— Our Genesis is our DNA. Our DNA is our Future
To understand how LIM came into being is to understand our purpose, mission, values, operation character, and our future.
Our work started long before this organization was founded. We formalized our work so we could facilitate and grow reaching more kids and making a greater impact. We are growing with the need before us.
— Starts From the Heart
Nabil Melki, founder of Lifelong Impact Ministry, worked in extended educational programs since the start of the Lebanon refugee crisis and saw the negative impact children suffered unable to afford a basic education. Nabil was moved. Out of his own expenses he financed the education of four children, who had graduated from an informal tutoring school and were unable to afford continuing their education. The refugee crisis and Lebanon’s economy kept getting poorer and more and more parents needed help. A few friends wanted to join the cause and soon he was able to help more children attend school.
— Paradigm Shift, Our DNA
It wasn’t enough to pay their tuition, there had to be a paradigm shift valuing education. Many of his students were Syrian refugees, whose parents saw education as a day care service.
Nabil knew that placing children in school for a few years would not likely shift their perception nor lead them out of the cycle of poverty. Though the children spent time in school, most of their influence came from their home and immediate community. They needed help breaking the culture of poverty, which meant Nabil becoming their advocate. He built relationships with their parents, mitigated social forces, that, otherwise, would draw them back to a life of poverty. Nabil helped the children fill out their school application, walked them through registration, helped tutor each child, encouraged them to keep going. He also built relationships with local schools, churches and institutions leveraging resources toward the students. Our purpose is to walk with the child until the child secures employment. It has been this individual support that helps children overcome. It is this individual support that defines our ‘DNA’ and empowers us to shift the paradigm making for a positive lifelong impact.
In order to receive more help and provide more assistance to children in need, Nabil began Lifelong Impact Ministries. It is through this organization that Nabil desires to make a lasting impact in the lives of underprivileged children.
— FUTURE
It is this ‘DNA’ that we wish to replicate and implement wherever the call for support is sounded.
— Meet our Board Members
NABIL MELKI, FOUNDER
Nabil’s main work is in Music. He graduated from Anderson University with a BA in Church Music and Masters in Conducting. He worked for 12 years as the Director of Music at South Bay Church of God. Moved to Lebanon, where he founded the Christian Community Choir, the Vibrant Sound Handbell Choir, and the Sing Children’s Choir. His largest work by far is the “Glory of Easter” production which is similar to the world-famous “Pageant of the Masters” in Laguna Hills, California.
Apart from Music, Nabil worked as a field director at Heart for Lebanon, managing a staff of about forty and teaching Music to Syrian refugee children. After this work, the fire was lit in Nabil’s heart to start the Lifelong Impact ministry.
Jose Jurado, Treasurer
Joseph Jurado undergraduate education was from California State University at Long Beach and his MBA at Pepperdine University. He retired from Northrop Grumman as an Information Technology Program Manager. He has held various continuous layman church leadership positions for the past 40 years.
David Hajjar, Secretary
David Hajjar is the President and CEO of the Excellence in Leadership Institute. After decades of experience in international development, humanitarian assistance, diplomacy and international business brokering, David is committed to investing in the development and growth of the next generation of leaders around the world. David has led teams, domestically and abroad, participated in high-level negotiations and diplomatic efforts, and provided strategic and operational leadership in both the private and public sectors. With experience in over 150 countries and academic training and professional experience in international law, health and education, David brings broad perspective, experience and expertise to the work of Lifelong Impact Ministries.
Raja Achi, board member
Raja founded and developed children ministry in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf for 28 years. Reaching out to children at risk, or in poverty is his heart’s passion. He has developed partnerships with Churches, organizations and NGOs both in the US, Europe, the Middle East & the Arabian Gulf. Over the past 7 years he worked as Senior Manager of Operations & Partnership at a medical relief Christian organization in the US, serving needy & hurting people in war-torn countries in the Middle East & North Africa