Martin Melone
Executive Director
Martin Melone is the Executive Director of Mindanao Blessings International. He brings with him experience in leading both public and private sector enterprises for over 35 years. Mr. Melone has worked in the federal government for 15 years, and previously in the private sector for 23 years as an engineer, manager, consultant, and change agent. His love for the Lord, his wife-the Founder of MBI, and children, led him to take on this important role in the ministry. He is thankful to the Lord for providing this opportunity to serve in His Kingdom. Martin and his wife Vangie reside in Arlington, Virginia.
Evangeline Tare Melone founded Mindanao Blessing International in 1995 with the help of family and friends. As a young child, Evangeline watched her mother help poor families with young children by giving them food and clothing. Her first “balikbayan” (home visit) to the Philippines where she saw young children scouring the dumps for food and begging on the streets broke her heart and compelled her to do something about it. She desired to make a lasting and life-changing impact to bless the youth in Mindanao. Evangeline is passionate about her love for God and considers it a privilege and honor to serve the children together with her husband.
Rebekah Sipe
Social Media
Creative Director
James & Cecille Cagaanan
Field Directors
James and Cecillle Cagaanan are a busy couple. They are the founders and pastors of New Life Assembly of God Church in Ozamiz City and have been operating missions on the ground for MBI in Mindanao, Philippines since its founding in 1995. Besides their responsibilities in a growing church, James and Cecille, with the help of team members, oversee the daily needs of the children who are under the care of MBI. They have two children, Jason 17, and Jace, 14 who are helping serve both MBI and the church. James and Cecille’s love of the Lord and their deep commitment to the community enables MBI to fulfill its mission to lift the poor, change lives and make a difference.
Rebekah loves to connect people. She believes finding common ground and rallying around a mission with others is an essential part of living a full life (and using a little creativity to do so makes it all the more fun). Having visited Mindanao herself three times, she has seen the need first hand and is excited to take part in bringing holistic nourishment --mind, body, and soul-- to the Philippines. Her goal is to increase awareness and extend to others the opportunity to participate in this hope-giving cause.
Rachel enjoys meaningful work, and over the years has gained experience volunteering for various organizations that assist those in need. Rachel is a Virginia Beach native and a graduate of Regent University, with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Strategic Communication. Like hert sister Rebekah, Rachel has visited the Philippines three times and caught the vision of helping the poor. She was one of the MBI team members who made a trip to Tacloban, Philippines in December 2013 to bring relief to typhoon Haiyan disaster victims. Rachel is married to Eric Alexander Smith.
Rachel Smith
Editor in Chief
The MBI Team
