The function of the Board of Directors for Forgive for Health Ministries, Inc. (FFHM) is to provide administrative oversight and set the organization’s strategic direction. The Board meets quarterly to accomplish this work. The Board’s Executive Committee comprises six officers, including our Executive Director/Chairperson, Secretary, Pastoral Leaders, Treasurer, and Co-Chair, who conduct business between board meetings to ensure continuity of services, enhance accountability, and fulfill the organization’s fiduciary responsibilities.
Magon Saunders, DHSc, MS, RDN, LD, CLC, Executive Director/Founder
Dr. Magon Saunders, Sunday School Teacher, Divorce Support Group Facilitator, Author, and Forgiveness and Certified Life Coach and Advocate, is the Founder and Executive Director of Forgive for Health Ministries, Inc, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Dr. Saunders is a translational forgiveness researcher, is particularly interested in how forgiveness impacts the health of minorities, especially African Americans. Magon holds a doctoral degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Global Health. Magon, a registered dietitian, has extensive experience working with diverse clients to improve their nutritional status and manage their medical conditions. She has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in Georgia and across our nation, including the 2024 ATSU Alumni Community Service Award, the 2019 Hubert Humphrey Award for Service to America, the 2018 CDC Public Health Impact Award, the 2006 Community Services Award from former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, and the 2006 Georgia Department of Public Health’s Community Services Award. Magon is passionate about making a difference and believes that volunteerism is the best way to “pay it forward”. She is a mother and grandmother and resides with her family in Stone Mountain, GA.
Pamela Barnes, MS, MA, BS, Board Co-Chair/ Community Service Director
Ms. Pamela Barnes is a born-again Christian, a member of The Tabernacle Assembly of God Church in Decatur, GA, and the mother of three children. She served in her church’s Food Pantry and worked with the former Atlanta Dream Center throughout her education. While with the Dream Center, she participated in their SafeHouse, spending time with victims of Sex Trafficking and Abuse and taking them to doctor/counseling appointments. Princess Night, where they ministered to women in the throes of prostitution by giving them opportunities to get out of that life through conversation and giving them roses to let them know how special they are. She has also worked with the Refugee Center in Clarkson, which involved getting to know families and assisting them by teaching them to drive, navigating the various city departments, taking them grocery shopping, sharing meals with them, and being on hand when needed. Her longest-lasting endeavor has been with the Forgive for Health Ministry, Inc., as Board of Directors Secretary and now Co-Chair. The Ministry offers many programs benefitting people of all ages, including children, women, and men. As part of the Art, Tea, and Forgiveness Program, The Founder, Dr. Magon Saunders, and Pamela have produced a manual, ‘Art, Tea, and Forgiveness Circles Implementation Guide: Using Stories to Heal’ currently available through Amazon and local bookstores.
Mrs. Janeth Stewart, Board Secretary
Mrs. Janeth Stewart is the current Board Secretary for our Ministry. A native of Jamaica, Mrs. Stewart has more than six years of experience as a telephone operator/receptionist and 14 years of progressive experience as a senior administrative assistant and property services supervisor. Mrs. Stewart has a record of relationship building, a strong work ethic, and high-quality performance. She consistently demonstrates the ability to work under different administrations and directives, ensuring seamless transitions while maintaining the organization’s integrity. She is excited to bring her talents to help move this ministry forward.
Sheika Saunders-Warmington, MBA, Board Treasurer
Mrs. Sheika Saunders-Warmington is the treasurer for Forgive for Health Ministry. She holds a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and an MBA in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. She has enjoyed over 7 years of a successful banking career. Despite her love for numbers, her passion for people and service supersedes her love for numbers, which explains her current occupation as a Flight Attendant. She is excited about service and serving others. My motto is: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Outside of her work life, she enjoys spending quality time with family, traveling, experiencing new cultures, and volunteering to advance humanity.
Rev. Emanuel Williams, Pastoral Lead
Rev. Emanuel Williams, M.Div., was born and raised in San Francisco, California. In 1953, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1954, he entered the army as an infantry 2nd lieutenant and served for twenty-eight years, including two tours in Vietnam. During his service in the army, he was actively involved in the army chapel program and the Officers Christian Fellowship. Upon his retirement from the army as a lieutenant colonel, Rev. Williams sensed a call to ministry and completed a Master of Divinity degree at Emory University in 1984. He was ordained by the Georgia District in 1988 and served as chaplain at the Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta from 1985-2002. He subsequently served as a Healthcare Representative with the Chaplaincy Department of the Headquarters of the Assemblies of God denomination from 2002 until his retirement in 2009. During the period 1985 – to the present, Rev. Williams served as an associate pastor at local Assemblies of God churches in the Atlanta area and currently serves as Visitation Pastor for the Tabernacle Assemblies of God church in Decatur, Georgia. He and his wife, Thelma, were married for fifty-five years until she died in 2012. Emanuel has three adult children and five grandchildren.
Pastor Godwin Ahlijah, Pastoral Leader
Rev. Dr. Godwin Ahlijah, Pastor and Humanitarian, Meaningful Life International, Tema, Ghana. Experienced Executive Director and Pastor with a demonstrated history of working in the religious and non-profit domains. Skills in organizational leadership, management and public administration. Pastor, Father, and Teacher.
Directors at Large
Dr. Laurice Howell, Director at Large
Dr. Laurice Howell, Public Health Practitioner, Dietitian and Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC). Dr. Howell earned her Doctoral degree in Public Health from Morgan State University. In addition, she has two master’s degrees: an MS in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama, and an MPH degree from the University of Connecticut. Her BS in Dietetics is from Andrews University in Michigan. Dr. Howell worked in various health care and community settings for several years. She currently practices in a Long-Term Care setting in Windsor, CT where she is an integral member of the medical team. Dr Howell is also in private practice (Planned Lifestyle and Nutrition, LLC) in Bloomfield and West Hartford, Connecticut providing services to patients who struggle with weight management and diabetes care. Her volunteer community public health work includes, guest speaking engagements at various events, and consulting to a local elementary school in Hartford Connecticut. She is also cofounder of a lady’s group “Ladies Talk Tea” where the group addresses women’s health and women’s issues.
Milena Cedeno-Oblinger, R.N.. Director at Large
Milena Cedeno-Oblinger, R.N., has been named the Coordinator of the Memory Disorder Center for Broward Health North. She began her career on the cardiovascular/surgical unit at the University of California in Irvine after graduating from Santa Ana College in Southern California with an Associates in Nursing. In 2011, Milena moved to South Florida and was employed at Northwest Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Center as a Nurse Leader in the Telemetry unit. In 2013, she accepted the role of the RN Stroke Coordinator for the Primary Stroke Center. Milena’s passion for Neurovascular disorders grew and she received her Stroke RN Certification in 2015. Milena serves as the Women’s Ministry Director at Church in Atlantic in Margate, Florida.
Dr. Yomi Fabayo – Director at Large
Dr. Yomi Fabayo has extensive experience in public health planning, implementation, and evaluation. She has expertise in providing technical assistance and training to health districts, local health departments, communities, coalitions, and organizations on tobacco/smoke-free related initiatives, addressing health disparities, chronic disease prevention, and improving population health. Yomi is a member of several professional organizations, including the Georgia Public Health Association, the American Public Health Association, and the International Society for Disease Surveillance. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Zeta Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.
Dr. Karen Boone, Director at Large
Dr. Karen Boone is a change agent, knowledge generator, and experienced, committed Public Health Advisor with a demonstrated history of working in the federal and state government administration industry. Dr. Boone is skilled in community health education, program implementation, chronic disease prevention, and health promotion, focusing on health equity. Karen is a cancer health equity researcher with robust community health and nursing professional experience. Dr. Karen Boone recently retired from the CDC after over 40 years of experience working in public health.
Mr. Robert Howard, Director at Large
Mr. Robert Howard is an Army and Navy veteran who has traveled and worked extensively worldwide. Most recently, Mr. Howard spent over 20 years providing services to veterans at the Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs. He has received training and certifications from the Navy Advance Communication A & C Schools and DeVry Institute of Technology. He has been a deacon at the Tabernacle Church in Decatur, GA, and is a mentor and friend to many. He is a proud father and grandfather and resides in Conyers, Georgia with his family. He brings this global experience and ministry of service to Forgive for Health Ministries.
Mr. Richard Adams, Director at Large
Richard Adams was born in Atlanta, GA, in the early 1960s with a respiratory condition. He began walking to South Decatur Baptist at age 10, and maintained respiratory condition with breathing exercises, eventually progressing to baseball, basketball, football and wrestling. Richard worked many very physical jobs, some less physical but mentally demanding. He has been a rights lobbyist, mechanical engineer, self-defense instructor, all types of construction, commercial driver, and blasting engineer. He moved around for many years, returning to his hometown in Decatur, where he attended the Tabernacle Assembly of God Church. About 10 years ago, after three bouts of pneumonia, he became disabled and was put on oxygen. In the Fall of 2024, he overcame the need for oxygen, and his A1c had also come down from 13 to 5, so he no longer needs insulin. His heart meds have also been cut in half. He’s currently on dialysis and hopes to overcome that soon. Richard believes the answers to all things are found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through His word, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with believers, and meditation on the Lord.
Mrs. Kimberly Adams, Director at Large
Mrs. Kimberley Adams is a born-again Christian and a current member of The Tabernacle Church and currently serves on their Hosts Team. She grew up in the middle of the cornfields in Central Illinois, then bounced around 5 different states before settling in Georgia in 1990. Kim has held various jobs over the years, including working as an industrial seamstress for seven years, making awnings, tool buckets, and different items for the airline industry. After suffering a back injury, she became the Office Manager and Newsletter Editor for a non-profit motorcycle rights organization for about 15 years. She would later be the Accounting and Operations Manager for 12 years at Sunshine Botanicals, an all-natural skincare line. During her time there, she would assist in a natural health class by delivering an opening message of salvation and the benefits of forgiveness to those who chose to accept it. Kim is very excited to help advance the mission of Forgive for Health Ministries, Inc.
Ms. Kimberly Hernandez- Ventura, MS, Director at Large
Ms. Kimberley Hernandez-Ventura, MS, lives and works near Pomona CA. Ms. Hernandez-Ventura holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and a Masters in Applied Life Sciences with a clinical research concentration from the Keck Graduate Institute. She is currently the Program Coordinator at Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE). Kimberly is a CDC Health Leadership Development Fellow. She is a member of the National Medical Association and a member of the American Public Health Association.
Forgive for Health Ministries 