Steve Smith

Steve – Co-founder and President of BrightPoint for Children – simply has a heart for children in need. Blessed with the experience of visiting numerous third-world countries, he has first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by impoverished children. Steve’s passion and desire to help – along with his extensive business experience – has led him to develop BrightPoint as a strategic, purpose-driven organization that will transform not only impoverished children, but also their sponsors.

Steve, his wife Julie, and their two daughters live in Marietta, Georgia. You can find Steve any Fall Saturday wherever the Georgia Bulldogs are playing!

Justin Brasuell

Justin – Co-founder and Treasurer of BrightPoint for Children started participating in mission work in 2002. After spending time in Central America and Africa, he felt called to start an organization that would allow short-term missionaries to assist the children that have impacted their lives. This desire led to the creation of BrightPoint which is designed to be the conduit for groups of individuals to make a difference in the lives of children in impoverished communities around the world.

Justin continues to be involved in missions in Central America, Africa and Europe through the Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia. He resides in Marietta with his wife Dianne and their three children and also owns a small business specializing in audio/video installations. Although he loves living in Georgia, he’s a diehard Texas A&M Aggie!

Jane Whitehead

Jane – Director of BrightPoint for Children – felt God calling when Steve and Justin talked to her about the possibility of the new organization! Over the years, she sponsored many people on their mission trips, but she was never able to go herself. Her business experience includes selling mainframe computer equipment for many years before becoming a full-time Mom and volunteer at Church, her kids’ schools and other activities. Most recently, Jane worked at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, building a new Middle School program and running the Confirmation program. While the nearly 1,000 kids in these programs kept her busy, she felt a calling to help children on a more global scale. Now she has more kids to love! She fell in love with Kenya on her first trip there and uses anything as an excuse to go back again… and again!

Jane and her husband Charlie live in Marietta, GA with their two sons: Taylor – a student at the University of Georgia; and Kyle – a student at Full Sail University in Orlando, FL!

Phoebe Maina

While attending college in 2003, Phoebe visited orphanages and participated in street children feeding evangelism alongside her fellow university students. She felt her heart drawn to the needs of these highly vulnerable children. Feeling called to serve and work in this area, Phoebe then joined Compassion International in the Eastern province of Kenya, and now serves as BrightPoint’s first Kenyan employee!

Her world now revolves completely around children. She thanks God for giving her a chance to transform the lives of children from different tribes and ages all over Kenya!

Sherry Sapsford

Sherry – Operations Manager of BrightPoint for Children. As a typical supermom, working in the technology sector for a several years before being called to work for a major local church and raising son with her husband Steve, Sherry felt called to make a difference in the world. After sponsoring Kenyan Children through her Sunday School class at Chattahoochee Baptist Church, Sherry had the opportunity to visit Kenya on a mission trip and fell in love with the country and the people. She has been fortunate to make several trips back and falls back in love every time. When offered the opportunity to work at BrightPoint, Sherry felt that God had blessed her with the chance to follow her true calling.

Sherry and her husband Steve live in Roswell, GA with their son: Christopher (who has been to Kenya 3 times and also loves it. He is in college and volunteers at BrightPoint frequently).