• Over 800 families in need are given a wheelbarrow full of food each month.
• Food items are also provided to other 501(c)(3) public charities in Wilson and surrounding counties in TN.
• Well over one million pounds of food items are distributed to the needy each year.
• We are an approved distributor of USDA commodities.
• We work with organizations such as United Way, Second Harvest Food Bank, Operation Blessing, Feed America First, Feed the Children, and Midwest Food Bank, just to name a few.
• We also consult with local businesses, churches, and government officials to ensure we serve the community effectively.
• We are the primary program and registered dba of Love One Another Embassy, Inc., an approved IRS tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity, allowing us to receive tax deductible contributions.
• We are registered with the TN Department of Charitable Solicitations.
• We are independently audited and our 990 tax returns are publicly available at Guidestar.org.
• We keep our administrative costs very low. Historically, 95% of our expenditures were for our core programs, while only 5% went to administrative costs.
• We are a faith-based initiative and offer prayer and spiritual counseling for those who wish it.

Bob and Peggy Evans founded Love One Another Embassy, Inc. (LOAE) in 1996 as a faith-based 501(c)(3) ministry. While much of their original focus was on international missions and feeding people physical and spiritual food in countries around the world, it wasn’t until 1999 that the Joseph’s Storehouse Food Ministry (a dba of LOAE and its primary program) came into its own. Brother Bob & Sister Peggy had been feeding the local community for years as pastors of their church, and they came to realize the great need for an ongoing feeding program in Wilson County. So in 1999, Bob & Peggy bought groceries for the first of what was to become regular monthly food distributions.

What began with the Founders and two volunteers distributing 22 small boxes of food one Saturday all those years ago has now grown into over 600 big yellow wheelbarrows full of food each month and over 100 volunteers. Growing pains have resulted in the building expanding several times over the years, including the building of an additional warehouse in Spring 2014.

Due to his deteriorating health, Bob retired in early 2017, before passing away in March of 2018.  Peggy took the helm in 2017 until her retirement in June of 2020 when the board elected their son-in-law, Benny Nolen, as the new Executive Director.   

We are forever thankful for their obedience to God's call to feed people, physically and spiritually. 

“Inasmuch as you have done unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me.” 
~Matthew 25:40

Officers:

Benny Nolen,  President –

 

Benny Nolen is the President and Executive Director of Love One Another Embassy and Joseph’s Storehouse Food Ministry.  He assumed both roles in July 2020.  Even before assuming his current role in the organization, Benny has been associated with the work since its inception over 20 years ago.  The ministry was birthed by his mother and father in-law, Bro. Bob and Sister Peggy Evans.  He, along with his wife, Lisa, who serves as Office Manager, are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the ministry.

 

Before assuming his present role, Benny spent over 30 years employed in healthcare.  He held local, regional, and corporate level positions in several southeastern states.  His last 20 years were in senior level hospital positions in Kentucky.  He held the position of President & CEO at three (3) hospitals in Eastern and Western Kentucky the last eight (8) of those years.

 

Benny received a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University in Nashville and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. He and his wife, Lisa, have two married children and five grandsons.

 

Chip Smith Vice, President–

 

Chip is a Lebanon native. He and his wife, Jan, have 5 children. Together they owned and operated Rose Tire & Service with locations in Lebanon and Cookeville until they sold to Bridgestone in 2017. Chip currently works as a real estate agent with Agee & Johnson Realty as well as being a regular volunteer at Joseph's Storehouse.

 

Chris Johnson, Secretary –

 

Chris is an accountant and nonprofit consultant with an accounting degree from Middle Tennessee State University, and has provided accounting, bookkeeping and consulting services for clients all over the country for over two decades.  Her company, Johnson's Bookkeeping, specializes in nonprofit accounting and compliance. Chris has been with Joseph's Storehouse since the first 22 boxes were given away over 20 years ago.  She and her husband, Kevin (who built the JSFM offices and served as the first JSFM warehouse manager), were blessed with two sons, who also served in the ministry as teenagers.   In addition to serving as Secretary of the Board, Chris is the accountant for the ministry. 

 

Tom Boyd, Treasurer-

 

Tom is an investment advisor representative with Decker Wealth Management where he's been since retiring from a 40-plus year career as Senior Vice President of Bank of America in 2014. A Middle Tennessee State University graduate, Tom went on to receive his MBA from the University of Tennessee as well as his Certificate of Financial Planning from Florida State University.  While working in the banking industry for decades, Tom also served numerous positions in his local church as well as other colleges and nonprofit organizations in the community.  He and his wife, Martha, have spent a lifetime serving their community, including many years volunteering with Joseph's Storehouse. Tom was elected as Treasurer of the Board in 2021. 

Members at Large

 

J.B. Copeland-

 

J.B. is a Nashville native with a degree in Aerospace, Aviation Management and Business from Middle Tennessee State University. He is the longtime business manager for the CDB organization (Charlie Daniels Band).  J.B. is also a charter member of Victory Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet, TN and served as the church treasurer and on the finance committee for many years.  He has been a faithful volunteer and prayer partner with Josephs Storehouse since 2007. 

 

Robin Hardin –

 

Robin is an ordained minister and missionary to the nations. She possesses a divine understanding of dreams and visions. Her television program, “Dream Catcher” has aired on WHTN TV since 2014. In addition to Joseph’s Storehouse, Robin serves on the Board of Elders for Love’s Way Church, serves as Treasurer for SMASH “Sudden Awakening Hour”, and is the Human Rights Committee Chairperson for Evergreen Ministries.  She and her husband, Gary (our resident computer guru), have been faithful volunteers at Joseph's Storehouse for many, many years now. Robin is our Ministry Director and coordinates ministry guests and prayer partners. 

 

Johan McGregor- 

 

Pastor Johan is the senior pastor of Love’s Way Church in Lebanon. He is originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, and has been ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ for over 35 years in many nations of the world. He is also an international recording artist, author, and Life Coach. Pastor Johan has a deep passion to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  He has a heart for missions, feeding the poor and needy, and supporting orphanages in South Africa, Swaziland, and Haiti. He and his wife, Elize, have five sons, one daughter, and seven grandchildren.  Pastor Johan, his family and his congregation have been faithful volunteers with Joseph’s Storehouse for many years now.