampala, Uganda.
Archbishop Kaziimba was consecrated a Bishop on October 26th, 2008 and served as the Bishop of Mityana, Uganda Diocese for eleven years. Archbishop Kaziimba received his Master's in Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. At the time of his election, Archbishop Kaziimba had served as the Chairman of the Committee for HIV and Public Health for the Inter-religious Council of Uganda and Chairman of Words of Hope Uganda Radio Ministry.
Archbishop Kaziimba is a long-time supporter, partner and friend of the founders of Mercy Joy Ministries, William & Allyson Wiggins. They partnered together in 2012 to start a Child Education Sponsorship Program, Teacher's College, and School Building Repair Program in Mityana, Uganda. Mercy Joy's motto "Small Things For Big Impact" was Archbishop's advice to the Wiggins Family when they originally embarked on mission work in Uganda.
Archbishop Kaziimba is married to Margaret who is a strong Christian woman and Intercessor for many in Uganda. The Kaziimba's have four adult sons, three grandchildren, and have cared for and raised more than 20 other children.
Mr. Michael & Rebecca Lwanga
Board Member, Mercy Joy Ministries
Mr. Michael Lwanga is a special friend of Mercy Joy Ministries and the Wiggins Family, who was introduced to him by a mutual friend named Matt Brillhart (pictured above on right). His life story was the inspiration that started the Mercy Joy Ministries co-founders ministry work in Uganda back in 2012. Michael grew up in Uganda and was raised by a hard-working single mother who worked day and night to raise 9 children. Unfortunately, during the war in Uganda in the 1980's they lost everything. As a result, Michael was placed in an orphanage home. While at the orphanage, a pastor named James Reed from Texas visited the children and his words changed Michael's life forever. Michael says Pastor Reed encouraged them to pray and do well in school, as he believed education was a key for overcoming poverty. Michael gave his life to Christ and was inspired to do well in School. Because of God's grace and those words of encouragement from a stranger, Michael excelled and received a scholarship to further his education in the US.
Today, Michael have supported many families and children in the US and Uganda. He has helped 20+ Ugandan students pursue higher-education in the U.S. and supported 50+ children to go to school in Uganda, which many have graduated and excelled. Michael is married to Rebecca Lwanga and they have 3 children.
Dr. Joseph & Shobha Paturi
Board Member, Mercy Joy Ministries
Dr. Joseph Paturi is a frequent speaker in Conferences and Conventions held across America and around the world. His passion is to reach the unreached with the gospel of Jesus Christ and equip the believers for the work of the ministry. He traveled over one and a half million miles and covered nearly 70 countries and territories so far bringing the good news of Jesus Christ.
He is the Founder-President of Trans World Ministries (TWM), which is an international mission endeavor in America and around the globe. He is also the Co-founder and Vice-President of Global Telugu Christian Ministries (GTCM), which is a worldwide ministry among the Telugus. He functions as International Director for Christian Family Conferences (CFC) held across North America. He serves as Co-Chancellor of Vedanta Vidhyalayam (TKVV), a theological seminary in Kuwait. He is also the President Emeritus of Temple Baptist College (TBC), Cincinnati, Ohio.
He provides leadership to help establish Bible Colleges, Theological Seminaries, and Christian Universities in different countries. He chairs several professional teams evaluating institutions of higher education for accreditation. He serves on many national and international boards. He is an author as well. His books include Basic Theology, God’s Design for Marriage, Understanding Heaven, Understanding John Three Sixteen, Biblical Stewardship, Indian Baptist Heritage, Global Telugu Christian Diaspora, Heart of Christmas, and God’s Word for the Children, besides contributing chapters to academic text books, and articles to various magazines.
He has earned multidisciplinary educational credentials at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels in Science, Business, Biblical Studies, and Education. He has about 45 years of combined experience in higher education, administration, and ministry fields. He is an international leader and Christian statesman.
The Paturi's are long-term supporters, partners and dear friends of the founders of Mercy Joy Ministries. Dr. Paturi lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Dr. Shobha.