About Us
This page tells more about the stories of our founders and
others in ministry leadership positions within TLOTN.
More About Our Founders
Here is a little more about the Okoth’s, our founders and senior leaders in The Light of the Nations International Ministries.
Jared Okoth was born in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa in 1956. He and his family were brought up in the Anglican Church in Nairobi, Kenya. Jared accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in 1980 during a time he was searching for the Truth. He had an encounter with our Heavenly Father one day leaving the Moonies camp, (Sun Myung Moon), he cried out “Lord Jesus, if You are real, reveal Yourself to me”, at that moment he felt a hand touch his shoulder and he fell to the ground. When he picked himself up from the ground, he immediately ran to the church to inquire about what had just happened to him. The Pastor explained to him that he had experienced the hand of God upon him, “you have been accepted by Jesus Christ” the Pastor said. From that day until now, Jared has been fulfilling the Great Commission; preaching, teaching, and evangelizing the nations.
In 1982, he started planting churches among the Mji Kenda, (nine tribes) of the coastal region of Mombasa, Kenya.
In 1984, he worked with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Mombasa, leading discipleship outreaches with DTS (Discipleship Training Students), helping with pioneering YWAM bases in East Africa.
From 1974-1985 Jared completed an (Associates Degree) in Public Relations at Education and Development Institute of Nairobi; Youth For Christ- (certificate) of Graduation And Service for Street Ministry and Evangelism to orphaned and homeless children; Child Evangelism Fellowship- (diploma) Youth Ministry; YWAM- (diploma) Leadership, Evangelism, Missions, and Discipleship Training.
In 1988, God called Jared to the USA as a missionary. He has both pastored and spearheaded many evangelistic open-air crusades. His passion for missions has caused him to reach unreached people groups wherever he ministers.
His education background in the US is from 1988 – 1998, he completed a (Bachelor of Science) in Public Speaking & Leadership in Biblical Studies, Crichton College; (diploma) Expository Biblical Preaching, Dr. Steven Olford’s Institution of Biblical Preaching; (MDIV), Memphis Theological Seminary.
From 2001-2004, Jared was appointed by the Mayor of Memphis, Tn. to lead the Office of Multicultural Religious Affairs as the Public Relations chairman. This office was started after Jared shared with the Mayor the vision God gave him for the city of Memphis. He saw a diversified city, and through his ministry he prepared the city of Memphis to embrace diversity. The mayor was so moved that he gave Jared the key to the city of Memphis, making him an official citizen of the city of Memphis. During his four-year tenure as Public Relations Chairman, Jared was responsible for all the press releases and appearing on the local TV stations for interviews on behalf of the city of Memphis.
Jared also led an inner-city ministry in Le Moyne Gardens, a housing project in Memphis, and witnessed the Lord to this community and transformed it, and planted the first inner-city church there.
In 2004 Jared took a Pastorate and ministered up North in Ossineke, Alpena, Rogers City and Posen, cities in Michigan.
After serving the Lord for eight years up North, the Lord called Jared back to Memphis to be Minister of Evangelism/ Outreach and prayer coordinator at Cummings Street Baptist Church. Also, he worked as an instructor at Memphis Bible Institute under Dr. Dwight Guinn, a partner in missions.
He started the work in Orange Mound in 2014, planting the Landmark Urban Outreach Center. Mike and Karen Minnis knew him from Cummings Street BC and asked him to come help with the spiritual aspect of Landmark Development Company and Farming. As it was being established Jared was working his way out of this plant, heading to start the Organic Church movement in Jackson, Tn., The Light Of The Nations Intl. Ministries. This is where he is today, with his wife Angela, whom he met in the establishing of the Urban Outreach Center in Orange Mound, Tn. The Lord revealed to him that Angela would be his wife, and after 2 years they joined in holy matrimony in January 2016. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9.
Angela Johnson-Okoth, born in 1963 in Memphis ,Tn., raised by her God fearing parents, John & Estella Johnson, she is the 10th child of 10 children. Her childhood consisted of attending worship services, family fun filled gatherings, school, friends play time, singing and, arts and crafts Her family would always hear her singing and making up songs around the house with one of her sisters. Singing and acting was her passion as a young girl, always dreaming of being on Broadway. She was in the Junior High School band, played trumpet, High School Choir, and in College she was in the choir.
Angela attended Le Moyne-Owen College 1981-1982 , Concorde Career College 1982-1984, Nursing Assistance Certificate, Southwest Tennessee Community College 1996, Computer Operations Class. Worked for The Sawmill Restaurant as a hostess 1983-1987, United Parcel Service 1987 -2015, retired from UPS in 2015.
In 2001, Angela was gloriously saved at a revival service in Houston, TX. In 2003 she went on outreach evangelistic campaigns with a ministry team in Memphis, Tn. until 2006. From 2007 until 2012, she ministered singing in many ladies conferences around the Tennessee area, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Houston ,Tx. April 2015 she went on a mission trip to Santa Barbara, Guatemala, singing songs of worship from a production of music she wrote in 2010. In March 2016 she went on her second mission trip to La Ceiba, Honduras, ministering in songs of worship from more music she wrote and produced with two music producers.
In June 2014 she met her husband Jared Okoth at an art museum in downtown Memphis. This was when her calling was fully revealed by Holy Spirit to her. Jared had planted a Spiritual Outreach Center in Orange Mound, Tn. and needed workers to come on board to help with leadership and facilitating, she and her sister joined the leadership team and helped open the Center. The work took off and was established, along with a new work beginning in Jackson, Tn. In September 2015. By January 2016 the union of Jared & Angela was formed, two were made into one. In 2017, The Light Of The Nations International Ministries, founded by Jared , was spearheaded in Jackson, Tn. , which is the ministry they both are leading by Holy Spirit to bring Kingdom concepts to the ethnos in an organic setting, (house gatherings), as the book of Acts exemplifies. “Acts 2:46-47, And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.” “ Acts 5:42, And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
Our Ministry Council
We are very grateful for the faithful service of those who faithfully serve on our ministry council. Here is a listing of those people.
Dr. Maria Osso
Chair Person
(pictured w/ husband Nunzio)
Tommy & Debbie Haines
Debbie – Treasurer
Tommy – Council Member
Rev. Corey & Kate Cummings
Corey – Secretary
Kate – Council Member
Tina Herron
Council Member
Dr. Luna Bennett
Council Member
Professor – Union University
Kathy Pilkington
Council Member
Matt & Emily Perry
Council Members
The Calling of the 21st Century
On the morning of September 11, 2001, America and the rest of the world woke up to a blind date with the devil! The war on terror caused shifts in political alliances as well as socioeconomic upheavals in all parts of the world, and particularly in Africa and Asia. This has resulted in an unprecedented impact on the way we do missions.
The question we all must face is, “How do we complete the task of world evangelization, in an increasingly dangerous world, with ever diminishing resources?” There really is no simple answer, but we must: