Management Biographies:
MARISA ELCOCK THONGS
Simply put, she is a young lady with a passion for the things of God.
Marisa developed this attitude towards life from very early, having surrendered herself to Jesus Christ at the age of twelve. She now holds the position of President of Youth In Focus, which is the youth division of the Family Focus Broadcasting Network.
Marisa’s giftings lie in the creative arts arena. She is a born Broadcaster, a former Columnist in the FBN Vision Magazine, a Television Producer and Presenter and now an Author, Musical Composer and Recording Gospel Artiste.
Her book tells the story of an average teenage girl thrust into the world of fatherlessness and her journey back to inner peace with God. Her cd features a mele of musical styles written and composed by herself and her teenage sister Christianne and produced by award winning Caribbean gospel music icon, Sherwin Gardner. Both book and cd are available in music and bookstores nationally!
Marisa has a passion for young people and a desire to see them come into their God-given potential. She heads both the Youth In Focus and Performing Arts Teams with firm but loving and exemplary godly leadership.
Marisa is proudly the wife of Mr Gaston Thongs and second daughter of Justice Lloyd Elcock and President and C.E.O. of FBN, Rev Margaret Elcock.
ROXANNE JAMES
Roxanne James was born Roxanne Laverne James to parents Gordon and Kathleen James on the 18th Jan 1976. Her parents were members of the Morvant Pentecostal church (now Daybreak Assembly) and thus ensured that she grew up in a Christian environment. Even though she was baptized at eight it was only when she turned fifteen she began to take her Christian life more seriously. She spent her secondary years at Bishop Anstey High School and it was there she met Marisa Elcock. A fast friendship developed and together with Wendy Anthony and Candice Fabien, they led the Youth For Christ Club at their school. Roxanne also began worship leading at age fifteen when she began to further understand the call of God on her life. “Ministry is not just about being a frontline face or name but it is communicating the heart of God to His people”
When Marisa began doing radio programs with her mother Margaret Elcock, Roxanne began helping out. Youth in Focus as an arm of the Family Focus Broadcasting Network was born. At nineteen she went to Oral Roberts University where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.She also continued singing and ministering and was a part of the school choir. She later embarked on a two month missionery trip to Uganda Africa which proved to be a life-changing experience.
Upon return, Roxanne rejoined Youth in Focus and resumed her participation in the planning Committee. “Youth in Focus for me has been foundation for growth because of the people God used to input into our lives like Prophet Laymoth Sandy, Vernon and Vivian Duncan and Sis Margaret Elcock, and the opportunity to give back to those who need to hear the message of life……..it has caused me to understand that there are no limits in God"
Currently, she is a director of her family owned business and has just released her first CD titled “You Amaze Me”
RHONDA ALLISON ARTHUR-SMITH
Rhonda hails from Penal in South Trinidad and is a member of the Penal Open Bible Standard Church. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of sixteen (16).
Rhonda served as President of her ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship) club in secondary school and there developed the heart to reach out to young people with love and understanding. She also serves in the youth ministry at her church and was one of the church’s worship leaders for five (5) years.
Rhonda joined the Youth in Focus team in late 1999 out of a desire to take the message of Christ to the nation’s youth. She also serves as a volunteer in youth missions in the USA and Caribbean.
Her favorite scripture is Philippians 3:13-14 “ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
Her motto: “you never fail until you stop trying and better yet, you can’t fail in God.”
ANDY RAGHUNANAN
Andy Raghunanan has been involved in the Youth in Focus Ministry for the past 7 years, as a Presenter and Researcher both on Television and Radio.
He has a passion for the presence of God and serves as an Elder, Worship Leader and on the Board of Administration at his home Church, Divine Destiny Worship Centre. He also has a prophetic anointing and preaches the word of God.
As a Convert Class Teacher for many years, Andy gets pleasure in seeing souls give their lives to Jesus, particularly young people.
He is happily married to a beautiful dynamic woman, Alicia, and has two sons, Aaron 7years old and Andrew 2 years old, which he believes partially contributes to his “youthfulness”.
By profession, Andy is a Financial Planner for a prestigious company. There he gets the opportunity to give not only financial direction, but also Spiritual enlightenment.
In a nutshell, Andy is anointed, purpose driven, comical and just fun to be around!
ALICIA RAGHUNANAN
Alicia has been involved in the Youth in Focus ministry along with her husband, Andy, for the past 7 years as a Presenter and Researcher on both radio and television. She has an uncanny ability to win the attention of young people by her energetic and dramatic personality.
Being involved in Youth Ministry for all her life, she has served in Tertiary Education school ministry (I.V.C.F) and other Outreach Ministries. She was formerly a Youth Group President, Converts Class Teacher and Sunday School Teacher. She now serves on the Board of Administration at her local assembly Divine Destiny Worship Centre and is an Elder and Worship leader.
Alicia has a love for the Visual and Performing arts, which she uses to communicate to young people. As a Secondary School Teacher, Alicia interacts with hundreds of youths on a daily basis were she capitalises on the opportunity to share the love of God.
Being a mother of two sons Aaron (7 years) and Andrew (2 years) she believes God has given her the grace to juggle her time and energy between ministry and family life.
She has a passion for worship and life itself. She is a survivor of a broken home and lives by these watch words.” I am on my way to the top and I cannot be stopped.”
MADONNA GUYADEEN
Madonna Guyadeen or as she is affectionately known “MADONNA G”, joined the broadcasting industry in 2000 at Radio Vision Limited and worked on LOVE 94.1 FM. As a broadcaster one of her dreams has always been to join the radio industry, to minister to young and hurting people giving them hope and something to hold on too.
That dream became a reality when Madonna formed a very vibrant Youth Group in her church Children of the Christ Ministries, and became a part of the Youth In Focus (YIF) Family in 2002. Also connecting with other ministries allowed her to penetrate and minister in Schools and Ministries in the Caribbean.
Madonna works for a Foreign Service Organization posted in Trinidad and Tobago, she is also a Henley MBA student. Another dream of hers is to specialize in Human Resource Management where she is able to ensure that people are treated fairly and appropriately in the work place.
She believes that no one is here by chance and before the universe was created by God he had you in mind with destiny to fulfill, so ignore the negative things said to you although it’s not easy all the time and believe what God Says about you.
On Weekends, Madonna enjoys Hosting. Co-Hosting and producing programs that will truly help young people become and accomplish all they can in God.
She is passionate about promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and positive about developing young people.
CURTIS KING
Curtis Paul King was born on the 19th November 1981 and is the second of three children.
In 2004, his life took a drastic turn when his mother passed away and it was only then that he realized how unprepared he was to take on the challenges of this world.
When Curtis joined Youth In Focus team, it was with the aim of positively impacting the lives of others in the same way that his life was impacted.His love for young people can be felt every Sunday as he shares his experiences.
He is now pursuing his ACCA qualifications and is currently employed at Family Focus Broadcasting.
RAYMOND OCKILLE
Raymond Ockille, sometimes called “RAYKILLE”(pronounced Raykeel) is formerly from Sea Lots, a slum area in the country’s capital - Port Of Spain. He now resides in Diego Martin, West Trinidad and is a member of the Open Bible Standard Churches.
Raymond accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of eighteen (18).
Sometimes shy yet courageous, Raymond joined the dynamic Youth in Focus team in 2004 because of his love for partnering with other groups that help young people to discover their God-given purpose.
He is also the founder of R.E.A.C.H (Restoring Encouraging Advocating Care for Humanity), a programme designed to seek and serve the needy with an emphasis on the families of prisoners and victims of crime.
Raymond is an ordained minister with the Open Bible School of Theology and the Region 4 Youth Coordinator for the Open Bible National Youth Organisation. He has also served as a counselor and camp director for numerous Inter School Christian Fellowship camps.