Dexton Shores
Director of Ministry Development for Mexico and Guatemala
Dexton Shores has been involved in border and Mexico missions since childhood, having grown up on the Texas/Mexco border. He served as a Hispanic church planter for 16 years, as a church planter strategist with associations in East Texas and San Antonio for eight years and as the director of River Ministry with the Baptist General Convention for eight years. He joined Buckner as Director of Ministry Development for Mexico and the Border in August 2007.
Favorite Quote: “It is not my ability, but my response to God's ability, that counts." Corrie ten Boom
Most enjoys… time with his grandson and family and going on mission trips.
Random fact: Married pastor's daughter while serving as youth minister and attending Baylor.
Jorge Zapata
Director of Border Colonia Program
Jorge Zapata served as a pastor in East Texas and the Rio Grande Valley for sixteen years before joining Buckner in December 2002 as a mission group coordinator when Buckner Border Ministries began.
Favorite Quote: “Whatever it takes, let’s do it!”
Most enjoys… loves the mountains and nature
Random fact: people know Jorge as a crazy or “loco” personality
Phil Brinkmeyer
Director of Ministry Development for Africa and Europe
Joined the Buckner fam in March 1994.
Most enjoys… getting dirty in Colorado.
Random fact: He has a little yellow life vest for his dog to wear when they go kayaking together.
Juan Carlos Millán
Director of Mexico Programs
Juan Carlos served for ten years as a director of Human Resources with a travel insurance company in Mexico City before coming to Buckner in August of 2008. He has a bachelors degree in psychology from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and just completed his last year of seminary at the Horeb campus of the Lomas Verdes Baptist Theological Seminary.
Favorite Quote: "In this we see what God's love is, that Jesus gave his life for us". 1 John 3:16
Most enjoys... smiling
Random Fact: would like to pastor a congregation
Cynthia Hayes
Missions Travel Consultant
Joined the Buckner fam in November 2006
Favorite Quote: “Be nice to everyone, you never know who they are.” –Cynthia Hayes
Most enjoys… how silly her four children are.
Random fact: Is the nicest person in the Missions Office, hands-down.
Susan Williams
Director of Missions Support
Joined the Buckner Fam in February 2006
Graduated from East Texas Baptist University
Favorite Quote: “Begin each day as if it were on purpose” –Hitch
Most enjoys… fuzzy slippers at the office
Random fact: Was in her county’s Poultry Festival Pageant.
Jessica Garcia
Missions Coordinator
Joined the Buckner fam in February 2006
Graduated from Universidade Ibero-Americana (in Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Favorite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Most enjoys… rock-climbing with her husband Alex.
Random fact: On the day of her wedding she placed her husband's ring on the wrong hand.
Jeremy Copeland
Missions Coordinator
Joined the Buckner fam in November 2006
Graduated from Baylor University
Favorite quote: “Hakuna matata, what a wonderful phrase!” –Pumba, The Lion King
Most enjoys… the outdoors.
Random fact: Got the chicken pox at the age of 34.
Shaun Lester
Missions Coordinator
Joined the Buckner Fam in February 2004 and then re-joined in December 2007
Graduated from: Baylor University and Southwestern Seminary
Favorite quote: "I'm good to go."
Most enjoys... doing nothing at Hilton Head Island, SC.
Random Fact: She's a Texas girl and a Baylor grad, but a OSU Buckeye at heart!
Guille Aquilar
Humanitarian Aid Coordinator -
Border Colonias
Guille was an elementary teacher before coming to Buckner and has a bachelors degree in education and minor in bilingual. She loves working with people and children and serving the needs of others.
Favorite Quote: "You make the world a better place by making yourself a better person". Scott Sorrell
Most enjoys... spending time with family
Random Fact: has three children by the names of Lucky, Mia, and Mickey and is very out spoken
Ricardo Brambila
Mission Group Coordinator -
Rio Grande Valley Colonias
Ricardo is a bi-vocational pastor to First Baptist Church in San Isidro since 2002. He graduated from the Universidad Valle del Bravo in 2002, was a Parent. Educator for two years with the Avance program for at-risk children in valley colonias, and joined Buckner in 2008.
Favorite Quote: "I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I wish to be. I am not even what I hope to be. But by the cross of Christ, I am not what I was". John Newton
Most enjoys... watching good movies (cartoons) with the company of his wife and daughter
Random Fact: hated everything that had to do with church and especially pastors as a teen. Ricardo says: "At age 16, I was lost, but Jesus found me and from that day I love His Church and I love being a pastor.
