About

Our Team

Brock Heard

Mission Director - Canadian Office

Brock Heard serves as the Mission Director of the Arms of Jesus Children's Mission, overseeing operations in Guatemala, Haiti, and Kenya. Grandson of Arms of Jesus Founder Dr. Sam Martin, Brock’s journey into mission work was solidified after a life-changing trip to Guatemala, where he witnessed the transformative impact of faith and servantry. 


Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a soon-to-be-completed Master's in Business Management, Brock combines strategic leadership with a heart for ministry. He is dedicated to empowering communities through education, spiritual growth, and sharing the hope of the Gospel with those in need.

Tracy Savage

Donation & Team Coordinator

Tracy Savage is the Donations and Team Coordinator, bringing over 20 years of dedicated service to the mission since joining in 2005. With a strong background in administration, IT, and servant leadership, Tracy plays a vital role in ensuring smooth operations and impactful outreach.


Passionate about hands-on ministry, Tracy has participated in over 10 mission trips across Colombia, St. Lucia, Jamaica, South Africa, Barbados, and Guatemala, witnessing firsthand the power of transformation in communities. What fuels Tracy’s heart for ministry the most is the opportunity to help break the cycle of poverty, bringing hope and lasting change to children and families in need.

Mario Alejandro Cuellar Vasquez

Field Director - Guatemala

Mario Alejandro Cuellar Vásquez is the Field Director of The Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission in Guatemala. With a background in Public Accounting and Auditing, Mario first joined the ministry in 2011 as an accounting assistant. After gaining experience in teaching, business management, and social aid organizations, he returned to AOJ in 2020 as Financial Director and became Field Director and Legal Representative in 2024.



Mario is passionate about serving children and youth, promoting Christian education, and fostering strong interpersonal relationships within his team. Leading a group of over fifty dedicated staff members, he is committed to advancing God’s ministry and making a lasting impact in Guatemala.

Lisa Schrader 

Office Manager

Lisa Schrader serves as the Office Manager at the Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission. Growing up in Liberia with missionary parents and attending school on the Ivory Coast, Lisa’s upbringing instilled in her a deep understanding of cross-cultural ministry and compassion for others.



After spending years in the restaurant industry, including owning her own restaurant, Lisa felt the Lord’s unmistakable calling to mission work and never looked back. Her unique background and dedication to serving others make her an invaluable part of the mission’s work to bring hope and the Gospel to communities in need.

Wilson Maitre 

Field Director - Haiti

Wilson Maitre serves as the Field Director of the Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission in Haiti. Growing up in challenging circumstances, Wilson developed a deep passion for helping children and creating opportunities for their growth.


After studying at Jamaica Bible College, with the support of Dr. Sam Martin and Bayfair Baptist Church, Wilson returned to Haiti to begin his ministry. He started with a small feeding and teaching program for street children in Jacmel, which eventually grew into a thriving mission. In 1994, he launched the first kindergarten class in Cap-Rouge, bringing education and hope to the community.


Wilson is grateful for the vision and support of Dr. Sam Martin, whose commitment to missions has impacted countless families. Today, Wilson continues to lead efforts in Cap-Rouge, ensuring that children have access to education and spiritual guidance, fulfilling his dream of making a difference in the lives of the next generation.

Mission Statement

At Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission, we recognize the profound needs of children around the world and the love God has for them. Inspired by Jesus’s ministry to children, we are a Bible-based, evangelical organization committed to meeting their physical, emotional, material, and spiritual needs. Our mission is to:

Address the needs of children in developing and impoverished countries by supporting local churches and believers in their efforts to minister to them.

Provide opportunities for Christians worldwide to engage in meaningful support through prayer, financial contributions, and service.

Offer practical help, including food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, homes for the homeless, and healing for the sick.

Create opportunities for youth from North America to serve on mission trips, engaging in medical work, construction, relief, development, and evangelism.

We understand that many people have a deep desire to help children but may not know where to start. Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission exists to connect these compassionate hearts with meaningful ways to make a real difference in the lives of children worldwide.

What We Believe

The Bible to be the complete Word of God; that the sixty-six books, as originally written, comprising the Old and New Testament were inspired by the Spirit of God and therefore are entirely free from error; that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and the true basis of Christ

That there is One God, Creator of all, Holy Sovereign, Eternal existing in the three equal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In the absolute and essential deity of Jesus Christ, in His eternal existence in pre incarnate glory, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, triumphant resurrection, mediatory ministry and personal return.

In the absolute deity and personality of the Holy Spirit who convinces of sin, or righteousness and judgement; who regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ.

That Man was divinely created in the image of God; that he sinned, becoming guilty before God, resulting in total depravity, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death.

That Salvation is by the sovereign grace of God; that by the appointment of the father, Christ voluntarily suffered a vicarious, expiratory and propitiatory death; that justification is by faith alone in the all-sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Personal, Bodily and Glorious Return of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the Bodily Resurrection of the just and the unjust; in the blessedness of the redeemed and in the judgement and conscious punishment of the wicked.

That it is the responsibility of the Local Church to continue the task of World Evangelization and the responsibility of Each Believer to give themselves to the fulfilling the Great Commission.

History

The Story of the Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission

On Sunday, March 17, 1990, the congregation of Bayfair Baptist Church in Pickering, Ontario, gathered to hear from a team of adults who had just returned from a ministry project in Jamaica. They had spent time serving orphaned children, and their hearts were profoundly moved by the experience. One team member captured the collective emotion, saying, “Pastor, we can’t stop! We must go on; we must do more to help children. God has blessed us—we must do more.”

 

The team’s leader, Pastor Sam Martin (Arms of Jesus Founder), understood their burden deeply. This was the third team he had led to Jamaica, and he recognized the stirring of God’s call in their hearts. They were beginning to feel what he had felt for years: a deep compassion for children suffering in poverty and neglect.

 

Children are often the primary victims of disaster and poverty, vulnerable to malnutrition, poor health, and neglect. Pastor Martin believed they had the right to clean water, proper nutrition, and to hear the Gospel. After witnessing the suffering of children in Jamaica and later in Africa—many orphaned by AIDS—Pastor Martin felt the Holy Spirit urging him to take action.

The Mission is Born

Through prayer and wise counsel, Pastor Martin followed God’s leading to establish The Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission in October 1990. The Mission’s simple yet powerful goal was to bring children into the safety, security, and love of the Arms of Jesus. With approval from the Government of Canada, a Board of Directors in place, and the support of a growing community, the Mission quickly began its work.

Growth and Impact

By 1996, the Mission was expanding beyond Canada into the United States. Recognizing the need to better support its donors and projects, Pastor Martin worked to register the Mission in the U.S. In early 1997, the Mission secured non-profit status and established a base in Buffalo, New York, further strengthening its ability to serve children in need.

A Legacy of Love

What began as a calling has grown into a thriving ministry, reaching thousands of children around the world. The Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission continues to bring hope and love to the most vulnerable, ensuring they experience the safety, care, and Gospel message that inspired its founding. Through faith, dedication, and the grace of God, the Mission remains committed to transforming lives, one child at a time.

Mission in Kenya

The Arms of Jesus began its work in Kenya with a small but impactful sponsorship program, initially supporting just 9 orphans in the Mathare Valley of Nairobi. Over time, the Arms of Jesus reach expanded, and today, through partnerships with local organizations such as the Kariobangi Baptist Youth Center (KBYC) and Highridge Academy, we provide essential care, education, and support to hundreds of children in Greater Nairobi. These organizations manage the funds from AOJ, directing them toward children's homes, school sponsorship, and vocational training initiatives.

Quick Facts

CAPITAL
Nairobi
POPULATION
55.1 Million
LIFE EXPECTANCY
62.06 Years
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
English, Swahili
LOCATION
East Africa
AOJ Ministry
Since 1990

Dr. Sam Martin

Founder

Dr. Sam Martin went to be with the Lord on June 16th, 2024. The staff at the Arms of Jesus Children's Mission thank Dr. Sam for his lifelong service to God, impact on the countries of Guatemala, Haiti, and Kenya, and the wonderful memories. The staff at the Arms of Jesus are committed to continuing Dr. Sam's legacy. We miss him very much. 

Board of Directors

Lynn Lemon
Board Chair
Renaldo Heard
Treasurer
Dorreen Hayes
Secretary
Carlos Mejia
Director

Our Fund Usage Policy

We are dedicated to ensuring that all funds are allocated solely to board-approved programs and projects. Contributions designated for specific initiatives will be used as directed. In the event a project is completed or cannot proceed as determined by the board, any remaining funds will be redirected to address the most urgent needs.

As a member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities, we uphold the highest standards of transparency and responsible stewardship, honoring the generous support entrusted to us.
Share by: