NACE’s founding missionaries, Bob and Barbara Kelly, have a history in Nicaragua. In 1988, after finishing preliminary Spanish language studies, they remained in Costa Rica and worked with Nicaraguan refugees fleeing the civil war. They worked with those living in remote areas of Costa Rica as well as in the cities.
After the Nicaraguan elections of 1990, the Kellys, with their four children, moved to Managua where they lived from 1991 to 1997. In those years, they worked in many areas – helping establish an orphanage, running a pastors’ Bible training center, founding a church, teaching Bible in Christian schools, and even two full years of teaching Bible in 2 different public schools (an interesting story in itself). Within all of these activities, working with children was always in the forefront.
Being in the USA from 1997 to 2010, they continued activities in Nicaragua by supporting missionaries and projects and taking short term missions groups. In June, 2007, they partnered with Dr David Abebefe and Zoya ministries to facilitate a medical clinic in Nueva Guinea. It was at this time that God birthed the desire to build a school as a tool for spreading the gospel of Jesus.
Board of Directors
Bret Dahl, President and Chairman of the board
BS Electrical Engineering, MS Electrical Engineering
99-Present – Test/Product Engineering Manager at Texas Instruments.Responsible for leading a team of technical test and product engineers. Responsibilities include device characterization, setup, shipping, hardware development, data collection and analysis, and setting specifications. Volunteers in preschool and nursery ministry at Grace Outreach Center, Plano TX (1999-Present) Volunteer at 3RF (3 Rivers Foundation for the Arts and Sciences) (2008-Present). Activities and interest include astro-photography, public astronomy outreaches, how-to presentations, and education presentations at public and private schools.
Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Oversee the ministry and the board meetings. Also helps Sarah Dahl with the day to day responsibilities.
Barbara Kelly, RT, Secretary
Co-founder of Manto de Gracia Christian school. She previously served as the women’s ministry director of the Spanish speaking congregation of Grace Outreach Center (1997-2010). Has been a registered X-Ray technologist in Texas since 1975 and most recently was employed by PrimaCare Urgent Care Centers of Dallas. Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Secretary, and works with Robert Kelly in the day to day management of the school in Nicaragua.
Sarah Dahl, Treasurer
BS Business Administration with Math Minor
97-99 Worked for HUD-Housing and Urban Development with low income families finding housing opportunities. Women’s leader for young moms ministry at Grace Outreach Center-Plano (2001-2009), Volunteer in preschool & nursery ministry at Grace Outreach Center-Plano (1999-Present), treasurer for Zoya ministries a non profit ministry (2011-present).
Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Treasurer – responsibilities include tracking income, disbursements, sending reports to donors and helping in other areas as needed. Activities and interest include: volunteering at children’s school, coaching kids sports, photography and visiting the National Parks.
Robert S. Kelly
BS Computer Science, AA Practical Theology
Founder of Manto de Gracia Christian School in Nueva Guinea, RAAS, Nicaragua (2010). He previously served on the pastoral staff of Grace Outreach Center, Plano, TX from 1997-2010, as a missionary in Managua, Nicaragua from 1991-1997, and has experience in both the private and public sectors in the USA. Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Director of the work in Nicaragua and the official representative of NACE in that country.
Mark Miller
Mark is the father to 3 wonderful children,Tiffany, Angela, and Hunter. Through his experience as a father, foster parent and adoptive parent,Mark became directly involved in working for the welfare of children for more than a decade. As a businessman Mark founded Miller & Associates in 2002 after a successful career at EDS and Deloitte & Touche and grew Miller & Associates into an Inc. 5000 company, ranked in 2010 as the 89thfastest growing IT services firm in the U.S. and founded Dedo Incorporated in 2009 to focus on the emerging interactive market of touch and gesture based technologies.
Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Help in carrying out the vision of the organization and serve as a board member.
David Kelly
Married to Jessica Kelly since 2006 and father to 2 amazing kids (ages 5 and 7). David has a BS in Business Administration and worked in international supply chain for a restaurant company for 12 years but now works for a lead generation startup company.
Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Help in carrying out the vision of the organization and serve as a board member.
Jessica Kelly
BS Speech and Language Pathology/Audiology.
2003-2008 worked as a translator in the field of Speech and Language Pathology/Audiology with various companies in the DFW area.
2008-2012 worked for North Texas Therapy Home Care as a licensed Speech Therapist Assistant.
Married to David Kelly since 2006 and mom of two to great kids, Gianni and Lianna. I’ve been a stay at home mom since the birth of our son. A dream I had since I was young. I enjoy serving at our kids school and volunteer my time at the library as well as co-chair our school’s book fairs. I’m also involved in Bible Study Fellowship which has blessed me in so many ways!
Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Help in carrying out the vision of the organization and serve as a board member.
Board of Advisors
Alex Chidichimo
Married to Mandy Chidichimo since 2011. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I came to the United States in 2009 and obtained a Bachelors degree in Computer Engineering. I am currently working at Texas Instruments as a Network Security Engineer. I love traveling the world with my soulmate. A year and a half ago, we started a new journey as foster parents and it has been so far a great life learning experience.
Responsibilities at Nicaragua Advances in Christian Education: Board member and media.
Mandy Chidichimo
BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with Early Childhood-6th grade Certification and ESL (English as a Second Language) Certification from Texas Woman’s University
2006-2008: Ministry Internship Assistant Director at Grace Outreach Center
2008-2012: Children’s Ministry Director at Grace Outreach Center
2012-present: Kindergarten Teacher in Plano ISD
I always dreamed of being a teacher when I was a small child, and am always in awe of the direction God leads me in bringing that dream to fruition! I have a special place in my heart for kids learning second languages, kids with learning disabilities, and kids with behavior challenges. I especially love teaching Kindergarten because, well, they are the cutest! The progress they make over 9 months of Kindergarten is remarkable and truly rewarding!
Jonathan Kelly
BS in Kinesiology with a minor in Health. MS Parks, Recreation, and Fitness from THE University of North Texas
2007-2012 Worked as a student & Graduate Assistant for the UNT Men’s basketball.
2012-Present Director of Sports Ministries at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church.
I am a believer in the positive impact sports and fitness can have on everybody, but most importantly youth.
Rick Farr
Married the love of my life, JoAnn, 34 years ago and have 2 wonderful children, wonderful son-and-law and one grandson. Past 36 years I have been employed as an IBM large system computer tech, specializing in state of the art computer systems. Worked on staff for Zoya Ministries for three years coordinating mission trips to Haiti, Nigeria, and Nicaragua. Made four mission trips to Nicaragua building churches and the ground breaking work for the Christian School in Nueva Guinea.I have taught a home group for the past twelve years and continue to grow in God’s word as a group.