Board Members, Staff, & Volunteers

Dr. Tim Gunnells

Board Member and President

Tim Gunnells is a preacher and a college professor and a happily married father of 4 children. He is in a daily battle with Psoriatic Arthritis in addition to other chronic health problems. He is glad to help support others in their battles with chronic pain and illness through the ministry of Broken and Mended. Tim became president in 2025 when David stepped down to become the executive director.

Dr. RaeDeen Keahiolalo

Board Member and Vice President

RaeDeen is a charter board member for Broken and Mended, who served in that role between 2021 and 2024. She returned to the board in 2026 and now serves as Vice President.

Gary Kennedy

Board Member and Secretary

Gary lives in Kyle TX with his wife Cindy and two children. He worked in music education prior to being diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Now he occupies his time as a self-employed stay-at-home dad.

Randy Dewald

Board Member and Treasurer

Randy is married to Rita and has three grown children. Randy began serving on the Board of Directors and as treasurer in the Spring of 2024. He’s been the long-time treasurer for the Woodward Church of Christ where Broken and Mended was originally founded. Randy had a long career in banking and finances.

Jim Dowell

Board Member

Jim has been around chronic illness and suffering from a young age. Jim’s mother, Wilnetta, suffered from numerous chronic diseases that steadily progressed and caused increasing pain for decades. Jim has experienced the impact of such chronic conditions on all involved, including family members. Jim’s mother was one of the first participants in Broken and Mended.

Jim is an attorney in Oklahoma. He enjoys traveling, any type of outdoor adventure, and is grateful to be a part of the great work of Broken and Mended.

Esther Smith (LCPC)

Board Member and Content Creator

Esther joined the Broken and Mended board of directors in March of 2024. She has long been acquainted with the ministry and wants to help the ministry expand its reach through content creation and group leader training. Here’s Esther’s bio from her counseling practice:

“As a licensed and Christian counselor, I offer online counseling to people living in Maryland through my counseling practice, Christian Trauma Counseling. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and hold a certificate from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. I specialize in counseling adults and older teens who feel stuck in experiences of trauma, anxiety, and physical illness.”

Glenn Newton

Board Member and Fundraising Strategist

Glenn Newton is a professional fundraiser and volunteers his time to Broken and Mended as a board member and fundraising strategist. He began serving in this capacity in 2024. He is married to Regina since 1991 and has been preaching for 33 years. He is currently in remission from Trigeminal Neuralgia, which contributed to his willingness to serve on the board.

Dr. Jeffrey Brothers

Board Member

Jeffrey joined the Broken and Mended board in 2025. He is Assistant Professor of Counseling at Heritage Christian University and an LPC.

David Heflin — Staff

Founder, Former President of the Board, and current Executive Director

David Heflin is the founder and executive director of Broken and Mended. He is married to Katie and has three kids. David was a preacher for over 20 years until he stepped down to focus on being the full-time executive director for Broken and Mended. He founded Broken and Mended in 2018 after being inspired by his own battle with chronic pain to connect other hurting people to Jesus and each other. David has a B.A. in Bible from Oklahoma Christian University and a Master of Arts in Religion from Azusa Pacific University. He resides in Woodward, OK.

Andrés Ruiz — Staff

International Operations and Project Coordinator

Andrés Ruiz is happily married to Fabi, his college sweetheart, and they have a 14-year-old son named Nico. He worked as an Industrial Engineer for more than 16 years, when he began battling an autoimmune condition, in addition to Fibromyalgia and Anxiety. He and his wife are members of Community Baptist Church, Elmendorf, TX (cbcweb.net), and he is pursuing an MDiv. at Grace Bible Theological Seminary, Conway, AR. (gbtseminary.org). He is also active on 𝕏 (@aeruizvera). In February of 2025, Andrés became Broken and Mended’s second vice president. Andrés and his family live in Punta Arenas, Patagonia, Chile.

Mistie Dunn — Staff

Operations and Administrative Assistant

I have lived in Woodward, Oklahoma, my entire life and have always attended church at the Woodward Church of Christ.  I have been married to my husband Gene for 30 years.  We have been blessed with 2 children, Emilie and Evan.  My daughter Emilie is 26 years old.  She is married to Zach and works at Boeing.  My son Evan is 21 and attends college at Oklahoma State University.  He is married to Leslie.

Katie Heflin — Volunteer

East Africa Coordinator

Katie works alongside David in life as well as with Broken and Mended. She grew up in Kenya in a missionary family. She is the coordinator for all East African groups except in Kenya.

Bethany Honaker — Volunteer

Kenya Group Developer

Bethany Honaker, a volunteer with Broken and Mended, is married with three children.  She works full time as a nurse case manager.  She lived in Nairobi, Kenya as a teenager while her parents served as missionaries with SIL.  She attended West Nairobi Chapel and graduated from West Nairobi School.  She has been a chronic disease warrior since she was a child, living with Hypermobile Ehler-Danlos Syndrome along with many other related chronic health issues and chronic pain.  She has been a Christian since she was a small child and without a doubt her faith is what sustains her during difficult days of pain and disability.

Michelle LaVigueur — Volunteer

Africa Sponsorship Coordinator

Michelle LaVigueur, a volunteer with Broken and Mended, has lived with chronic pain over the years, but has always been able to hold a FT job, take classes, have a social life, and raise her son in the Lord. Everything changed in 2023 when autoimmune diseases that had lain dormant in her body were activated by an environmental toxin, causing an internal explosion. She found Broken and Mended while searching to connect with others in the body of Christ, walking through similar challenges, and was quickly drawn to the Broken and Mended groups in Africa, as the Lord has always placed Acts 1:8 heavily on her heart throughout her Christian walk. 

Michelle and her son Jordan live in San Diego, CA. He is her biggest cheerleader, stating, “You spent your life pouring into me. Of course, I am going to do the same for you.” Her heart is full. She has an BA in Sociology and a MS in Psychology.

Karlie Clee — Volunteer

Social Media Coordinator

Hi, I am Karlie. I was born and raised in Canada, but we have been American residents for 4.5 years. We live North of Nashville in White House, TN. I live with my husband and two sons. I am a volunteer for Broken and Mended. I run the Instagram account and co-host Zoom meetings with David when needed. Broken and Mended is such a great organization to volunteer for!