People for Care and Learning Prepares for Leadership Transition
People for Care and Learning (PCL), an independent benevolent organization with roots in the Church of God, has announced a change in leadership from Dr. Fred Garmon to Rev. Travis Johnson, effective at the end of this year.
Johnson will be just the third person to lead PCL in its history. Begun in 1998 by Robert D. (Bob) Pace Sr., PCL eventually adopted the simple mission statement which says, “PCL is a community of people devoted to breaking the cycle of poverty.” Garmon was named director in 2006 and has taken PCL to new heights.
Throughout their history, PCL has focused on Southeast Asia, specifically the country of Cambodia, where they have established valuable ties with high government officials to allow the organization to make a significant impact. Concentrating on two primary cities, Siem Reap and the capital, Phnom Penh, PCL built a children’s home and a coffee house. The coffee house, Common Grounds, has been a shining example of a successful business venture that offers career training opportunities, while generating income to help support PCL personnel and projects in the area, including a training center. Other ventures include a sustainable farm, provision of clean water systems, and construction of a community meeting house which has also served as a place of worship.
Fred Garmon, right, and Travis Johnson have traveled to Cambodia together on numerous occasions (click on photo to enlarge)
In 2011, Garmon led the effort to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cambodian government to literally “build a city” in Andong province. In 2006 approximately 1,000 families were displaced by a government project and ended up in slum conditions with virtually no infrastructure, clean water, and shack homes that were subject to frequent flooding. Under Garmon’s leadership, PCL launched the “Build A City” initiative with the goal to raise over $2 million. Andong residents now enjoy new homes with access to clean water, electricity, and community amenities, including a medical center, marketplace, and playgrounds. In January 2016, an official handover of the project took place during a nationally-televised ceremony. Since then the Cambodian government has delivered on their promise to maintain and continually improve Andong for its residents.
While concentrating on Southeast Asia, Garmon has always felt strongly about “supporting the place that supports you,” specifically the city of Cleveland, Tenn. where PCL maintains offices. Adopting the mantra of “from Southeast Tennessee to Southeast Asia,” Garmon led efforts to give back to Cleveland by partnering with Men and Women of Action to build several community structures, such as a playground, pavilion, outdoor event stage and public restrooms. Through these efforts, Cleveland residents have come to know and respect PCL locally.
Garmon departs PCL after nearly 11 years as director and will now give full concentration to his leadership training initiative, Leader Labs.
Johnson has a rich history of supporting PCL through multiple trips to Cambodia and founding the initiative, “Buy A Tree, Change A Life,” a fund-raising project dedicated to siphoning funds to PCL projects through Christmas tree sales sponsored by churches and organizations. Several years ago Johnson rode a bicycle across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand to raise awareness and funds for PCL. Johnson is senior pastor of Life Pointe Church in Homestead, Florida, and was elected to the Church of God International Executive Council at the General Assembly in Nashville last July.
“Having traveled with Dr. Fred Garmon to Cambodia and witnessed first-hand the incredible outcome of the ‘Build a City’ project, I can only offer praise to God and much appreciation to all who participated in this modern day miracle of compassion and care,” said Rev. Tim Hill, who was recently elected general overseer for the Church of God. “Dr. Garmon—along with the creative and energetic Southeast Asia missionary team and hundreds of leaders, pastors, and laity— has placed a handprint of Christ-like influence on a nation, a culture, and multiple generations of precious people. The ‘power of a promise kept’ was lived out and continues now to be manifested in every way as the fruitful results of the Build a City project positively affect and enhance the people and societal structure of the Andong community in Cambodia.”
