Norm and Alma Wakefield
The calling of God in Norm’s life has given him a heart for men and their families. His calling as a child of God has birthed an emphasis on the gospel and relationship with Jesus Christ. It forms the basis for wisdom in all aspects of life and is the strength of Elijah Ministries. As a husband, Norm longs to see marriages that glorify God. His calling as a father of four, has given him a heart for family. When God called Norm into the pastoral ministry, God led him to disciple and encourage men. Leading people into the presence of God has come from his calling as a worship leader. The desire of his heart is to see God glorified in His people as they apply God’s Word to their lives.
Board of Directors
John Gross, Chairman
John first came to know Norm as a new believer in the late 70’s during which time Norm discipled him for a year. He spent his career with Haverty Furniture (43 years) in Senior management. He has been married to Edith for over 50 years and they have two sons and four grandchildren. John has been involved in ministries in every location his career took him including Lay Renewal ministries in Louisiana and Tennessee, a church plant in Tennessee, a church plant in North Carolina, a participant and presenter for the Master’s Program, a kingdom leadership program, Founder of the Barnabas Group in Charlotte, NC, an elder, worship leader, building a school and churches in India, and supporter of Elijah Ministries as a board member for many years.
“I am continually amazed by the impact that Norm’s ministry has across the world. In 2023 I had the privilege of joining Norm during one of his trips to South Africa. I was so impressed by the ministry there that I took my wife back for a visit in 2024. God connected our hearts to this ministry, and we plan to spend extended time there in the years ahead.”
Jim Grandholm, Vice President
Jim became a board member in 1999, when The Spirit of Elijah Ministries first incorporated. Formerly a basketball player in the NBA, he started his own sports agency. He is now founder and president of Green Earth Electronics Recycling and Lake Michigan Asset Solutions. Jim and Carol live in Sawyer, MI and have three married children.
Kari Mitchell, Treasurer
Kari Mitchell is humbled to be called to be a “daughter of the King”, a wife to her husband Rod, and a homeschooling mom to her two sons who have entered into adulthood. She’s honored to serve on the Spirit of Elijah board having been personally touched through the ministry and being continually renewed in her mind and heart through the Live to Love message. Kari also serves as the CEO of Las Cruces Machine, Mfg. & Engineering and has served on numerous boards which includes a unique blend of corporate, public, and non-profit board room leadership in banking, healthcare, aerospace manufacturing, and education.
Additionally, Kari was appointed to the New Mexico State University’s Board of Regents, where she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate and elected as Vice Chair of the board. Kari co-founded and scaled New Mexico’s first early college high school. She was a founding member of the state’s first private-public sector economic development entity; and was appointed by both Governor Bill Richardson (D), and Susan Martinez (R) to the State Workforce Development Board. Kari receives the honors of New Mexico’s Businesswoman of Influence, Citizen of the Year by the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, and the VIVA Award (Vision, Investment, Vitality & Action) by the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry. She received her MBA from the University of Houston.
Micah Wakefield
Micah was the business administrator of Elijah Ministries for many years. He began serving on the board of directors in 2015. He is Director of Research and Product Development for Swan Global Investments and lives in Las Palmas, Puerto Rico with his wife, Holly, and their 3 children.
Steve Woods
Steve and his wife, Pam, live in Waco, Texas. They have been making disciples who live to love with Jesus since 2020. After serving in Costa Rica and Argentina as missionaries for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for 16 years, Steve taught Spanish at Baylor University for five years. God has used them to lead many Spanish-speaking as well as English-speaking people through Live to Love. Steve, Alma, and I attended high school and college together in Bolivar, MO.
James Hersey
James began serving on the board of Spirit of Elijah in 2022. He has spent the last 35 years in the information technology industry focused on account management, business development and engineering.
He resides in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho with his wife Janell, and they have seven children.
“one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25