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 offering HOPE by making Bethel 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
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
London Dillard, a Kansas City native, graduated from Wyandotte High School in 2011. He has a deep love for art and a wide appreciation for music. London and his partner Maria are proud parents of four children—three daughters and a son—who inspire his dedication to building a better future. His goal is to be self-sufficient and give back to his community.
As a vegetarian, London is passionate about how nature supports better health. He enjoys reading about natural remedies, sustainable living, and holistic wellness. This dedication extends to his work at Bethel, where he reconnects with his inner child and fosters creativity and curiosity in the children he teaches.
London loves teaching kids about nature and healthy lifestyles, creating a safe space where they feel valued and free to express themselves. By blending fun with education, he helps kids develop lifelong habits that promote well-being and self-confidence. His work reflects his belief that every child deserves a place to explore, grow, and thrive in a caring and safe community.
London Dillard
Assistant Program Director
Sheri Harding
Refugee Resettlement Coordinator &
Administrative Assistant
Sheri Harding joined the Bethel Team in September 2024 as the Refugee Resettlement Coordinator, where she is also ready to assist in various capacities as needed. With over two decades of experience in the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry as a licensed agent working as the Account Manager, Sheri brings a rich experience and a profound understanding of empathy, respect, and a knowledge of the daily challenges of the average person. She has mastered the art of listening, allowing her to fully comprehend the needs and concerns of others, ultimately guiding them to the best resolutions for their unique situations. Through her dedication, she has earned the loyalty and trust of countless clients.
Sheri's journey with Bethel Ministry began in June 2022 through her activities with the Oak Grove Assembly Church Outreach Ministry. Her commitment to serving her community extends beyond this role, as she actively participates in various Church Community Outreach Ministries. Her deep personal relationship with her Savior, Jesus Christ, shines through in her unwavering desire to serve in faith and obedience to His Word. Her genuine love, sincerity, and passion for helping others have resonated deeply within the community, making her a natural fit for the Bethel Team.
Beyond her professional commitments, Sheri enjoys taking care of her mother, singing on the Church Praise Team, embarking on trips with her closest friends, meeting new people, tending to her garden, and playing with her beloved Yorkie, Zoe.
Sheri Harding is dedicated not only to her work but also to nurturing meaningful connections with those around her, embodying the spirit of service that defines the Bethel community. We are thrilled to have her join our team!
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
Yadhira Espinoza Lorenzana
Yadhira Espinoza Lorenzana recently graduated from Wyandotte High School, graduating in May of 2024. She played an important role in the creation of her school's yearbooks; including writing stories, photography, and interviewing students and teachers; a role she is proud of. She is excited about attending Donnelly College this fall, 2024.
She is currently working as the art teacher in the summer and afterschool programs, and loves doing her job. She helps the kids release their inner artistic skills, to be courageous and to be patient. She loves interacting and bonding with the children who attend the program, and hopes to be a role model for them.
She started attending the Bethel program in the summer of 2016, started volunteering in 2022, then fully joined the team in 2023 as a staff member. Bethel plays a major role in her life, seeing it as her second home. Bethel has changed and molded her as a person, letting her open up to other people, helped her gain confidence, and made her realize the endless possibilities the world has for her, and for that she is thankful.
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.
Nikki was born in the Republic of Congo and spent her formative years in Bujumbura, Burundi, where her family and she lived as refugees for many years. In November 2017, her family and made the journey to the United States, seeking new opportunities and a fresh start.
In 2018, she enrolled herself in the GED education program at the Goodwill Excel Center, where she worked diligently to earn her high school diploma over the next two years. Upon completing her diploma, she continued pursuing her education, driven by a passion for learning and growth.
After completing her high school diploma, she furthered her education by pursuing a phlebotomy program, earning her certificate and expanding her skills in the healthcare field. Currently, she is a student at Kansas City Kansas Community College, continuing to grow and learn. Outside of academics, she has a passion for writing life diaries, reading, and sharing inspirational messages with friends and family. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature whether it's walking at a nearby park or simply taking in the fresh air and scenery.
Growing up in Africa, she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of inadequate medical care on her community. She saw many individuals struggle to access basic treatment, and some even lost their lives due to the lack of care. These experiences ignited a passion within her to pursue a career in nursing. She vowed saying, "When I grew up, I would become a nurse, dedicated to providing quality care and making a positive difference in people's lives."
She began working at Bethel in August 2024, and this role has provided her with the fulfilling opportunity to serve and support diverse members of the community. This experience has reignited her passion for helping others, and she is grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on people's lives.
Fun fact about Nikki: She is a quick learner with a passion for languages! She currently speaks five languages, including her tribal language, which she understands fluently but speak only occasionally. She is always eager to expand her linguistic skills and explore new cultures. Bethel is blessed to have a dedicated staff like her.
Nicole Tosha
Case Worker
Liliana Perez
Bookkeeper
Ms. Liliana Arreola Perez and her family moved to the United States from Mexico when she was 14. With the hope of having a better future for their children, her parents made the difficult decision and took the journey. Lili went to Wyandotte High School and graduated in 2009.
Lili is married to Ivan Orta. She and her husband have three kids and four dogs. Her younger brother participated in the Bethel youth program for years, and her children are in our program as well. She was ecstatic when she found out that she would be able to work at Bethel. “My brother loved Bethel, and my kids love Bethel too. I am very excited to work at Bethel because Bethel helps people all the time.” She joined the Bethel staff in September 2021, and she became the Assistant Program Director from January 2, 2022, to August 2024, and became our bookkeeper since September 2024.
Lili enjoys going to church and helping out with kids whenever help is needed. Lili said, “I enjoy helping others because my family and I received a lot of help when we first came to the United States. What makes me happy is knowing that God will always provide our needs.” In her free time, she enjoys cooking, listening to music, and doing arts and crafts. Bethel is blessed to have her as a team member.
Adan Espinoza
Picture and Bio coming soon
Adan Espinoza was born in Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Kansas City in 2016. He has been part of the Bethel youth program since his family moved to KC, and he is grateful to Bethel for welcoming him and all the things he learned. He volunteered to help younger students while he was a sophomore in high school. He started working as a part time program staff in the summer of 2021 and continued to work at Bethel as he wanted to make a difference in the lives of younger people. His favorite hobby includes anything that is sports related as he enjoys physical activities. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in May 2023. He is now in Donnelly College in his sophomore year. He is planning to become a social worker.
Bethel Has been a fun ride for him ever since his middle school days. His adjustments to a new place was easier because of his participation in the Bethel program. His fear of making new friends in a new city was gone quickly when he joined the summer program in 2016. He made some friends and those friends are still with him to this day. He said, "The fun part about the Bethel program is the field trips since there were some good memories. But now that I am a staff member, and I want to share that same moment for the kids so they can have fun memories when they are at Bethel." Bethel is blessed to have him as a staff member.
Zo Hmung
Bookkeeper
Picture and Bio coming soon
Judy Lemaster
Bethel Nurse
Picture and Bio coming soon
Dim San
Sewing Instructor
Picture and Bio coming soon
New Staff
Picture and Bio coming soon