Liberty HealthShare welcomed two professionals to its Board of Directors on January 28, expanding the Canton, Ohio-based healthcare sharing ministry’s governance structure to seven members.
Patrick Gregory, a marketing executive from Montgomery, Alabama, and Lovel Mejia, a lumber inspector and former educator from Cottage Grove, Tennessee, bring distinct professional backgrounds to the nonprofit board. Both appointments reflect what Chief Executive Officer Dorsey Morrow describes as a deliberate effort to broaden the ministry’s leadership perspectives.
“Patrick brings the knowledge he has gained from marketing leadership roles as well as work in faith-based strategic planning,” Morrow explains. “Lovel offers insight from his work in business and as a teacher. I look forward to their contributions on our Board of Directors.”
Both men, Morrow said, exhibit a strong obedience to Christ and a passion to serve others.
Gregory currently serves as vice president and chief marketing officer at Faulkner University, a private Christian institution based in Montgomery. Holding the position since 2022, he leads marketing efforts that span the university’s adult and online programs. His tenure at Faulkner began in 2014, after what university leadership described as decades of advertising and marketing experience in various capacities.
His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism from Troy State University and a Graduate Certificate in marketing strategy from Cornell University. Gregory’s professional portfolio extends beyond traditional marketing into video production, a field where he accumulated more than 40 years of experience across multiple industries.
Mejia’s professional path differs sharply from Gregory’s trajectory. Currently employed as a lumber inspector for Wagler and Sons Sawmill, his background encompasses sales, marketing, information technology, and education. Mejia worked as an elementary school teacher earlier in his career. He is currently pursuing a Christian Counseling certification through the National Christian Counselors Association, adding another dimension to his qualifications for a faith-based board position.
Board expansion comes during a period of growth for Liberty HealthShare. Founded in 1995 from the Gospel Light Mennonite Church Medical Aid Plan, the ministry functions as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization facilitating voluntary medical expense sharing among members who embrace shared Christian values. Voluntary member contributions fund the sharing of eligible medical expenses within the community.
Healthcare sharing ministries occupy a distinct legal category within American healthcare financing. When Congress enacted the Affordable Care Act in 2010, legislation recognized these faith-based communities as separate from both insured and uninsured status. Liberty HealthShare received federal recognition as an eligible healthcare sharing ministry in 2014, exempting participants from ACA mandates requiring health coverage purchase.
Liberty HealthShare operates through approximately 160 team members who facilitate sharing rather than entering contractual obligations. Member contributions generated measurable financial impact during 2024. Shared medical charges exceeded $454 million in billed amounts, which vendors repriced to approximately $154 million, creating more than $300 million in documented savings for participants. Since 2014, the ministry has facilitated nearly $5 billion in eligible, repriced medical expenses.
Financial transparency distinguishes Liberty HealthShare among healthcare sharing organizations. Holding both Candid’s GuideStar Gold Seal and Charity Navigator’s 4-Star rating, the ministry ranks as the only healthcare sharing entity with both designations simultaneously. Website visitors can access annual audit reports, IRS Form 990 documents, sharing statistics, and program guidelines without restriction.
Governance through a nonprofit board creates accountability mechanisms absent from commercial healthcare financing. Board members oversee operations, evaluate leadership performance, and ensure the ministry adheres to established guidelines and Christian principles that undergird its mission.
Beyond membership, the ministry extends its positive reach through the Sharing Hearts Fund for Pediatric Wellness, established in 2025. This charitable arm provides financial support to families in Stark County, Ohio—Liberty HealthShare’s operational center—with pediatric wellness expenses. The fund gains all its funding through donations and grants that remain separate and distinct from Liberty HealthShare’s operational funding.
Members rate their experiences through multiple platforms. Liberty HealthShare maintains a 4.5-star rating on Google, 4.5 stars on Trustpilot, and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Member surveys conducted biannually showed nearly 80% reporting satisfaction or high satisfaction with their participation.
Seven board members now provide governance for a ministry processing hundreds of millions in eligible medical expense sharing annually. Gregory’s marketing acumen and Mejia’s varied professional experience add perspectives to board deliberations as the ministry navigates continued growth within the healthcare sharing sector.
