Meet The Board

The directors and executive officers of the Foundation are as follows:

Summaries of the experience of our directors and executive officers of the Fund are set forth below:

DAVID K. BERNARD has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors since inception and also serves as the General Superintendent of UPCI. Dr. Bernard also serves on our Executive Committee and Loan Committee. Prior to becoming UPCI’s General Superintendent, Dr. Bernard served as the Pastor of New Life United Pentecostal Church in Austin, Texas from 1992 until 2011. Dr. Bernard has also served as President of Urshan Graduate School of Theology, a UPCI affiliated divinity school, since 2000, as a founding District Superintendent of the South Texas district of UPCI and as Associate Editor for UPCI. Dr. Bernard holds a B. A. from Rice University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas, a Masters in Theology from the University of South Africa and expects to receive his Doctorate in Theology from the University of South Africa in 2012.

SCOTT GRAHAM has served as the general secretary of the United Pentecostal Church International since 2019, and has previously served as Lead Pastor of the The Sanctuary in Hazelwood, Missouri, General Youth President of the UPCI, and District Superintendent for Missouri. He is the proud husband of Michelle and father to two children, Jeremy and Jessica.

RICK HUGHES has served the Oklahoma District United Pentecostal Church in various leadership roles for the past 31 years, the last 20 years serving as District Secretary-Treasurer/CFO. He has earned degrees in both Theology and Business, and has a background in banking, human resources and administration. He faithfully served as Pastor of Victory Worship Center in Ponca City, Oklahoma for 30 years, and recently transitioned to traveling from church to church as www.kingdomadvanceministry.com preaching, teaching, and doing leadership workshops and conducting "Real Colors" personality seminars in churches, businesses, and other organizations.

JAMES STARK has served on our Board of Directors since 2019. He has been an ordained minister of the United Pentecostal Church since 1977, and has served as Sr. Pastor of Calvary Apostolic Church in Columbus, Ohio since 1992. He also serves as District Superintendent of the Ohio District of the United Pentecostal Church International. He is a graduate of Ohio University and Jackson College of Ministries. Concurrent with his pastoral ministry in Columbus and Ohio District leadership, he also ministers internationally, focusing on evangelism and leadership development. He and his wife, Christina, grew up in eastern Ohio. Their three children are all involved in the work of the Lord. They also have three "great" grandchildren who are the joy of their lives.

DANIEL FLEMMING has served on our Board of Directors since 2019. He has been the pastor of New Life Church in Ames, Iowa since July of 2002. Pastor Flemming is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.S. Civil Engineering, M.S. Structural Engineering) and of Apostolic Bible Institute (Bachelor of Theology). In addition to pastoring, he currently serves the Iowa District of the United Pentecostal Church as Superintendent. He is also an adjunct faculty member for the Apostolic Bible Institute in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

BRENT CARTER has served on our Board of Directors since 2021. He is currently the Superintendent of the Atlantic District and President of Northeast Christian College. He pastors Mission Point Church in Saint John NB and has been involved in the ministry for the past 32 years. He is also the owner of Tri-M Insurance and has served his clientele for the past 30 years. 

SHEENA SJOSTRAND-POST A native Arkansan, Sheena A. Sjöstrand-Post graduated from Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas and Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio.  In 2004, while she was studying abroad at Oxford University, her family moved to Ohio.  After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree, Mrs. Sjöstrand-Post joined her family and entered Capital University Law School, where she received her Juris Doctorate with a concentration in Dispute Resolution.  Mrs. Sjöstrand-Post began her legal career as a sole practitioner for a few years and then joined Hayes Law Offices in Pataskala, where she is employed as a partner.     

As well as being licensed to practice law, Mrs. Sjöstrand-Post is a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church, the Ohio District Liaison to the National Apostolic Leadership Conference, an Adjunct Professor for The Jetter School of Business at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Licking County Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation.  In addition to her memberships and participation in these various capacities, Mrs. Sjöstrand-Post and her husband serve as part of the ministerial team at their local church, Christian Apostolic Church in Newark.  Mrs. Sjöstrand-Post resides in Newark with her husband and two daughters.