CPI Leadership

Steven Shepard
President/Director

Steven is the founder of CPI. He served as a church-planting missionary in Mexicali, Mexico, a pastor in Toledo, OH, and is now the full-time president of CPI. Steven holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Studies from the University of Ohio. He and his wife, Christy, have six children and currently reside in Fort Mill, SC.

Casey Kidd
Director of Jungle Missions

Casey has served in jungle missions since 2013. He currently resides in Pucallpa, Peru, with his wife Giuly, where together they labor in church planting and leadership training among several Amazon jungle tribes. Casey has a BA in Biblical Studies from Union University with additional course work in church planting, animism, and pastoral ministry.

Matthew Shepard
Assistant Director

Matthew has served on numerous mission teams to both Mexico and Peru. He currently serves CPI’s national workers and assists in donor relations, social media, and other tasks at the home office. Matthew and his wife Amanda have two daughters and live in Indian Land, South Carolina..

Preston Smith
Administrative Support

Preston has a master’s degree in theology from Regent University and has worked for 20+ years in corporate marketing and public relations. He lives in Fort Mill, SC, with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.

Brian Navarette – Chairman

Brian is a pilot with Delta Airlines. He currently serves as a deacon at his church and has been on several missions trip to Peru with CPI. Brian and his wife, Kelly, have two children and reside in Toledo, OH.

Sarah Smith

Sarah serves as a full-time homeschool teacher and part-time birth doula. She has a certificate in missions from Elim Bible Institute and a master’s degree in theology from Regent University. She and her husband, Preston, live in Fort Mill, SC, with their three children.

Gary Ackerman

Gary is an agribusiness owner outside of Toledo, OH. He has studied music and Bible and has been a frequent participant of CPI missions trips to Tepic, Mexico. Gary lives in Oregon, OH, with his wife Carolyn and their three children.

Brad McCracken

Brad serves as the treasurer of the Eastwood Local School District. He and his wife, Bev, have been on several missions trips with CPI, and they reside in Perrysburg township, OH.

Tom Hopkins

Tom Hopkins and his first wife, Connie (who passed away in 2012), and their two children, Seth and Marcie, served in Peru for three years as missionaries with Food for the Hungry. Since that time, Tom has worked as an Agricultural Extension Agent for Ohio State University, as a 4-H Youth Development Educator, and has served with CPI working with tribal groups and with short-term mission teams. Tom has a Masters Degree in Agriculture and resides in West Springfield, PA. Tom remarried in 2017 and lives in Ohio with his wife, Barbara.

Tom Fox

Tom Fox has served as a long-term missionary in eastern Europe with the International Mission Board, and currently serves as a pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Jackson, Tennessee. He received a BS in Biblical Studies from Mississippi College and a MDiv in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Tom and his wife, Tammy, have two children.