REC of Florida State Board of Directors
Ralph Donohue– Spiritual Director
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Ralph and his wife, Judy, are the proud parents of five children, two biological daughters who are ordained ministers, and three adopted sons in various stages of redemption. They are also blessed with ten grandchildren ranging in age from 12 to 25. Ralph and Judy came to the Villages in 2007. In January, 2009, he became involved with this inmate-changing program called REC and all the wonderful Christ-centered people who came with it. Many of those same people are serving on this board. Shortly after that first REC weekend in the Sumter County Detention Center, he received another blessing by being hired by fellow board member Tom Moffitt as the jail Chaplain for that same facility.
Ralph, a former international sales person and subsequently an ordained minister with four units of CPE under his belt, is presently serving his third tour of duty as the Chaplain for the Sumter County Detention Center. He has also been serving as the Pastor of Coleman United Methodist Church since July, 2022 and previously served as the visitation Pastor for Community United Methodist Church and Wildwood United Methodist Church.
Ralph is excited about our re-entry into the jails post-Covid and looking forward to God using us all to continue doing His mighty work to change hearts and lives for His glory.
Cindy Hall - President/Executive Director
Cindy Hall took her Walk to Emmaus in 2008 and served on her first REC team shortly thereafter the same year. Since then, she has served on several teams in various capacities.
Prior to its closing, Cindy was an active member of the leadership team for her church and was instrumental in creating the guidebook, providing training for volunteers and promoting their HUGS (Hospitality, Ushering, Greeting, and Safety) Ministry.
She has a deep love of our Lord and with a career as an Administrative Assistant, offers her office and organizational skills to the REC Ministry to help bring the Good News to everyone.
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Chris Lackay - Treasurer
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Chris has spent 35 years in construction management and finance for commercial construction and land development. She was a former board member for a local municipality’s Regular Employees and Police Officer Pension Plans for 13 years. She has been an active volunteer with REC since 2008 on the outside wheat team and attended the first REC-Outside program in 2012.
She is actively involved in Bushnell First Church of God which hosts outside staging for weekends held at the Sumter County Jail and where she has been treasurer for over 15 years.
Kathy Yoakum - Secretary/Administrative
Kathy Yoakum was born in Rochester, New York, where her family still resides, and moved to Central Florida in 2004. She attended Bonaventure University and completed her Course of Study at the Chandler School of Theology at Emory University. Kathy, through her relationship with Jesus and active participation in substance abuse programs, is currently enjoying a life free of alcohol and drugs. Her passion for jail, prison, and transitional ministry comes from her understanding of the difficulties faced by those who struggle with addiction and incarceration from her own life experience. She believes that true life transformation for anyone may only happen through a relationship with Jesus. God has blessed her with a marriage to Bud Yoakum since 2013. This relationship began through working in the REC ministry.
Kathy is currently the pastor of Webster United Methodist Church and leads initiatives for their conference prison and jail ministries. She served for 11 years, until 2020, on the staff of New Covenant United Methodist Church as Outreach Coordinator and recently retired from the staff of North Lake Presbyterian Church as Office and Event Manager.
She also serves with several ministries that assist in addiction recovery, jail and prison ministry, as well as transitional programs for men and women leaving jail and prison. She is very excited about joining others in serving the imprisoned, sharing what a relationship with Jesus has meant in her life, and walking with others in theirs
Don Argus – Member at Large
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Don was born and raised in upstate New York, and after High School Joined the Marine Corp. After 20 years of service God brought Don to a small beach community in Virginia Beach where he was actively serving various leadership positions in a small church in the community. After 25 years there, God brought Don to the Villages where he presently serves at Lake Deaton United Methodist church.
Don went on the Walk To EMMAUS in 1993 and served on many teams in various leadership positions including on the Community Board in Virginia Beach. He first served on an REC Weekend soon after arriving in Florida and has been active ever since, presently serving as Central Florida Board President.
Joe Romero - Ministry Expansion
Joe was saved by grace in 2004 on his Walk to Emmaus (Aldersgate #106). Since then, Joe has been actively involved with Emmaus and has served on numerous teams. He has also been active in Kairos Prison Ministry since 2005 and Residents Encounter Christ since 2008. Joe has served in leadership positions within the three ministries and served as President of the Tampa Bay REC community.
Joe is both humbled and honored to be serving on the State Board and is looking forward to speaking with congregations, Sunday school classes, ministry gatherings, and others to bring awareness of this ministry and the opportunities for serving in our county jails.​
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