Our FOUNDERS

  • Smiling man with short gray hair, wearing a light blue shirt, sitting on a boat with colorful boat seats and large blue container in background.

    Ethan Dawe

    The Professor, Public Speaker, Financial Guru, Lover of Jungle Cuisine

  • Four people sitting at a table talking, one showing something in a notebook, in a room with a corrugated metal wall.

    Chad McKelvey

    The coach, missions logistical expert, leader, faithful servant

  • Man in a black and gold cycling jersey with patches, smiling and sitting inside a vehicle, with sunglasses on his forehead.

    Jason McCullars

    Fireman, Medic, Heavy Equipment Operator, “The Real MacGyver”

  • Two men sitting on a bus, smiling at the camera. One wears a baseball cap and with sunglasses on top, and the other has a cap and sunglasses hanging around his neck. There are other travelers sitting behind them.

    Josh Patterson

    Cable Specialist, Evangelist, Prayer Warrior, “The Voice”

Akolytos was founded in 2025 by Chad McKelvey, Ethan Dawe, Jason McCullars, and Josh Patterson—four men united by a deep burden for the unreached. Their vision was shaped during trips to the remote jungles of Central and South America, where they witnessed both spiritual and physical poverty firsthand. Compelled by the Great Commission, they launched Akolytos to support local pastors, strengthen isolated churches, and bring the gospel to the hardest-to-reach places on earth. Their leadership continues to shape a ministry that goes where others will not.