About Us

Laura Orrell, President
Laura’s first love is music, and she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. It was the desire to teach music that led her to her first mission trip in Ghana with her husband Mike, and the offering of Pastor John’s church as a music school which led her to our Ghanaian partners, John and Mercy Boateng. Laura also holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and a Master’s degree in Education Administration. Laura is a certified reading therapist with the phonographic method. While in Ghana, Laura has had the opportunity to tour many private and government schools, and to collaborate with students, teachers, and administrators. Through these tours, the non-profit Fans of Africa was conceptualized. Most of the classrooms visited had no electricity, fans, water, or lights. Laura travels to Ghana annually, and it is through these trips that new partnerships and relationships are developed. One of Laura’s favorite Bible verses comes from 1 Peter 4:10; “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms.”

Mike Leinneweber, Director of Outreach
Mike is a skilled tradesman, and has the responsibility of vetting the projects requested by our African partners, and determining the resources needed for the accepted projects. Mike collaborates weekly with Pastor John to review ongoing projects and resources which are being requested for new projects. He is currently self-employed, which allows him the freedom to pursue his greatest passion, mission work. Mike is married to Laura, and they live in Lubbock, Texas. Mike has been in the mission field for many years, and has given his time and expertise to people all over the world, including Mexico, Russia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana. There is nothing that Mike can’t build or fix, and his mission work reflects this. When he enters the mission field, Mike takes his own tools with him and selects a resident apprentice with whom to work, mentor, and teach, and then gift with the tools. Mike has the true heart of a servant, and views his African partners as his second family. Mike also travels to Ghana at least annually to supervise ongoing projects and to work installing fans in the schools of Ghana. His goal is to have a ceiling fan in each classroom in the country.

Jerry Graeber, Treasurer
The Bible tells us to use our abilities to serve each other. Jerry has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry and has used this experience to serve at his church in the Pit Stop and Trailer Ministries. The Pit Stop Ministry maintains and repairs cars for single mothers and the elderly. The Trailer ministry pulls a trailer filled with clothing and food to satellite churches to distribute these goods for those in need. Jerry met Mike Leinneweber a couple of years ago. As it turns out, they had gone to high school together in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mike shared his Ghana mission work with Jerry, and Jerry knew that he wanted to be a part of this ministry. He lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. One of Jerry’s favorite verses in the Bible comes from Matthew 6: 19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieve do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Pastor John N.K. and Mercy Boateng, Ghana Partners
Pastor John is the founder of The Cross Outreach Church International, which was established in Ghana in 2003. He is married to Mercy Boateng and they have five children; Edwin, Genevive, Beverly, Israel and Judah. The headquarters of the ministry is located in Abuesi, a suburb of the Shama District in the Western region of Ghana. John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology from the Ghana campus of Rhema Bible College in Torsa-Oklahoma in the United States. The vision of Cross Outreach is to reach the deprived areas of Ghana, Africa, and the world. The ministry has planted seven churches, trained nine pastors, established a bible school to train pastors, organized free medical clinics every year, and has established a Christian school, Terri International Christian Academy or TICA. John established his partnership with Fans of Africa in January 2016 upon meeting Mike and Laura who were in the mission field.

Dale Fout, Honoree
March 27, 1957, to September 10, 2023

We honor and acclaim Dale Fout for his dedication and devotion to Fans of Africa. Dale tithed selflessly every single month to our non-profit, and we could always count on his support, no matter what trials he faced personally or professionally. Dale’s faith in Jesus Christ was the cornerstone of his life, and he was an active member of his church. He was a true man of faith, and we rest in the knowing that he is now in his eternal home where there is no more pain or suffering.

Dale is survived by his devoted wife of 32 years, Barbara. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Nana Awere Quame (Emmanuel Agyapong), Teaching Staff

Emmanuel was born on a Saturday; thus, according to Ghana tradition, he was given the name Kwame for his name, according to the day he was born. He was also named after a Chief whose name was Nana Awere Kwame Nti. Emmanuel is the third of four children, and his parents are Cecilia Yaa Achiaah and Charles Kwabena Asiama. His father was a traditional musician, and Emmanuel has the gift of a beautiful singing voice. Emmanuel attended the University of Cape Coast from 2019 to 2021 and earned a degree in Basic Education. He worked on his diploma in Basic Education from 2015 to 2018.

Emmanuel states that “I am a teacher because I have a passion for it. Just like insects are attracted to flowers, children are attracted to me, irrespective of any weakness. I become worried if I see children with reading difficulties, and I am challenged to fix and repair the breakdown. Sometimes it seems impossible, but I am motivated by the fact that the word impossible is also read as I’m possible with just an addition of a punctuation mark. I am happy that I have become the punctuation mark for children with reading difficulties. Since my eyes are healthy, my whole body is full of light”.