Our Team

Simon Gounder is the Executive Director of Global AIM and is devoted to reaching Asian Indians with the love of Christ. He is a highly sought-after guest speaker on missions, revival, and outreach. Simon has been a lead pastor both in his homeland of Fiji and the United States. Simon is also an Intercultural Executive Presbyter for the So Cal Network, serves on the National US Missions Board of the Assemblies of God.

Simon is a rare combination of pastor and evangelist. Simon is passionate about saving the lost and is dedicated to helping others grow in their relationship with their Savior through prayer and personal coaching. He has created Indian fellowships in several cities in the United States, including California, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Simon lives with his wife, Anjana Gounder, in Orange County, California. They both
are ordained ministers of the Assemblies of God. His son Sylvanas Gounder is the
Finance Manager at SoCal Network AG and his daughter-in-law is a ER Nurse at
HOAG Hospital, Newport Beach.

 

Anjana Gounder is a native of the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific. A former Hindu, Anjana accepted the call of Jesus in her life when she was a teenager. Anjana was a school teacher for 15 years before she began ministry with her husband Simon in Fiji. In 2002 the Lord called Anjana and her husband to the United States. They are both now US Missionaries with the Assemblies of God in Southern California

Anjana is an ordained minister and was the first Asian Indian woman to be ordained by the Assemblies of God in the United States. She co-founded and is an executive board member of Global AIM. She has also served as the Finance Manager of Southern California AG.

Anjana’s life is a miracle. She is a three-time cancer survivor and is an example of God’s grace and mercy. Her faith in the Lord is evident through her uplifting smile and incredible strength during medical challenges. Anjana has a passion for reaching and saving the lost and is dedicated to helping others grow in their faith through genuine encouragement and strengthening through teaching God’s word.
Anjana lives in Orange County with her husband, friend, and teammate Simon. She enjoys reading devotional books, participating in women’s ministries, cooking, and spending time with her family.

 

Dave Freeman is Chief of Current Operations and SUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial Systems) Instructor for Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB in the Mojave Desert. Dave has served several terms as Deacon on his church Board, participated in a pastoral search committee, taught Sunday school classes, hosted small groups, and has even pinch-hit for the pastor delivering the message on Sunday morning.

Dave has a heart for missions and is passionate about studying God’s Word.
Dave has been involved with Global AIM since 2009, when he and his wife Shelly first met the Gounders. He has served in various support and advisory capacities, including Advisory Board member, outreach efforts, leadership development, and overseas trips.
Dave is an avid golfer and all-around sports fan. He “grew up with a baseball glove on his hand” and still enjoys playing on a men’s city league softball team.

Dave resides in Lancaster, California, with his wife Shelly and their three daughters, Madison, Meghan, and Melody. He is attending Journey Church, where he enjoys serving as an usher for the greeter’s ministry and cameraman for Tech Crew.

 

Pastor Charles “Chuck” Atherton is the retired Pastor of Tulare First Assembly of God Church in Tulare, CA. He pastored Lakewood Life Center for 28years before that. He has been ordained with the Assemblies of God since 1975

He has been married to Ruth (a licensed minister) for 47 years. They have three sons, all involved in church ministries. Chuck and Ruth are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren. Pastor Chuck has served the Southern California District Council of the Assemblies of God as an Executive Presbyter, General Council Presbyter Pastor for Southern California, a member of the Board of Vanguard University, and the chair of various committees and specialized teams.

“Building people to build people” is Pastor Chuck’s heart and vision for ministry. Not only is he a committed student of the word of God, but also is a gifted communicator of its truths, with practical application for our lives today..

 

Dennis is the Lead Pastor at Bethany Church in Alhambra, California. He has also served as a pastor in Lomita, CA, Granada Hills, CA, and Artesia, CA.

He is ordained with the Assemblies of God and a graduate of Vanguard University. Born in Texas, and raised in Las Vegas, NV, most of his ministry has been in Southern California.

He’s been happily married to his wife Connie for over 33 years, has three children, two of which are serving in pastoral ministry, and at present count, four amazing grandchildren. While his ministry focuses primarily on discipleship, worship, and vision administration, he is a pastor with a great heart for missions.

Founder and director of Leadership Development Ministries, a coaching and leadership training ministry based in San Juan Capistrano, California. In thirty-two years of full-time ministry, he has served in various ministry positions, including youth pastor, lead pastor, consultant, and missionary. Ben has provided leadership training in 37 countries. He is inspired by the words spoken of the Old Testament patriarch, Job, of whom it was said, “Your words have put men on their feet.” (Job 4:4). Through his coaching, training, and writing, Ben strives to help men and women persevere and remain engaged in effective ministry.

 

“Pearl, the Executive Administrator at Global AIM, is a creative and passionate individual who found her calling in ministry after a transformative encounter with God at 21. Despite being steered towards engineering by her traditional upbringing, Pearl followed her heart, eventually transitioning to ministry work alongside her husband, Anish Raja, an Evangelist.

Pearl’s journey has been marked by diverse experiences, from serving as a Sunday School teacher and teen leader to working as a life skills trainer in schools across India. These experiences have shaped her into a dedicated content writer, teen counselor, and youth leader, driven by a mission to empower others and cultivate a God-loving life.

With a focus on leadership and self-discovery, Pearl inspires others to realize their worth and embrace their unique paths. Through her storytelling and preaching, she strives to make a positive impact and leave a lasting legacy of love and empowerment.”

Dave and Chris were married in 1973. They have three sons; John, James, and Jason. John and his wife, Kim, made their home in Paradise, California, and are now resettling in Chico.
James and his wife, Jacqueline, live in Alhambra and are worship and youth pastors of Bethany Church of Alhambra. Jason and his wife Jackie live in Bakersfield. Jason is a missionary associate with Assemblies of God U.S. Missions and works with the Global AIM Friendship and Resource Center in Bakersfield.

Dave and Chris have more than 40 years of ministerial experience. They’ve served as youth pastors at Bethel Christian Center in Fresno, youth and associate pastor at Pacific Coast Community Church of Huntington Beach, and youth pastor at Full Gospel Church of King City.
Dave and Chris have also served for seven years as pastor of Full Gospel Church, 11 years as pastor of Skyway Assembly of God in Paradise, California, and three years as the pastor of the Country Church of Centerville, and pastor of New Life Assembly of God in Wofford Heights for ten years. Dave retired from pastoral ministry in 2015 but has actively engaged in ministry as Outreach Director for Global AIM.

 

Randy is an ordained Assemblies of God minister who has pastoral experience. Also, Randy is a certified school teacher in the state of California. He taught adult education in public elementary schools and the state prison system. Randy earned his bachelor’s degree from Bethany Bible College and a master’s degree from National University. Randy earned a Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development Certificate (CLAD). Randy developed the basic Global AIM ESL material while teaching ESL in the prison system for fifteen years. The Global AIM ESL material is based upon ESL theory and the practical application of teaching the material in the daily routine of the classroom with adult students who were in the process of learning to communicate in English, both spoken and written.

 

Zorina, a fourth-generation Indian, was born on the Island of Trinidad and Tobago into a diverse family where her parents were from different religions.
Zorina was seeking peace and the truth about God when she came across Joyce Meyer’s testimony and received the Lord through one of Joyce’s TV programs. Tony has been involved in reaching out to families and children for the past 25 years.
Tony and Zorina have been married for the past three years and have an intense desire to reach the Asian Indian community in Wisconsin with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

“Ancy, a devoted servant of God, carries forward the legacy of love and service established by her late husband, Midhun. Born and raised in the picturesque state of Kerala, India, often referred to as ‘God’s own country,’ Ancy and Midhun embraced the love of Jesus during their teenage years, setting the foundation for their lifelong commitment to spreading God’s love to all nations.

Professionally educated and experienced in engineering backgrounds, Ancy and Midhun dedicated their talents and passions to serving with Global AIM since 2013. Together, they embarked on evangelical ministries and provided invaluable technical media and engineering support, leaving a profound impact on communities they touched.

Following Midhun’s recent passing, Ancy courageously steps into the forefront, continuing their shared mission with unwavering faith and determination. Guided by God’s call to ‘Love one another,’ Ancy carries on the work they started, extending compassion, care, and hope to families and communities in Vista and beyond.

With a heart overflowing with love and a spirit fueled by faith, Ancy remains steadfast in her commitment to serving God and sharing His love with the world. Her journey exemplifies resilience, strength, and unwavering devotion to God’s purpose, inspiring all who cross her path.”

Chacko and Alice Thomas are recent immigrants to the US from India. They came to the US seeking employment and a better life. Upon relocating to Bakersfield to live with family, Chacko was introduced to Simon Gounder, and a friendship quickly ensued. Chacko was also a pastor in India.Chacko’s desire to continue ministry in America. The connection with Simon was no coincidence! Chacko became involved with Global AIM at the Friendship Center in Bakersfield, first helping with interpreting in Hindi for the ESL students and later starting his own fellowship group. The fellowship group has grown to become Grace Global Church, a Global AIM Church Plant.Chacko and Alice have two children, Nancy and Joshua. Nancy is enrolled in college and Joshua is in high school. Both children serve at Grace Global Church as worship leaders in Hindi and English.

 

Shellini was born in the Fiji Islands and moved to Turlock, CA, in 1980. She has been married for 29 years to Sandeep Singh and has a daughter and a granddaughter. She was born into a Sikh family and had an arranged marriage to a Hindu man. It was after her marriage she found Jesus as her personal Savior. And about sixteen and a half years later, her husband accepted Christ as his savior too. She has been in several positions in the church – Children’s Director, Sunday School teacher, greeter, and even janitorial. She was willing to do anything to serve God and to give Him the glory.

Currently, She is pursuing her School of Ministry with SoCal School of Ministry. She has always been known as a young believer and called for God’s ministry to serve others. She loves her community and is passionate about bringing people together to show others the love and compassion of Christ through her hospitality. Her heart is to see Asian Indians find Jesus through the gospel of Christ and to set them free from religious bondage.

When she is not involved in the ministry, she takes care of her farm, animals, and garden, do the cooking, art, camping, traveling, kayaking, and spends time with her family, especially with her new granddaughter.