Julie James has served for more than 25 years in ministry in various capacities. She was Assistant to the President at the Baptist Retirement Homes of NC, served on the Administrative staff of Baptist Children’s Homes of NC in development, and owned her own company, The Summit Agency, a booking agency for Christian recording artists in Nashville, TN before the call to missions. She has ministered overseas as a missionary for the past 15+ years. Most recently she has served as founder and Co-director of Merryfield Village, a non-profit in South Africa that helps orphaned and vulnerable children, as well as those in need in the community.
Looking back, the journey to Freedom Park started shortly after returning from Europe in 2012. Julie and her husband, Steve, were on a similar course and had separate supernatural encounters with the Holy Spirit. Utilizing the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in a whole new way is what led them to South Africa and now to Freedom Park.
The year 2021 was a year of transition because of the ramifications of Covid. Julie and Steve were diligently praying for an opportunity to serve in the US while stateside. They dedicated the month of August of 2021 to consecrated prayer and fasting and asked the Lord for a breakthrough. On August 31, Richard called Steve and said the Lord was continuing to bring them to mind. He shared a need for help with Freedom Park and asked us to consider coming to lead that ministry. After seeking the Lord and other Godly wisdom, Julie and Steve excitedly accepted the offer to go and be a part of the wonderful work the Lord was doing through OLF.
Julie is excited to use her gifts of administration, leadership, and past experiences in rescuing those in need to help Freedom Park minister to those coming out of human trafficking and abusive situations. Her prayer is to be used in such a way to see Heaven invading earth and touching as many people’s lives as possible with the love of Christ.
Richard Mull is the President and CEO of Operation Light Force and the author of The 40- Day Revolution, The Jesus Training Manual, Lord Heal Me, and many more books and resources. He developed the God Speaks Bible with a companion workbook and video set. Richard has served in ministry for 30 years and spoken to hundreds of thousands in over 30 countries and most of the United States.
Richard is passionate about his relationship with Jesus Christ, modeling his life and ministry after that of Jesus’ ministry. He carries an anointing for the Father’s Love, healing, prayer and worship. God has uniquely prepared Richard to provide direction for OLF. He is passionate about the newest initiative, Freedom Park, a home for “Overcomers” of human trafficking, satanic ritual abuse, and other forms of complex trauma. His newest book, Restoring Joy, tells eight amazing testimonies of people God has healed through the ministry of OLF that was overcomers of these forms of trauma.
Dawn (Coco) Leonard currently operates as the Chief Operating Officer but has served as prayer minister, appointment setter, event coordinator, and executive assistant at OLF. Coco is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a master’s in Exceptional Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of West Florida. She received her BS in Human Services with a minor in Biblical Studies from Southeastern University. She has a mixture of career ventures as a Behavior Therapist, Early Education teacher and middle and high school teacher, and homeschool mom. Coco has a variety of ministry experiences including serving as a mentor to women who have experienced trauma and other wounds, home group pastor, and children’s pastor.
Coco is passionate about discipleship and the need for community. She believes that the love of Father God is essential for true healing. She gets excited when she sees people encounter Jesus and find freedom and healing. Recently she authored her first book titled “Overcoming Fear”.
Andrew is the son of Richard & Dawn Mull and has grown up being involved in Operation Light Force. Andrew joined the team officially in 2013 and has helped modernize and digitalize OLF. He is actively involved in ministry, teaching, management, youth and internship
Steve has served in ministry for more than 25 years in various capacities, with more than 15 years overseas as missionaries. His love for missions started in college when he, and group of friends, would take teams to Mexico to serve alongside missionaries. After college he and his wife were sent out from their local church to serve in Ukraine. After their time in Ukraine, Steve led the Communications team at First Baptist Dallas for six years. Steve & Julie felt the Lord’s leading back overseas, and they served with the IMB for seven years in Prague, Czechia and Vienna, Austria. After a brief stay in the US, Steve & Julie moved to South Africa in 2014 and started an NPO to help orphaned and vulnerable children. They served there until recently when circumstances surrounding Covid brought them back to the US, and then through the leading of the Holy Spirit to OLF.
You can join us in interceding for wholeness and showing His love to those who have survived complex traumas from trafficking.
Operation Light Force
12735 E. Wheeler Road
Dover, FL 33527