Board
Rob Corley
Rob serves as a senior executive at one of the country’s largest fundraising companies. He began a project “Helping Hands”, which directs a portion of his company’s purchases to humanitarian projects throughout the third world. These projects enable poor, disabled, and sometimes exploited people, primarily women, a chance to learn a skill, receive a fair wage, access to health care, a safe supportive environment, and the understanding that they are “valuable” and precious to God. Rob met the Petriks and Khmer Krafts through this project, and his heart was broken by the poverty and needs of the people in Cambodia. “When you see the needs at every turn, and down every unpaved road you travel, you can’t just go home and get back to your life as usual. You have to do something,” Rob said after his recent trip to Cambodia.
Rob lives near Atlanta with his wife Stephanie and has two children, Jonathan, 22, and Summar, 19.
Ryan Petrik
Ryan is a Vice President for Intermountain Community Bank, in Spokane, WA, and is blessed with the opportunity to work and serve near home. Previously involved in the local Church as part of the AWANA program he is a charter member of the board of directors for Lydia. He is also involved in the local community by serving as a director for the Community Colleges of Spokane foundation.
Inspired by the work God is doing in Cambodia he decided to make his first effort in missions by taking a trip to Cambodia with his wife Jennie. It was a life changing experience to see how God is working in the lives of His people in that area. The needs are so great and yet the people are content with God’s providence. There are truly so many ways we can help and so many more lives that can be reached.
He is very grateful to have his parents, Bob and Kay Petrik, as an example of service. He is truly amazed at what has been accomplished by their willingness to serve and let God use them for His purpose. The enthusiasm and commitment they have is inspirational.
Ryan is happily married to Jennifer and they have two lovely daughters, Vivian – 19 and Elizabeth -13.
Bob & Kay Petrik
Recently having retired from the insurance business that they owned, Bob & Kay are now seeking to serve the Lord in new ways.
Their dear friends, Bobby and Lee Michaels, first introduced them to Cambodia in 2001. It wasn’t until 2004 that Bobby talked them into taking their first overseas mission trip with a team from the US, South Korea, and South Africa. The experience was life changing.
When they returned that year they couldn’t stop thinking about these precious people and how they could help. There were so many needs.
In 2004 they started supporting a trade school that trained poor village girls to sew. On their next trip in early 2005, they discovered that the UN had dropped the quota system for the garment industry in 3rd world countries resulting in over 60,000 jobs lost in Cambodia due to companies moving orders to China. The young women whose training they were supporting now had no hope for finding a job. This was when they made the decision to start Khmer Krafts, sending two of the best seamstresses to school to learn to make purses. They in turn began training other girls and started making purses for export to the U S. All the money from the purse sales went back to provide support for the basic needs of the girls and their families. It is easier to present the gospel to people when their stomachs aren’t growling. In 2007, by God’s grace and as an answer to prayer, they were introduced to Rob Corley. After visiting Cambodia and seeing what Khmer Krafts was doing, he decided to partner with them and the girls to make it possible to not only continue but also to train and employ other needy village women and girls.
On each trip to Cambodia Bob & Kay have seen so many needs, orphanages with little or no support, as well as village churches and pastors all struggling. Basic needs like rice, clean drinking water, healthcare, and jobs are pressing.
In 2008 their son Ryan and family traveled with them and also had their hearts broken. After much discussion and prayer the decision was made to start Lydia, Inc. to help raise funds to support these needs and future projects.
Bob & Kay live in Baker City, Oregon, are active in their local church and Bob has served on several ministry boards. They have two married sons. Ryan and Jennie and two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Vivian, live in Spokane, WA. Rodger and Lindy live in Baker City and have taken over the family Insurance Business.