Meet The Team

Jonelle is a dearly loved child of God and follower of Jesus whose desire is to walk, live, and love in the Spirit of Almighty God.  From a young age she experienced God’s presence and calling on her life.  At 14 she wanted to be a missionary and tell people about Jesus.  While college provided education and challenge, Jonelle constantly wanted to grow.  This passion led her to 4 colleges and universities, culminating in a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Jonelle spent 6 years in two local churches as an Associate Pastor; preaching, teaching, counseling, speaking, and mentoring, but left it to undertake the educating of her three children.  Happily, she just finished her 16-year career as a homeschooling mom as she graduated the last of her three children in June.  

Jonelle grew up in Fresno and currently resides on 40 acres of grapevines in Fowler, where she dwells with her husband Kalem of 24 years, and her dog Daisy.

Jonelle loves creating in her study, in her kitchen, and in her shop.

Laura Benton, LMFT has practiced as a Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist for over 20 years as a private practice therapist,
community mental health supervisor and clinician, and pastoral therapist.
Laura is Co-Founder of a nonprofit counseling team, and she is committed to cultivating and restoring transformative relationships within and across the Body of Christ.
Laura is passionate about partnering with those who are struggling — to
invite hope and restoration, to seek reconciliation and redemption, and to
cultivate change in relationships, church congregations, families and
communities.    

Learn more about Laura at www.laurabentoncounseling.com

Wonder-filled, Curious, Learner. It is my highest joy and honor to be a follower of King Jesus, created for the delight and display of His splendor. I am an educator at heart and love studying & sharing God’s Word. Raising five kiddos and navigating this life, I am keenly aware of my great need of the Lord and His grace. I build my life on His faithfulness.  

Currently, I home educate my children and am a part of the teaching-team for Women’s Ministry at my local church. 

I received my degree in secondary education and am pursuing higher education in Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages. I live in sunny Fresno with my husband Greg and five children. 

Noelle A. Nightingale is passionate about peacemaking. Growing up she found herself always striving to offer reconciliation opportunities to others and with the Lord. While attending Westmont College she learned about the theory and practice of mediation. This was the spark she had been searching for. After graduating from Westmont in Communication Studies, she received her M.A. in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies from Fresno Pacific University in 2012. She worked in the field as the Director of a non-profit, Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, partnering with the Juvenile Justice Courts in Fresno, CA. She also served as a mediator for the civil courts. 

Noelle and her husband, Tim, who also studied peacemaking, started their own business, Nightingale Resolutions, which focuses on Leadership and Team Building using peacemaking practices. Stemming from Noelle’s Armenian family she serves on the Armenian Turkish Peace Initiative, lending her expertise of both reconciliation and forgiveness to the movement. Noelle’s desire is to equip people to practice reconciliation and forgiveness in their everyday situations and to truly embrace the reconciliation and forgiveness that Jesus Christ offers each one of us. Noelle gets to put both of those into practice (everyday) with her husband and 4 young children in Fresno, California. 

Ani Haroutunian is so excited to be a part of Fork in the Road Ministries! She is first and foremost a follower of Jesus and also a worship leader and small group leader with the junior high girls at her local church. Ani grew up in Massachusetts and has now lived in California for about 10 years. Being Armenian, Ani has also had the joy and opportunity serve in Armenia the past two summers with Altar Coffee and Books and Young Life Armenia! She is currently studying to be a Speech-Language Pathologist and loves running, playing music, travel, and coffee! 

Elizabeth Rooney

When Elizabeth left California for college, she thought she’d never return.  She loved studying English literature and theology in the Midwest, with ice skating on ponds and great adventures in Chicago.  She took her adventure on the road to India, where she served at a boarding school, and Baytown, Texas, where she taught in a private Christian school.  Next was Augusta, Georgia, where she hung out with junior high students at First Presbyterian Church, and back to graduate school at Wheaton in Illinois and Yale Divinity in Connecticut.  Armed with more theological education, she embarked into campus ministry at Gordon College in Massachusetts where she met an married the love of her life, Jeff Rooney.  Upon the arrival of her first child, Jeff and Elizabeth decided to return to Fresno, CA to live near her family. 

For several years, she served a local church as a youth director and eventually found her way into the insurance business, where she continues to serve her clients and support her family of four teenagers and one husband (the same one as before).  She has ministered as a volunteer through Bible Study Fellowship, her local homeschool community, and her church’s women’s ministry as a Bible teacher and ministry co-leader.  Elizabeth is passionate about helping to facilitate women’s growth into people of faithfulness and purpose.

Excited to be a part of this opportunity with Fork In The Road Ministries, Lisa is passionate about the arts and has a soft spot for artists and musicians that feel lost in translation within Christian culture today.  She gets particularly giddy when insights into God’s character are revealed through the process of making music and art. She has a Master’s in Music: Composition from Illinois State University and a B.A. in Music from U.C. Davis. She is currently the Director of Middle School Orchestras in Madera, CA. She plays violin as her main instrument, but she is starting to learn others as well. She enjoys working with all kinds of musicians, but especially likes being a part of many worship bands at various events.  Aside from music, Lisa is an active member at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, has enjoyed time spent as a Camp Coordinator at Camp Arev, and loves to draw, paint, rock climb, run, hike, and go to concerts. Setting aside the arts side of herself, Lisa has a desire to learn and help others learn how to talk about God and the Bible in ways that everyone can understand.

Carina is thrilled to be a part of Fork in the Road Ministries. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, she enjoys representing her faith inside and outside the church. In addition to her church involvement, Carina is a passionate reader, writer, crafter, and teacher-in-the-making. When she is not found with a pen or paper, she enjoys taking long walks, playing the piano, and listening to engaging podcasts. She is thoroughly honored and excited to see the ways God will change lives through Fork in the Road Ministries.

Meorah is first, a daughter of the Most High King, and as a result, she has given her life to see Him glorified in the earth. She is also passionate in seeing other young ladies find their identity in Christ, as well as seeing them walk in the fullness of freedom, which only He offers. Currently located in Fort Worth, Texas, she is honored to be a part of Fork In The Road Ministries, and to partner with them in the edification of the Church.