Board

hicham@salamchristianfellowship.org

Pastor Hesham Shehab is the founder and missionary pastor of Salam Christian Fellowship. Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, he grew up in a traditional Muslim family and was recruited into a militant faction during the Lebanese Civil War. His life completely transformed in 1980 when he encountered the Gospel at the American University of Beirut. Captivated by Christ’s call to “love your enemies,” he converted to Christianity and dedicated his life to ministry. He later moved to the United States, earned an M.A. in Arab History, and completed his pastoral education at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ordained as a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) minister in 2010, Pastor Shehab launched Salam to bridge cultural divides and share the Gospel. Today, he leads our multilingual services (Arabic, Farsi, and English) and works closely with the board to provide spiritual care, social support, and a welcoming community for Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees across the Chicagoland area.

Pastor Ronald “Ron” Weidler is an experienced Lutheran minister and community leader in northern Illinois who similarly dedicates his time to regional ministry and outreach. After serving for two decades as the senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Batavia, Illinois, he retired from full-time parish ministry in 2016. Since then, he has continued to support the regional church community by taking on roles such as an interim pastor, directing the LCMS Northern Illinois District’s Enviando mission emphasis, and serving on the District’s Board of Directors. Bringing his extensive background in pastoral care and mission development to global and local outreach, Pastor Weidler serves as a board member for the Salam Christian Fellowship, working alongside other regional leaders to support Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees across the greater Chicagoland area.

lwallace@peacehome.org

Laurence “Larry” Dunn is an active community and ministry leader based out of Roselle, Illinois, where he has long been involved with Trinity Lutheran Church. At Trinity, he has dedicated his time to service projects and teaching, notably leading the weekly Thursday morning Senior Bible Study. Expanding his commitment to regional outreach, he serves as a board member for the Salam Christian Fellowship (formerly the Chicagoland Lutheran Muslim Mission Association). Salam operates as a collaborative Gospel outreach ministry originally partnered with Trinity, Roselle, focusing on providing a welcoming community, language support, and essential aid to Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees across the greater Chicagoland area.

Douglas “Doug” Kowert serves as the head and chairperson of the board for Salam Christian Fellowship in the greater Chicagoland area. Beyond his leadership in regional ministry, Kowert brings a wealth of global executive experience to the board, having spent over 50 years in the construction industry after earning a Civil Engineering degree from Purdue University. As the CEO of construction firms operating across the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, he managed over $5 billion in major infrastructure and commercial developments, and he previously served as a Director on the International Board of the Associated General Contractors of America. Known for his multi-decade philanthropic commitment, he also serves as the President of his alma mater’s Kappa Sigma House Corporation—where he was honored as the 2025 Alumnus of the Year for steering 25 years of alumni and chapter operations. Today, he works closely alongside fellow board members like Larry Dunn and Pastor Ron Weidler to leverage his vast leadership background, guiding Salam’s mission to provide spiritual care, essential aid, and community networks for Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees across the region.