Jay Comfort
PRESIDENT
Jay Comfort has been married to Nazuna Konishi for over 42 years and they have two grown children. Jay is a retired teacher and college guidance counselor. Since 2016, Jay has been the President of BTW. A founding member of BTW along with Lou Felo and Rob Muir. Leh, Ladakh, India has been the focus of outreach since 2012. Jay and Nazuna reside in Leysin, Switzerland and Leysin is the European base of BTW activities.
Jay Comfort
PRESIDENT
Jay Comfort has been married to Nazuna Konishi for over 42 years and they have two grown children. Jay is a retired teacher and college guidance counselor. Since 2016, Jay has been the President of BTW. A founding member of BTW along with Lou Felo and Rob Muir. Leh, Ladakh, India has been the focus of outreach since 2012. Jay and Nazuna reside in Leysin, Switzerland and Leysin is the European base of BTW activities.
Meet our amazing team
board of directors
Dave Kawata
VICE PRESIDENT
Dave grew up on the mission field in India where his parents served for 16 years. In college he participated in the Navigator Ministry and has been involved with churches in various capacities. He retired after 30 years of teaching and coaching and started a small construction handyman business. The business was recently closed as he fully retired. He has been involved in humanitarian aid in the USA and in Northern India. Is married to Lisa and has two children, Stephen and Christina, and resides in Delaware.
Dave Kawata
VICE PRESIDENT
Dave grew up on the mission field in India where his parents served for 16 years. In college he participated in the Navigator Ministry and has been involved with churches in various capacities. He retired after 30 years of teaching and coaching and started a small construction handyman business. The business was recently closed as he fully retired. He has been involved in humanitarian aid in the USA and in Northern India. Is married to Lisa and has two children, Stephen and Christina, and resides in Delaware.
Dona Clair Kelly
SECRETARY
After retiring from many years in the corporate world, Dona Clair has volunteered in many non-profit organizations. She has traveled throughout the world visiting over forty-five countries, and has been on Beyond Tears Worldwide teams since 2014. Using her many years of vocal training, she taught voice privately to those who could not otherwise afford the lessons. Dona Clair is married with two sons, three granddaughters and two great grandsons.
Dona Clair Kelly
SECRETARY
After retiring from many years in the corporate world, Dona Clair has volunteered in many non-profit organizations. She has traveled throughout the world visiting over forty-five countries, and has been on Beyond Tears Worldwide teams since 2014. Using her many years of vocal training, she taught voice privately to those who could not otherwise afford the lessons. Dona Clair is married with two sons, three granddaughters and two great grandsons.
Robert Miles
TREASURER
Robert Miles retired from the New Jersey Judiciary in 2014 where he served as Chief Probation Officer for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties.
Currently, he works in real estate sales. He also buys distressed real estate for rehabilitation and resale. He serves several non-profit organizations with concerns for bringing relief to impoverished people locally and around the world. He is married with three children and seven grandchildren.
Robert Miles
TREASURER
Robert Miles retired from the New Jersey Judiciary in 2014 where he served as Chief Probation Officer for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties.
Currently, he works in real estate sales. He also buys distressed real estate for rehabilitation and resale. He serves several non-profit organizations with concerns for bringing relief to impoverished people locally and around the world. He is married with three children and seven grandchildren.
Michael & Laura Grieco
Michael and Laura, married for 15 years in Northern New Jersey with two children, have diverse backgrounds. Michael works as a lab technician and meteorologist in biotech, is a photographer and experienced scuba diver, and has dedicated time to volunteer work at the New York Aquarium. Laura, a homeschooling mom and piano teacher, is also a signal support systems specialist in the New Jersey Army National Guard. They have served in youth ministry and led Bible studies and began their mission journey with BTW in 2019, leading a school renovation trip to Leh and Tangar, India, following their passion for cross-cultural missions.
Michael & Laura Grieco
Michael and Laura, married for 15 years in Northern New Jersey with two children, have diverse backgrounds. Michael works as a lab technician and meteorologist in biotech, is a photographer and experienced scuba diver, and has dedicated time to volunteer work at the New York Aquarium. Laura, a homeschooling mom and piano teacher, is also a signal support systems specialist in the New Jersey Army National Guard. They have served in youth ministry and led Bible studies and began their mission journey with BTW in 2019, leading a school renovation trip to Leh and Tangar, India, following their passion for cross-cultural missions.
Mary Beerly
Mary Beerley lives in Mississauga, Ontario with her husband, Jim Beerley, who serves as President of Crossworld, an international mission agency. The Beerleys have 3 grown children of their own and have fostered children since 2013. They currently have one teenage girl living with them. Mary and Jim have worked and ministered in Haiti and Monaco, teaching, doing outreach through Bible studies, camps, humanitarian trips, youth work and pastoring. Mary has made one trip to Haiti and 2 trips to Northern India to work with teachers in professional development. She currently teaches junior high in Mississauga.
Mary Beerly
Mary Beerley lives in Mississauga, Ontario with her husband, Jim Beerley, who serves as President of Crossworld, an international mission agency. The Beerleys have 3 grown children of their own and have fostered children since 2013. They currently have one teenage girl living with them. Mary and Jim have worked and ministered in Haiti and Monaco, teaching, doing outreach through Bible studies, camps, humanitarian trips, youth work and pastoring. Mary has made one trip to Haiti and 2 trips to Northern India to work with teachers in professional development. She currently teaches junior high in Mississauga.
Our Next Mission Trip
Join us from May 21 – June 3, 2024, for our upcoming Ladakh trip with a few spaces still available. We’ll be renovating a storefront for an upcoming café/restaurant as part of our BAM (Business as Mission) project, providing an opportunity to express Christ’s love creatively. We’re looking for electricians, plumbers, tilers, bakers, and artists. If you have a heart to serve, we need YOU! For more information, please email me.
To learn more or to donate to the BAM, send me an email at ljcbtw@gmail.com.
