OUR TEAM
Our Staff has over 45 years of combined service at Bethel Neighborhood Center.
Each is dedicated to the mission of offering a renewed sense of hope to our neighbors.
If you would like to get to know each person a little better please read their biographies below.
Mang Sonna became the Executive Director of Bethel Neighborhood Center in May 2009. Prior to becoming the executive director, Mang served as the assistant program director at Bethel for two and half years. He also served as the Vice Principal and Principal of Rayburn College in Lamka, Manipur, India, for five years. He earned his Master of Science degree in Geography from North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2004, and received his doctorate degree from the same seminary in December 2021. His doctoral dissertation is on "Christian Hospitality to Marginalized Persons: A Case Study of Bethel Neighborhood Center in Kanas City, Kansas."
Bethel gives him the opportunity to use his native language, other languages he knows, all his skills and creativity in the Bethel ministry. He said, “I am blessed to be able to use my whole being to serve God and God’s people. God is using me to be the voice for the voiceless to offer hope and help to those who need them the most.”
Mang oversees the programs and services, makes and executes plans, travels to speak at churches and visit donors, advocates, and interprets for refugees. In addition, Mang serves as one of the pastors of the Bethel Center Baptist Church. The lives that are transformed and the new hope people find because of the Bethel ministry excites him the most.
He believes that God made each human being equal, with a special purpose, and loves everyone the same. He said, “An inner-city ministry like Bethel has many opportunities to show God’s love in words and in deeds. I am investing my life in the Bethel ministry because it emits the love of Christ and offers hope to the hopeless and empowers those who are powerless to become what God wants them to be.”
Mang’s top three goals are to bring financial stability, to have a new multipurpose hall, and to fulfill Bethel's mission of offer HOPE by making Bethel as a place of love, acceptance and renewal for all ages.
He is confident that by the grace of God and with the support of the churches, the community, and God’s people, Bethel will continue to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in our community.
Mang Sonna
Executive Director
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Hau Leivang joined the Bethel team in November 2022, and currently serves as the Program Director and Volunteer Coordinator. He has been part of the Bethel ministry since 2015 volunteering from time to time to do whatever was needed. He loves urban ministry, and the diverse community Bethel serves reminds him of his high school and college days in Delhi, India.
Hau completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi, India, a Master of Theology, and a Master of Divinity degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Theology.
He believes in the ministry of Bethel in providing support and empowering individuals and families in the community and is excited about the role he plays in meeting people’s physical and, most importantly, spiritual needs. He hopes to impact the lives of many young people who participate in the children and youth program.
Hau is married to his wife, Muan, and they have one daughter, Nunmawi, and are awaiting the arrival of their second child. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the outdoors. Bethel is blessed to have Hau as one of our team leaders.
Hau Leivang
Program Director
Volunteer Coordinator
Michael is originally from Columbia, South Carolina, having moved to Kansas City in January of 2021 to pursue his Master of Divinity degree. With a passion for serving under-resourced communities and engaging modern culture with Christian values, Michael’s heart beats for the marginalized. As a staff member at a church plant in North Kansas City, Michael is already living out this passion by investing in his neighborhood and pointing people towards Christ.
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Michael is also a creator at heart, with a love for digital art, design, and media. He is also an entrepreneur with a penchant for business and investments. When he’s not serving or studying, he can be found exploring Kansas City with friends and making memories. Michael’s ultimate goal is to pursue urban church planting so that he may use all his unique gifts and desires to shine the light of the gospel where it is dark. With a heart for the people, a head for the Word, and hands ready to serve, Michael is happy to be a part of the Bethel team as long as the Lord would have him there.
Michael Stewart
Assistant Program Director
Bibiana Ruiz
Financial & Administrative Officer
Bibiana Ruiz was once a “Bethel Kid”. She participated in the Bethel after school program, summer school program during elementary up through high school. She rejoined Bethel a couple years later, serving on the Bethel Board.
Bibiana comes from a Banking Background. She worked at a community bank in Kansas City Kansas for almost 9 years. She worked in various departments including Retail, Operations, and Treasury Services. During her time as a banker, she served on other various boards including Academy of Finance Advisory Board at Bishop Ward High School, Enactus Advisory Board at Kansas City Community College. She volunteered to teach financial literacy classes at various organizations, one of which was Bethel Neighborhood Center.
She is truly passionate about helping others, she believes in empowering others, regardless of their background. She came to Bethel to help others in hopes to inspire someone. Bibiana believes that empathy is key - "I always strive to put others first, listen and understand. Let's make the world a little kinder one interaction at a time. Bethel has been a crucial influence in my journey towards growth and success. I am excited to see its continued impact on others." Bethel is blessed to have her as a team member.
Nem Sonna
Sewing Instructor & Co-Ordinator
Women's Enrichment Program
Nem Sonna is the lead instructor in the sewing training program and cooking class with young mothers. Prior to working at Bethel Neighborhood Center, Nem volunteered many hours at Bethel helping wherever help was needed. She said, “When my family and I first arrived in Kansas City from India, many people helped us, and I learned so many new things from those who helped us. I feel that it is now my turn to educate and equip young mothers with new skills to help support their family and to prepare nutritious and healthy foods. While my children were younger, they like to eat American foods more than the ethnic foods, and I had to learn how to prepare the American foods. It is very rewarding for me to work with young mothers as the role of mothers are very important to build strong God-fearing homes and community.”
Nem earned her Bachelor of Theology (B. Th) degree from Grace Bible College in Manipur, India, in 1995, and she completed a missiology training in Salem, Tamilnadu, India. Mang and Nem are blessed with two children – Mawi and Suan Sonna. After their children left home for college/university, Nem took two courses of sewing training under Once We Were Refugees. The basic sewing training she had while she was in high school in India, helped her to learn new skills faster. She enjoys learning new skills and teaching her students the new skills she learned both in cooking and sewing. She has gone to our students’ home teaching them how to use their oven and how to clean their homes, as our refugee women are not used to the appliances that are used in the American homes.
We accept donations of fabric, new and gently used sewing machines and sewing notions for the sewing training program. Nem's involvement in the Bethel ministry has diversified and widened our reach and impact. Bethel is blessed to have her working with our young women.
Vernita McMurtrey is a seasoned nonprofit executive and consults in the areas of strategic planning, grant funding and nonprofit management. Vernita has more than 25 years of executive management expertise serving over 13 years as the chief executive of the Missouri Health Insurance Pool. Ms. McMurtrey has provided executive management leadership of a full service family medical clinic, achieving the FQHC “look alike” designation.
Vernita previously served as the President of NAIC (National Association of Insurance Companies), a national organization leading nonprofit “high risk” health and insurance programs. Vernita has extensive experience in grant writing, planning, volunteer engagement, major gift development and stewardship, family philanthropy and strategic planning including matters of governance.
She is passionate about helping nonprofits, family foundations and individual philanthropists improve their practices effectively and joyfully impacting the causes to which they are committed. She is committed to community service and has presented on numerous topics to professional, community, donor and volunteer audiences across the country. Bethel is blessed to have her join the Bethel team.
Vernita McMurtrey
Development Director
PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS
Bio coming soon
London Dillard
Pau Cing was born and raised in Myanmar. Her family came to the United States in May of 2017. She graduated from Washington High School in 2021, and she goes to Kansas City Kansas Community College. She volunteered at Bethel about a year before joining as a program staff in Spring 2020. In addition to speaking the English language, she also speaks Tedim and Burmese languages fluently.
Pau Cing enjoys dancing, singing and reading books. Her childhood dream was to become a flight attendant because she enjoys meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Working at Bethel has given her the opportunity to do that. She enjoys spending time with the kids and helping them with homework. Bethel is blessed to have her as a program staff.
Pau Cing
Cristian Gallegos
Cristian graduated from Wyandotte High School in May 2023. He played the violin in his school's orchestra. He is a freshman at Johnson County Community College. His focus is in photography and graphic design.
Cristian has lived here in Kansas City, Kansas for most of his life. From the time he was in first grade, he has been participating in the Bethel after school and summer program. He started volunteering when he was a freshman in high school, and he joined the Bethel staff in the summer of 2021.
Bethel Neighborhood Center and his family played a very important role in shaping his values and worldview. He said, "I am a people person although I may not seem like it at first. I have been in this program for half of my life, and it has helped me become the person I am today. Bethel has taught me social skills and how to become a leader. I am now teaching younger students the same things Bethel staff have taught me." Bethel is blessed to have him as a staff member.
Caitlyn Gillean
We are thrilled to announce that we have a new addition to our team - Caity! She moved from Wichita, KS in August of 2023 and is now pursuing a degree in Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary located in North Kansas City. With this degree, Caity aspires to use the wisdom and knowledge she has obtained in ways to help others within this community.
Caity is a dedicated individual whose life is centered around service, personal development, and a deep commitment to her faith. With a heart for ministry and a desire to serve others in their times of need, Caity's educational journey is a testament to her unwavering faith and commitment to helping others. Her efforts not only benefit the individuals and families who rely on the services of Bethel but also inspire others to follow her example and make a positive impact in their own communities.
Caity also finds joy and fulfillment in playing instruments by immersing herself in the beauty of melodies and rhythms. Overall, her willing heart and spirit of service embody the core values of compassion, empathy, and selflessness. Caity, we're confident that your enthusiasm, dedication, and unique perspective will make a significant contribution to our team.
Adan Espinoza
Picture and Bio coming soon
Dim San
Sewing Instructor
Picture and Bio coming soon
Judy Lemaster
Bethel Nurse
Picture and Bio coming soon
Yadhira Espinoza
Picture and Bio coming soon