Messiah Texas Leadership

Ty Porter is the Board President for Messiah Texas. Ty is one of the three founders of Messiah Texas. He has been with us since day one in September of 2015. Ty is one of the elders of Bible Family Fellowship in Lubbock, Texas. Ty has been married to his wife, Randi K, since 2004. They have 6 children: Christopher, Garron, Kaiyah, Talia, Bayla, and Finley. Ty is a roofing contractor and part owner of Andrus Bros Roofing. Ty’s hobbies are woodworking, hunting, golf, and doing projects around the house with his 6 children. Ty’s life verse is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”

Missi Lara is a third-year Board Member for Messiah Texas and is also serving as our Secretary. Missi's kids have been a part of Messiah Texas since the second event, and now she is a part of our family too! Missi has been married to her husband, Jim, since 1987. She has 7 biological children: Justin, Jessikah, Francesca, Hannah, Lucas, Elijah, and Arianah, and an ever-changing number of bonus children. Missi and her family live in Canton, Texas. She loves opening her home and giving people a safe space while hanging out with family and friends. Her hobbies are scrapbooking, genealogy, sewing, crocheting, and collecting kids. Missi's life verse is 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Jorge Esparza is a second-year board member and is serving as our Treasurer. Jorge is a Field Coordinator at an Electric Utility Company. Jorge has been married to his wife, Tessie, since 1997. They have 2 children: Hannah and Ethan. Jorge and his family live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jorge's hobbies are basketball, soccer, and chess. Jorge’s life verse is Philippians 3:8-11 "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.."

Brandon Darby is a Board Member and one of the three founders of Messiah Texas. He has been with us since day one in September of 2015. Brandon is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. Brandon has been married to his wife, Jessica, since 2017. He has 3 children: Emmett, Samuel, and Shiloh. Brandon and his family live in Lubbock, Texas. Brandon’s hobbies are playing board games, video games, sports, escape rooms, and defying societal norms. Brandon’s life verse is 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

Yvette Bean is a second-year board member. Yvette has a huge heart for youth and has been doing youth camps for many years. Yvette was a homeschool mom and is President/ owner of a reusable packaging company she and her husband started 30 years ago. Yvette has been married to her husband, Jonathan, for 33 years. She has 5 kids: Justin, Jared, Gabrielle, Joshua, and Jeremiah, and 3 grandchildren. Yvette and her husband live in Florida. Yvette's hobbies include mentoring/ coaching young women, tennis, training her dog, and puzzling. Yvette's life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Dr. Gary Gardner is a second-year board member. Gary was with us at our first Messiah Texas youth camp in 2015 and keeps coming back to serve. Gary earned a Bachelor's in Instrumental Music Ed from the University of Central Oklahoma while serving 4 years in the US Marine Reserve. He then took a Masters in Ed degree from Cameron University and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Trinity Seminary. He has been a teacher in private and public schools for over 30 years and is currently a teacher at Brook Hill School. Gary has been married to his wife, Kelli, since 1986. He has two adult sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and currently 2 grandchildren. Gary and his wife live in East Texas. Gary's hobbies include reading science fiction and participating in Cowboy Action Shooting each month, and he is still a very active musician playing jazz, classical, and religious music. Gary's life verse is Luke 2:1a "And it came to pass..." KJV

 Dr. Matt Nappier is one of our newest Board Members. Matt has been bringing a group of youth from Louisiana for the last few years to our youth camp and loves our organization. Matt earned a BA in Social Sciences from ULM, an MA in Biblical Studies from Amridge University, and a PhD in Old Testament from Amridge University. Matt retired from the Army after 22 years of service. Currently, he is employed as the Director of Strategic Assessment, Planning, and Initiatives at Louisiana Delta Community College. He is also an Adjunct Professor there teaching Old Testament Literature and New Testament Literature. Matt has been married to his wife, Melissa, since 2009. Matt is the pastor of two congregations, Lighthouse Messianic Fellowship and Lighthouse Baptist Church. He has 5 children, Moriyah, Mayah, Mikaylah, Malachi, and Michael. Matt and his family live in West Monroe, Louisiana. Matt’s hobbies include reading, he said, “I’m a foodie”, traveling, and kids’ sports. Matt’s life verse is Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”