Lon Fendall brings to Empowering Services a blend of academic, administrative and political expertise. Prepared as a historian, Lon was a staff member for a U.S. Senator for ten years. He returned to academia as a faculty member with a keen interest in peace studies. He not only founded a college peace center, but he has led or participated in peace education internationally--Northern Ireland, Haiti, the Philippines, Kenya, Burundi. He has been an academic dean in three private colleges. He is versatile as a teacher, speaker, writer, administrator, and consultant.

Lon and Raelene were appointed as GOOD NEWS ASSOCIATES in April 2000. Soon after that they moved back to the Fendall family farm, Heritage Hill, near Newberg, Oregon. This was a real homecoming inasmuch as the farm has been in the family since the 1840's. They enjoy having their Good News offices in this special place.

Lon attended Newberg schools where he was a student leader and state officer in the Future Farmers of America. He received his B.A. from George Fox University (then George Fox College), did graduate work at the University of Ghana on a Rotary International Fellowship, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Oregon.

Lon was a staff member of Newberg Friends Church, an instructor and peace studies director at George Fox University, Legislative Director and Campaign Manager for US Senator Mark Hatfield, Assistant Northwest Director for World Vision, Dean of the Faculty at Wilmington College, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Tabor College, and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at George Fox University. Lon is now the Director of the Center for Peace and Justice and the Center for Global Studies at George Fox University.

Lon and Raelene met at George Fox University and were married after Raelene's first year of teaching and Lon's studies at the University of Ghana. Raelene's roots are in southwestern Idaho, where she graduated from Greenleaf Friends Academy. She was a school librarian in Coos Bay, West Linn and Newberg, Oregon, as well as Wilmington, Ohio. She then served as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Tabor College. When they returned to Newberg, she helped start George Fox University's training program for school library media specialists.

Lon and Raelene have two grown children and five grandchildren. They all live nearby and attend church together.