Leadership
US Board of Directors
The Homes of Love US Board of Directors is a volunteer group of individuals with hearts for helping at-risk children. This group provides oversight and leadership concerning the direction and vision of Homes of Love. They are closely involved with the development of the ministry.
Gary Chesney, DDS
President
Gary practices family and cosmetic dentistry in Knoxville, Tennessee. He and his wife Debbie founded Homes of Love. They have six children. Their youngest daughter was adopted from Vietnam. During the adoption trip, Gary and Debbie saw first-hand the critical needs of orphans and street children to be well loved and cared for. This was the catalyst that began Homes of Love.
William (Bill) Park, PhD
Secretary/Treasurer
Bill has been a professor in the Department of Agriculture Economics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville since 1980. He and his wife, Anne, have four children and several grandchildren. Bill also serves locally on the Missions Steering Committee at Fellowship EV Free Church. Bill and Anne have led and participated in trips to Southeast Asia.
Matthew Loy
Matthew Loy is a project engineer for an environmental engineering firm. He has been active in foreign missions for many years, with trips to Europe, Central America, and Asia. Locally, he and his wife, Karen, parented more than 50 displaced children from dysfunctional homes (over an 11-year period). They retain active and close ties to many of the boys became part of their family. Matthew has served on various non-profit and ministry boards in the Knoxville community.
Michael (Mickey) H. Sims, PhD
Mickey is a physiology professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He and his wife, Dianne, have traveled several places in Southeast Asia to visit the homes and deepen relationships with the children and house parents. Mickey currently provides leadership in local and global missions at Fellowship Bible Church, where he also works in children’s ministries.
Michael Wood
Michael is in real estate brokerage and development in Knoxville, Tennessee. Michael and his business partner are committed to the care of a one of our girls’ homes. Michael has served on various ministry and non-profit boards in the Knoxville community. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. Through their travels to Southeast Asia, Michael and Jennifer have developed a deep love for the children there.
Indigenous Committee
This committee consists of volunteers, both businessmen and community leaders. These men & women recognize the value of the at-risk children in their nation. Their desire is to see these children become godly contributors in their country. They seek to accomplish this by partnering with Homes of Love, working closely with the US Board and staff. The committee’s function is direction and oversight for establishing and maintaining the homes.
US Staff
Homes of Love employs three, permanent, part-time staff members in our Knoxville, Tennessee office. We all come from various educational backgrounds, and work at HOL because of our love for the children we serve. In our travels, we’ve all had the opportunity to meet some of the HOL children. Each of us are working mothers with 13 children between us. Outside the office, our lives are interwoven through our friendships, as well as, our church, school, and local communities.
Debbie Chesney
Executive Director
Debbie helps articulate and implement the vision and direction of Homes of Love. She provides clarification and facilitates communication between the US staff and board, and the indigenous staff and committee, concerning the application of our vision. Debbie and her husband, Gary, are founding members of HOL. Debbie attempts to retain sanity while balancing thedemands of work, a husband, married children, college-age children, teenage children, a grand baby, and a mini-farm.
Susan Hagemeyer
Financial Administrator
Susan is responsible for all our in-house accounting. She oversees all financial transactions and financial record keeping for the entire ministry, US and beyond. Susan also develops policies and procedures for the US office. As a former English teacher, Susan serves as our official proofreader! (Be sure and let her know if you find mistakes on this website!)
Deb Smith
Administrative Assistant
Deb was recruited for her exemplary organizational skills. She ensures that the US office runs smoothly, keeping it supplied and operating at maximum efficiency. Her many talents are utilized and appreciated, from creating artistic newsletter layouts to solving challenging travel arrangements. Deb is also a woman who understands the importance of caffeine and chocolate in the workplace.
Homes of Love employs numerous people for various positions in-country. Their desire is that the children experience the Father’s love through their HOL families. In-country we have a ministry coordinator, area administrators, house parents, and tutors.
- Our ministry coordinator is involved in every aspect of the in-country ministry. This person facilitates communication between the homes, the committee, and the US staff.
- The area administrators identify and place children into the homes. They work closely with the home parents and the ministry coordinator in helping determine the daily direction of the homes. They also play an important role in our financial accountability process.
- House parents fulfill and commit to the role of traditional parents in our children’s lives, providing spiritual, physical, and emotional care. In this loving and safe family, they have committed to raising the children into adult independence.
- Academic tutors are employed to assist the children achieve the best education possible. They are a daily part of the children’s lives. The tutors are often mentors to the children and embraced as members of the family.