USA Team

MKM is a 501c(3) non-profit registered in the United States since 2010. The USA team is made up of a majority of volunteers. Each member of the board has been to Sierra Leone at least once and has personal relationships with the people on the ground. Because of their service, 100% of your donations go to Sierra Leone.

Karen Jennings-Boland

Karen is the co-founder and international director of MKM.  She has made over 20 trips to Sierra Leone, including several involving adopting 3 children.

Mark Boland

Mark is the co-founder and international director of MKM.  He has been traveling to Sierra Leone yearly since 2005 when God called him to go on his first mission trip.

Dr. Wendy Thiessen

Dr. Wendy serves as a member of the MKM board.  She is a pediatrician and has been an invaluable resource for the ministry.  Wendy opened the doors for our role in health intervention when she visited Sierra Leone.  Her visit gave MKM credibility in the area of health during the Ebola crisis.

Brittany Zanders

Brittany is the niece of Karen and shares her love for Jesus and those in need. She also spent a summer serving as an intern for the ministry.  Brittany serves on the MKM board and currently works with immigrants at a non-profit in Boise, Idaho.

Mike and Nancy Pins

Mike and Nancy joined the MKM board in 2023. Both have travelled to Sierra Leone multiple times and have spent time in Kenema at MKM. Both have walked with Mark and Karen on their journey in Salone form the beginning.

Ellyn Bandstra

Ellyn is Mark and Karen’s daughter. She has travelled to Sierra Leone multiple times and served with MKM for a summer during college. Ellyn grew up watching the adoptions of her siblings and the development of MKM. 

Sierra Leone Staff

We are blessed to call these people our staff and friends. Finding people we can trust to run a mission thousands of miles from home has been a great work of God. These friends love Jesus, work hard and are great people to visit!

Solomon French

We met Solomon through mutual friends, only to find out later that we had mutual friends in MARSHALLTOWN! Solomon’s background is in education and he first worked with us part-time as our children’s director. Solomon is a trusted friend who is always willing to learn. We are in communication almost daily as he does the day to day work on the field. Solomon is responsible for our loan program and overseeing all other MKM work.

Bridget French

Bridget is the wife of Solomon and MOTHER in MKM. They have four children including Karen, Munjeh, foster daughter, Sallay and adopted son, Samuel. Bridget works part-time for MKM and is also employed as a nurse. Bridget was key in starting our pharmacy and works hard to keep our kids and staff healthy! She has a heart for unbelievers and invites people to church weekly.

Saidu Alpha

We first met Saidu in Bo about 13 years ago. We have always known him to have a humble and servant heart. Saidu is a former Muslim who is on FIRE for Jesus. He has training as a construction engineer and is in charge of all of our building projects. In addition, Saidu has become our village pastor and even filled in at Kinsmen Christian Church as pastor for a time. Saidu laughs with the best of them and is one of the most joyful people we know. He is a real asset to MKM in many, many ways.

Pastor Moses Kamara

God brought Moses to us through our church plant in Lumabu. He was helping our local pastor in the village and the church grew so much that they had to expand their building. Moses has participated in Pathways training with our team and has a diploma in theology from Christ International Bible College and Seminary. He is not only the pastor of Kinsmen Christian Church, but is also involved in training our village pastors, overseeing women’s ministries and overseeing Lighthouse inC. College Ministry. He is married and his wife Esther is involved in KCC and village women’s ministry.

M.O. Senesi

M.O. was a special gift to MKM when we purchased our compound. He was a Muslim man living on the grounds taking care of all kinds of things. When we bought the compound, M.O. was the bonus! He is now a believer and lover of Jesus! He works as a jack of all trades. He is security, handyman, errand runner, laborer, and even participates as an outreach leader. He is married to Baindu, and they live on the compound.

Festus

Festus is Soloman’s assistant. He also runs the MKM pharmacy. He is married and he and his wife have taken in a relative’s orphan son.