board member
Minister Kimberly Ponder-Thomas
She serves the Lord faithfully as Visionary and Leader of the Lost & Found (Life Support Ministry) and Daughters of Covenant (Ministry for Married Ladies); Spiritual Wellness Facilitator for Sisters Circle Women’s Support Network; and core committee member of Girlfriends in Christ Global Ministries. She also assists other organizations and churches in various capacities. Her passion is deliverance, healing hearts, and nurturing the souls of God’s people.
Minister Kimberly is an Administrative Office Chief with the State of California, where she has been employed for 33 years. She and her husband, Mark, are active in the Bay Area community.
We’re reaching down to help the homeless up!
Andre and Tracy Wilson grew up together as kids in the same Apartment complex in Oakland California and are founders of STANDING ON THE WORD OUTREACH which started out as Midnight ministry by Pastor Jack Williams in 1994. Andre joined Midnight ministry and begin serving the homeless community in the street of Oakland in 1997.
Andre himself battled homelessness for 5 years. Since he understood the struggle of not having adequate housing fit for human beings, he developed a passion to serve and a compassion help those that are less fortunate and left out. After the struggle of homelessness he saw the need to return to college where he
earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development/Gerontology and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration/Human Resources.
Tracy grew up in a very spiritual home with her Mom, went to church regularly and knew how to pray. Nonetheless, because of the environment and the deleterious influences of her neighborhood she got introduced to the street life and marijuana at age 11, alcohol at age 16, then Heroin at the age of 19 years old. She was highly addicted to drugs at a young age and as a result entered into various hard crimes. In 1999 Tracy was facing a 25 year prison sentence for Armed Bank Robbery and by the grace and power of God, she only served 2 years and 9 month in Carswell Federal Prison, in Fort Worth, Texas. Tracy was released from Prison in January 7, 2002. God blessed her with a nice Apartment to live in and raise her 11 year old daughter and also her friend’s daughter (her God daughter; a child who was homeless). She later came into contact with Andre, they got married and he encouraged her to go to college. She took his advice in spite of her fear of learning and her learning disability and she graduated earning dual Associate’s Degrees in Liberal Arts and Behavioral science
Tracy also joined Midnight ministry and begin serving in 2005. Andre and Tracy ventured off to start STANDING ON THE WORD OUTREACH after they were joined together in Holy matrimony in 2007 then became an official 501©(3) Non-profit organization in 2015.
STANDING ON THE WORD OUTREACH serves the homeless community hot home cooked meal two days a week and on Friday nights we serve between the hours of 12:00-4:00 a.m. We also give them bottled water, new socks and new under garments, feminine products, Hygiene kits, Jackets and more.
executive board member
Martha Beckhausen
Albany, California
Occupation: Retired
Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in English
University Of California at Berkeley
Board of Directors: Meeting organizer
Pastor Mike Sparrow
San Louis Obispo, California
Occupation: Pastor and Church Overseer
Degree: Bachelor’s Degree Geology with concentration in Rock formation
Cal Poly San Louis Obispo
Board of Directors: Board of Director President
Other Qualification:
AFCM International Mission Projects – leadership development, evangelism, pastor training, humanitarian relief, water project, ISOM Bible school planting – in Kenya (1995-present); Cambodia (2000-present), Mexico (1995 – present) India (2009), England (2002, 2007) China (1988, 2003), Philippines, (1986, 1988, 2003), Korea (2003), Bolivia (1994).
Pastor Mike Sparrow has been and instrumental part of STANDING ON THE WORD OUTREACH where he serves as President of the board of director and board leader. Pastor Mike Sparrow over 30 plus years of ministry experience and pastoral leadership.
Raul Cuaresma
Hayward, California
Occupation: Director of Raul Cuaresma Ministries United States and the Philippine Islands
California State University, Hayward
Degree: Masters of Public Administration with concentration in public policy
Board of Director Title: Project Overseer
Samira Oshewa
San Ramon, California
Occupation: Autism specialist/Behavior Therapist
Degree: Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
San Jose State University
Board of Director: Operations management
Samira Oshewa has worked with the underserved or communities in need for over twenty years. In 2009, she implemented a Food Pantry Outreach from the parking lot of her Church located in the heart of the Laurel District in Oakland, California in order to give back to the Oakland community where she grew up and where she witnessed people in need facing several challenges. Her Food Pantry Outreach program entailed feeding, clothing, and providing other resources for the underserved in the surrounding areas of Oakland’s Laurel District. Samira has not only provided outreach to the underserved, but she currently works as a Behavior Analyst with Children with autism and other disabilities who face behavioral and medical challenges. One thing Samira is most passionate about is helping others who cannot always help themselves. Samira Oshewa currently holds two Masters degrees with one in Public Health and the other in Applied Behavior Analysis. During Samira’s personal time she enjoys working in her Church where she serves as an ordained Deaconess, spending time with her family, creativity, and helping others in any way she possibly can
tracy Miller Wilson
STAFF
Tracy grew up in a very spiritual home with her Mom, in whom she attended church with regularly and knew how to pray. Nonetheless, because of the environment and the deleterious influences of her neighborhood she got introduced to the street life and marijuana at age 11, alcohol at age 14, then Heroin at the age of 19 years old. She was highly addicted to drugs at a young age and as a result entered into various hard crimes. In 1999 Tracy was facing a 25 year prison sentence for Armed Bank Robbery and by the grace and power of God, she only served 2 years and 9 month in Carswell Federal Prison, in Fort Worth, Texas. Tracy was released from Prison in January 2002. God blessed her with a nice Apartment to live in and raise her daughter and also her friend’s daughter. She later came into contact with Andre, they got married and he encouraged her to go to college. She took his advice in spite of her fear of learning and her learning disability and she graduated with two Associate’s Degrees in Liberal Arts and Behavioral science
