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Board Members
Ogden (Clip) Kniffin, President
Clip served in the United States Peace Corps as an elementary school teacher in Monrovia, Liberia in the 1960s. Following graduate school he served in various positions in local government in New Jersey. He devoted the greatest portion of his career serving local governmental units as a public finance banker in the Midwest.
Clip committed his life to Christ in 1977. He returned to Liberia in 2007, after 40 years, to undertake the first of many projects assisting Liberians recovering from the country's 14-year civil war. What became clear on this mission trip was the crying need for technical and financial assistance to rebuild the country after the war. As a result Clip initiated the creation of ELWA Ministries Association USA.
Clip and his wife raised their three sons in Wheaton, Illinois and now have 14 grandchildren. They currently live in Seatle, Washington.
Clip committed his life to Christ in 1977. He returned to Liberia in 2007, after 40 years, to undertake the first of many projects assisting Liberians recovering from the country's 14-year civil war. What became clear on this mission trip was the crying need for technical and financial assistance to rebuild the country after the war. As a result Clip initiated the creation of ELWA Ministries Association USA.
Clip and his wife raised their three sons in Wheaton, Illinois and now have 14 grandchildren. They currently live in Seatle, Washington.
Lee Sonius, Director
Lee has served in radio and media ministries with SIM and Reach Beyond (HCJB) for 32 years, most recently in Ghana as the Regional Director at Reach Beyond for Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a founding member of Africa by Radio (now AbR Media), and still serves on the Steering Committee.
Lee was born in Sierra Leone to missionary parents and raised in Liberia at ELWA, where he developed his passion for radio ministry. He and his wife Michelle (also an SIM "missionary kid" who grew up in Ethiopia and Liberia) have just transitioned to the USA, where they are based near Charlotte, North Carolina. They have two adult children.
Lee was born in Sierra Leone to missionary parents and raised in Liberia at ELWA, where he developed his passion for radio ministry. He and his wife Michelle (also an SIM "missionary kid" who grew up in Ethiopia and Liberia) have just transitioned to the USA, where they are based near Charlotte, North Carolina. They have two adult children.
Nancy Molenhouse, Assistant Treasurer
Nancy (Thompson) Molenhouse was born in Monrovia, Liberia and attended ELWA Academy through 7th grade. Nancy’s parents, Bill and Betty, arrived in Liberia in 1953 and worked at ELWA through the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. ELWA Radio was an important part of her family’s life with her parents hosting various programs, and Nancy, along with her siblings, participating in children’s programs such as Kiddies Korner and Happy Half Hour.
Nancy is one of the founding EMA-USA board members. The scholarship program was started at EMA’s inception as a result of Nancy’s passion for helping children who are unable to attend school due to financial hardships. Nancy has made ten trips back to Liberia since returning for the first time in 2005. Nancy works part time for their family business, Molenhouse Enterprises, as secretary/treasurer, is the US financial officer for REAP/Liberia, and processes donations for EMA/USA. She lives in Carol Stream, Illinois with her husband Jim, has four grown children and ten grandchildren.
Nancy is one of the founding EMA-USA board members. The scholarship program was started at EMA’s inception as a result of Nancy’s passion for helping children who are unable to attend school due to financial hardships. Nancy has made ten trips back to Liberia since returning for the first time in 2005. Nancy works part time for their family business, Molenhouse Enterprises, as secretary/treasurer, is the US financial officer for REAP/Liberia, and processes donations for EMA/USA. She lives in Carol Stream, Illinois with her husband Jim, has four grown children and ten grandchildren.
Judy Koci, Communications
Judy Koci was one year old when she and her parents, Bill and Betty Thompson,
sailed to Liberia. Bill and Betty lived and worked at ELWA from the early 1950's through 1980. ELWA radio was part of Judy's life, participating in children's radio shows and editing radio programs while a summer missionary. She attended ELWA Academy, Hillcrest High School in Jos Nigeria, and received her BS from Wheaton College.
Judy has the gift of teaching, and taught in Christian schools in Florida and Illinois. She worked in Women's Ministry for 20 years, coaching small group leaders and planning retreats. On one of Judy's four missions trips to Liberia since 2006, she taught at the women's retreat hosted by Christine Tolbert Norman.
She has been communications, social media, and website coordinator for EMAUSA for over ten years.
Judy lives in Arlington Heights, Illinois with her husband Bob, has three grown children and four grandchildren
sailed to Liberia. Bill and Betty lived and worked at ELWA from the early 1950's through 1980. ELWA radio was part of Judy's life, participating in children's radio shows and editing radio programs while a summer missionary. She attended ELWA Academy, Hillcrest High School in Jos Nigeria, and received her BS from Wheaton College.
Judy has the gift of teaching, and taught in Christian schools in Florida and Illinois. She worked in Women's Ministry for 20 years, coaching small group leaders and planning retreats. On one of Judy's four missions trips to Liberia since 2006, she taught at the women's retreat hosted by Christine Tolbert Norman.
She has been communications, social media, and website coordinator for EMAUSA for over ten years.
Judy lives in Arlington Heights, Illinois with her husband Bob, has three grown children and four grandchildren
Les Unruh, Retired Missionary
Les Unruh has served with SIM since 1968. Les and his wife Verla began their missionary career in Ethiopia East Africa. They served there for eight years doing church planting and community development. After the Marxist take over they were asked to transfer to Liberia, where they pioneered the Church Planting ministry for SIM. They served in Liberia for seven years reaching out to the Gola people with a church planting and community development ministry. They returned home from LiIberia in 1983. After they returned to the States they served on the SIM USA home staff in Charlotte, NC. Les was the Director of the Selection and Training process for many years and then became the Director of the Ministries Network Department. In 2007 before they retired they returned to Liberia once more for 18 months as the Interim Director for Liberia. Les and his wife Verla are retired and live Sebring, Florida. They have 12 grandkids and 4 great-grandkids.
Robin Zook, Treasurer
Robin Zook lived at ELWA with her mom, dad and sisters in the 1960s and 1970s. Her dad, Don Miller, hosted "Talk with the Pastor", a weekly radio program.. Her mom, Clarice Miller, started a discipleship program for school-aged girls called Lawana Girls. Robin attended ELWA Academy through her elementary school years and her sister was born at ELWA Hospital. She has returned to ELWA twice and hopes to visit again. Robin works for a charter school network as a process and academic program manager and software specialist. She brings her technical experience and skills to the board by managing the EMAUSA website. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband; has four grown children and 12 grandchildren.
Nate Miller, Financial Manager
Nathan Miller is a Portfolio Manager at a global investment management firm. He grew up in Wheaton, IL and is the son of an MK from Africa. Using our time, talents or resources to help others was ingrained into Nate from a young age. Growing up, he watched his parents volunteer in the church and community helping refugees resettle, hosting international guests for weeks on end or (his dad, a photographer) give of his time to photograph events for local area non-profits. When he’s not working, trying to find a quiet moment with his wife or chasing his kids. He enjoys biking and spending time outdoors.
Nate lives in Carol Stream, Illinois with his wife and four children.
Nate lives in Carol Stream, Illinois with his wife and four children.
Advisory Board
(Click for bio)
(Click for bio)
Jim Molenhouse, ELWA Maintenance
Jim Molenhouse is the President of Molenhouse Enterprises, Molenhouse Environmental, Talbot LLC and is a partner in ARC (Aurora Recycling Center). Jim has been on 13 missions trips to Liberia, the first in January 2006. Trip projects include the roofing of the ELWA administration building, the well and merry-go-round project at Suzie Guenter Orphanage, the ELWA Youth camp renovation, Elwa Oceanview Guesthouse renovation, the roofing of the Dan Snyder dormitory in Bentol, and Elwa generator work on a number of trips. He lives in Carol Stream, IL with his wife Nancy, has four grown children and ten grandchildren.
Sally Moore, Scholarships
Sally Moore was born in Monrovia, Liberia. Her parents, Bill and Betty Thompson, raised five children while serving as missionaries at ELWA. Sally attended high school at Hillcrest in Jos, Nigeria. She and her husband, Perry, take yearly mission teams back to Liberia to work on various projects while having a personal focus on orphan care. Sally and Perry live in Lincolnshire, Il. where they raised their three children and currently enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren.
Meanu Kayea, ELWA Youth Disciplieship Ministry
Meanu Kayea was born and raised in Liberia, West Africa on the ELWA campus attending
ELWA Academy and Carver Mission schools. Meanu’s father, the late Edwin Kayea, was the first Liberian missionary to his own people and worked at the ELWA radio station as personnel manager and the Gio language radio broadcaster. Meanu’s mother worked at the ELWA hospital as a nurse's aid. Meanu completed his last two years of high school and college education in the US. He has been working with kids since 1985 at a summer camp as a senior counselor in St. Charles, Illinois for three years, then as a social worker in Wheaton, Illinois for two years before moving Charlotte, North Carolina where he worked with disadvantaged and abused children for six years.. He is currently the Director of a Youth Recreation Soccer Program in North Carolina. In 2010, the Lord called Meanu’s to return to Liberia to minister to Liberia’s youth at ELWA through using sports as a vehicle to share God's love. Meanu lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughters.
ELWA Academy and Carver Mission schools. Meanu’s father, the late Edwin Kayea, was the first Liberian missionary to his own people and worked at the ELWA radio station as personnel manager and the Gio language radio broadcaster. Meanu’s mother worked at the ELWA hospital as a nurse's aid. Meanu completed his last two years of high school and college education in the US. He has been working with kids since 1985 at a summer camp as a senior counselor in St. Charles, Illinois for three years, then as a social worker in Wheaton, Illinois for two years before moving Charlotte, North Carolina where he worked with disadvantaged and abused children for six years.. He is currently the Director of a Youth Recreation Soccer Program in North Carolina. In 2010, the Lord called Meanu’s to return to Liberia to minister to Liberia’s youth at ELWA through using sports as a vehicle to share God's love. Meanu lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughters.
David Parker, Project Manager
Dave Parker grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. He first visited and volunteered at ELWA for part of a year right out of high school in 1974. Dave has made many trips to Liberia since 2007. He has led construction projects in Liberia on the ELWA campus, at the Susie Guenter Orphanage, at a rural health clinic in Grand Bassa County, and in Bentol where REAP runs a vocational training program for adult orphans. He and his wife Cathy live in South Bend, Indiana where he works as a contractor.
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ELWA Ministries Association USA