HOPE FOR KORAH - Key Persons
As Founding Board Members, George and Christel Miller provided much insight and prayer in HFK's formative years. Having retired from the board in 2017, they both continue in an advisory role and will always be strong supporters of Korah.
Christel was born and raised in Germany and has resided in Canada since 1958. She has travelled extensively and has lived in Europe and Africa for many years.
After completing the Attaché training course and Arabic language to bilingual level at the Government Foreign Language School in Ottawa, she and her husband served a three-year term of duty in Cairo, Egypt and the Sudan. Her responsibilities included assisting in diplomatic matters and hosting dignitaries of many nationalities. This task also continued during postings to Germany, Italy and Canada.
Her heart is for indigenous people and cultures of poor and developing countries. In Egypt, she became involved in raising financial and practical support to improve the living conditions and health of the many needy Christians living at Cairo's massive ‘Garbage City' dump. While in Upper Egypt, she joined an initiative to teach women how to weave baskets to earn money for the first time in their lives and to help generate family income. She was also active in the village of Beba in overhauling the living conditions and sanitation of a young girls' orphanage that had become disconnected from its supporting agency.
Now, deeply touched by her daughter Eve's passion for Korah, and having served in Korah with her, she provides ongoing practical support, guidance, and prayer.
Connie was born in Edmonton, moving to the Lower Mainland at age 18 to attend Trinity Western University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. It was at Trinity that Connie met Trent. They married in 1994, then moved to Saskatoon where he completed medical school and their first of three children was born. They later moved to Indiana for almost a decade. While living in Indiana, Trent and Connie determined that they wanted to be a part of their children's learning experience and so with Connie's passion for learning and keen desire to teach, she started homeschooling for several years.
Connie believes God brought them back to Canada in 2006, adding two more children to their family through adoption in 2008 and 2014. It was through the ministry of Hope Adoption Services, that Connie first met Eve Pohl, although their paths did not cross again until Mark and Tammy Brandsma, mentioned Eve's name many years later. The Brandsmas were moving to Ethiopia to partner with Hope for Korah and they wanted to share their joy and journey. This touched Connie's heart, as she has always been drawn to people in need, often seeing her own story in theirs. She too has needed friends and family to encourage, birth opportunity and release hope.
Initially it was Connie's children who had the privilege to connect with HFK through the Brother-Sister-Friend program. This initial contact created an immediate relationship with the community. Later, attending the annual "An Evening for Korah" dinners and auctions as well as engaging with those already on the board sparked a passion in Connie for HFK.
Just over one year ago, Connie joined the HFK Board, bringing her authentic passion and communication gifts, and her long-standing desire to see Korah firsthand! Finally, Trent and Connie were blessed to be a part of the HFK Team serving Korah in November 2018. Connie writes: "My heart felt fully alive as we interacted with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. Within days, the community I had long prayed for and dreamt of became a part of my heart forever. I realized once again that Jesus is the lifeblood of all we do, and I saw His fingerprint embedded in the lives of those we have touched in the community of Korah."
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board of Directors
Dave was born in Northern Ireland and moved to B.C. in 1975. He was raised in Abbotsford and spent one year living in Ireland in 1985. Growing up in a Christian home, he graduated from MEI in 1990. Later he met and married his wife Aretha in 1996, and they have three children: Brezlin who is 20 years old, Raylene who is 18 and Nolan who is 15.
Dave learned about business from his father and other mentors in his life. For Dave, "no role or individual is any more or less important in business." Dave worked for Columbia Kitchen cabinets for five years, then partnered with his father at a millwork company for seven years. He later moved into a management role at a steel company whose office was in Abbotsford, with manufacturing outsourced in China & networks around the world. Dave also worked on a project with Science World and in 2013 he started partnering with and managing "Noodlebox" and "Meat & Bread" restaurants, which he continues to do today.
Dave has previously volunteered on his church's finance board & church committee, as well as on several business boards. In addition, he has spent the last 10 years volunteering & coaching at the Abbotsford Soccer Association. Dave visited Korah in January 2017 and joined the HFK Board one year later. Dave shares that he has "a passion for people and what God can do through each of us: ‘no role or individual is any more or less important in God's Kingdom" and that he "would love to see the work of God spread from Korah all over Africa!".
Job Titles:
- President of the Board of Directors
David was born in Omaha, NB and grew up in the mid-western United States. He met his wife Eve at the University of North Dakota and they have been married for 36 years. After graduation, they moved to Florida where they began growing their family through adoption. They now have four children. The Pohl family moved to Abbotsford, B.C. in 1995, where they are still living today.
David is the Director of Strategic Development at an aerospace company in Surrey, BC, International Water-Guard Industries, where he has worked for the past 16 years. During this time, David has become an expert in aircraft water systems and water quality. He has an engineering degree from the University of North Dakota and a Masters in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology. His experience as a lay leader and as Chairman of the Board of Elders at his local church has prepared him for helping to lead HFK and our partner NGO in Ethiopia to better serve the poor and needy in Korah.
David has been drawn to Korah from the very beginning. Since Eve's first visit to Korah in 2010 he has been supportive and encouraging of her pursuing God's heart for this ministry. David was part of the initial team who fervently prayed for Korah and God's direction, which eventually led to the founding of Hope for Korah. He has played an integral role in the leadership, development, and visioning of this ministry and spends several weeks in Korah every year. In his role as president, David works with the other board members to help define and refine the vision, purpose, and plan for HFK. He has been profoundly "wrecked" by what he has seen in Korah, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder & Executive Director HFK
As Executive Director, Eve acts under the HFK Board of Directors to oversee all HFK's programs and operations. Eve is in ongoing, continuous communication with HFK Ethiopia's Country director and staff, directing all spending, leading, and supervising the management and development of our charitable activities. Eve is regularly on the ground in Korah, often bringing short-term team members from the U.
Eve was born in Germany and spent her early years living in Europe including 2 years in Sardinia, Italy, where she was exposed for the first time to people existing in very poor circumstances and children living in orphanages. These childhood experiences influenced her and after attending Aldersgate Bible College in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, she obtained a social work degree from the University of North Dakota. Here she met her husband Dave and they subsequently settled in Orlando, Florida, where they adopted their three sons. In Florida Eve worked as a facilitator for the U.S. Navy's Alcohol & Drug Addictions Prevention Program, and in juvenile corrections.
In 1995 Eve and family resettled in Canada. Shortly thereafter she and her husband travelled to China to adopt their daughter. Eve homeschooled her children for 14 years and provided private tutoring as a certified Multi-Sensory Language Therapist for children with learning disabilities. She later became a Registered Social Worker (RSW), working over six years in domestic and international adoption. During this time, while facilitating Ethiopian adoptions to Canadian families, she first became aware of the desperate levels of poverty in parts of Ethiopia.
In 2010 the seeds for HFK were planted when Eve went on a 2-week medical mission trip to Ethiopia and unexpectedly ended up in Korah. Observing a level of poverty that is difficult to imagine, Eve's heart was deeply touched and hurting for the people of this community. After returning to Canada, Korah never left her mind - how could she help and encourage these people? God led her on a journey of prayer for many months. In July 2011, with the encouragement of family and friends HFK was founded.
As Founding Board Members, George and Christel Miller provided much insight and prayer in HFK's formative years. Having retired from the board in 2017, they both continue in an advisory role and will always be strong supporters of Korah.
George served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 35 years, both in flying and command positions. On promotion to Colonel he was appointed Canadian Forces Attaché to Egypt and Sudan and completed his career as Commander of Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw. Subsequently he spent two years with Spar Aerospace in Brazil, followed by responsibility for development of Langley Regional Airport as Airport Manager for the past 20 years. He has chaired several boards in BC, the most notable being the BC Aviation Council.
George's background reflects a strong ability and interest in organizational development, leadership, and marketing. His experience throughout Sudan, following Arabic language training, including time spent in Khartoum, Juba, Darfur, and Port Said adds to his better understanding of transformational development needs inherent in the HFK ministry and as recommended in Bryant Myers' book ‘Walking with the Poor'. Having visited Korah he is committed to help the organization determine and carry out God's will for the people of Korah.
Guy has been a strong supporter of Korah for many years and is one of the original founding board members. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 10 years as a CF-18 fighter pilot followed by 12 years in Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific Airways as a 747 pilot and simulator instructor. Currently he is managing the Langley Regional Airport in Langley, British Columbia.
Guy is a graduate of Trinity Western University in Langley. He has travelled extensively around the world, lived in several countries, and served on numbers of boards such as Cold Lake Baptist Church Elder's Board in Alberta, the Hong Kong Evangelical Community Church Elders' Board and Missions Team in Hong Kong, New Life Christian Reformed Church Missions Team in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and the Canadian Museum of Flight, also in Langley.
Guy was born in Quebec, Canada. While attending university he met his wife Elizabeth and they have been married for 34 years. They currently live in Abbotsford, B.C. and have two beautiful daughters, Miranda and Maddison. Guy is extremely passionate about flying and family, but above all is his love for God and compassion for the poor, needy and suffering. His own life challenges have greatly deepened his own faith. His perseverance and steadfast trust in God through prayer has been a gift to the HFK Team.
Originally from Eritrea, a country in East Africa, just north of Ethiopia - Hosanna has been in Canada for 2.5 years. She joined Hope for Korah at beginning of 2017 as the HFK Project Finance Manager and right from the start, she has been an amazing asset to the team. Hosanna's accounting skills, detail-oriented nature, excellent English, warm personality & contagious laughter are a joy to have in the HFK office! With a background in accounting, most of her previous experiences are related to humanitarian & development projects, working for the European Union and specialising in Project Accounting. Hosanna reflects: "It's been a journey filled with constant blessings and miracles since my arrival in Canada. One of them is having this amazing opportunity to be able to work in the field I love and yet connect to my home country and people of my own origin, and be able to serve God and the people Korah, all at the same time."
Growing up in an impoverished country, devastated by war and religious persecution, Hosanna has watched her own parents and other families struggle to provide for their children, sacrificing everything to give them the best life they could. This has developed her compassion for the families of Korah and she can empathize in their struggle to build a bonded & God-fearing family.
During Hosanna's last two trips to Korah, she was able to develop relationships with our Ethiopian staff and numbers of HFK families. She also had the chance to practice her Amharic for the first time, as this was the official language when she was a child. At that time, Eritrea & Ethiopia were one country. Hosanna's last visit was rather exciting as she had the chance to reunite with her family for the first time after 2.5 years of separation! Hosanna and her husband Temesghen have 3 beautiful children ages 5 - 11 and in 2016, due to extenuating, life-threatening circumstances, they had to make the most difficult and heart-breaking decision for Hosanna to flee Eritea alone. Read more about Hosanna's personal journey of courage and God's faithfulness in reuniting their family in Hope For Korah's Spring Newsletter (PDF).
As Hosanna considers her future with HFK, she says with anticipation: "I am eager to see God's plans in transforming the lives of people of Korah over the coming few years. God willing, I see myself working for Hope for Korah for years to come while adjusting to my new home here in Canada."
Job Titles:
- HFK Deputy Country Director in Ethiopia
Jake was born and raised in a small farming community in rural northeastern Pennsylvania. It was here that he learned the fulfillment that comes from offering a helping hand and the importance of hard work. Jake's first missions trip to Korah took place in early 2011, and since that time he has embarked on over 22 trips exclusively to Kore in various volunteer roles and for different lengths of time. Through his 6 years of experience in Ethiopia, Jake has grown in his understanding of the culture, and language as well as learning how to holistically serve those living in extreme poverty. Early on, Jake met David and Eve Pohl who established Hope for Korah. He describes that God truly used their passion and influence to teach him how to effectively and humbly come alongside the poor.
In between trips to Ethiopia, Jake works as a professional independent painting contractor. At home, Jake has served actively in his church with teen outreach, and in children's ministries. He now serves on the HFK Board of Directors and is an active missionary on the ground in Ethiopia, serving as HFK's North American Liaison. His role in Ethiopia includes coming alongside our Ethiopian staff in areas of ministry, especially in youth programs and development, as well as income generation. He has started a mentorship group with the young men in Korah and is passionate about improving the quality and depth of our programs. In addition, Jake helps to assure the quality and progress of HFK funded programs, collaboratively evaluating with our Ethiopian leadership staff current project outcomes, and communicating those outcomes to HFK Canada.
Jim Parussini was born in Port Alberni, B.C. Most of his growing up years were in Maple Ridge. He graduated from high school, started working full-time right away and married his sweetheart Jenny. They have been married for 42 years and are blessed with two children, three grandchildren, with two more on the way.
Most of Jim's working years were with "Save-On Foods" where he worked in a variety of positions for 41 years, before retiring in 2014. While with this company, he moved to several communities in B.C. and was promoted to Save-On Store Manager for his last 12 years. After Save-On Foods, Jim started a home maintenance & renovations business.
Jim & Jenny have attended New Life Christian Reformed Church for 25 years, where they first met Dave & Eve Pohl. Jim and Dave served on the church elders board together for several years. When Eve first started HFK and shared about her work, he felt the Holy Spirit speaking to him and tugging at his heart, and he found himself very drawn to the work that was being done in Korah. Jim first began his HFK involvement by supporting financially and attending the first few HFK Gala events. Then, in 2014, Jim joined a team going to Korah. He later shared, "My eyes were really opened at what HFK was doing in Korah and I wanted to get more involved." In 2017, Jim joined the HFK Board and he brings his gifts of encouragement and sincere faith to benefit our HFK Board meetings and planning. He has also been able to use his special talents in carpentry to produce beautiful handcrafted items to sell and use for the gala events, as well as on the ground in Korah. He hopes to make another trip to Ethiopia soon. He feels truly blessed to be a part of this ministry and to work alongside the staff and fellow board members. Jim shares, "they all are truly committed to the cause of making life better for those in Korah as well as bringing the love of Christ to all."
John was born in Holland and moved to Canada as a teenager. While attending university, he met his wife Charlene and they have been married for 30 years. They have two wonderful daughters and a new son in law. John and Charlene have lived in Lynden, WA since 2008. Prior to this time, they raised their family in British Columbia and Ontario. John travels annually to Ethiopia and has a huge heart for the people of Korah. And he has passed on that passion to his children - his daughter is an RN and joined John on one of his trips to Korah, while his other daughter is in pre-med school and has served in Uganda.
John began his career in sales and marketing and is currently the Senior Vice President of Lynden Door Inc. and Alliance Door Products. He has a Bachelor Degree in Commerce and Business Administration and has sat on numerous boards including World Millwork Alliance, Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) and WDMA of B.C., the New Life Christian Reformed Church Board, and the Abbotsford Christian Development Board.
John joined the board in May 2015 and has not only been offering his talents and expertise to the board, but he has also helped to equip and train our leadership staff in Ethiopia. John's passion is strategic visioning and setting direction within organizations and he has been instrumental in helping to guide the visioning process for HFK in North America and in Ethiopia.
Job Titles:
- Project Lead & Office Manager
With a heart for the nations and a passion for sustainable development, Karissa joined Hope for Korah in January 2016 as HFK's Administrative Assistant and Teams' Coordinator. Karissa is a great asset to our team as she utilizes her gifts of public speaking, communication, organization, teaching and her deep love for people within Hope for Korah. Her experience lies in the social work arena, both ministering to women struggling with eating disorders & mental health, and working in soup kitchens in India.
After living in India for a few months with an Indian family, Karissa changed from a degree in teaching to courses focused on development and cultural issues. With a degree in Sociology & Political Science and a focus in Global Development Studies, Karissa co-founded the "Student Association for International Development" at the University of the Fraser Valley to bring awareness to her fellow students of issues both locally & internationally.
During her first trip to Korah, Karissa was greatly impacted by what HFK is doing on the ground, and enjoyed connecting with her sponsored family. While in Ethiopia, Karissa was grateful for the chance to meet the HFK staff, families, and Elders. She hopes to continue fostering these relationships she has made for years to come.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Mark joined the board in May 2015 after living in Ethiopia for 9 months with his wife Tammy, and their 3 children. During this time, he served as HFK's In-Country Director of Program Development. Through participating firsthand in the work of Hope for Korah, Mark has developed a big heart for the people of this community.
Mark has a Bachelor of Business Administration Honors and has been working in the financial services industry since 1997. Presently he works as a Relationship Manager with Covenant Family Wealth Advisors, assisting families in areas of business succession, estate, and philanthropy planning. His experience sitting on the Board of Governors for Trinity Western University from 2001 - 2008, has been invaluable in developing his understanding of organizational governance and strategic planning.
While living in Ethiopia, Mark put his business background to good use and was actively involved in further developing the Income Generation, Self-Help Groups, and Business Planning programs. Mark and his family now live on a hobby farm in Abbotsford, B.C. He has always loved a variety of sports, and while the days of playing competitive sports are ending, he is turning his talents to coaching.
Mark continues to be actively involved with HFK, especially in areas of strategic development, leadership, and financial expertise. His passion is to see Korah families develop in ways that allow them to gain independence from external financial assistance. Mark returns to Ethiopia annually, to be reacquainted with friends and colleagues, and to provide insight and support in seeing that organization objectives are fulfilled.