About Us

Jonathan and Lilli just finished a total of nine years serving missionary families at Rift Valley Academy (RVA), an MK school in Kenya. Jonathan served as a chaplain, teacher, and academic resource at RVA and a Bible teacher at nearby Moffat Bible College. Lilli loved ministering to young people as a student health nurse. They are now partnering together with Sovereign Grace Churches and Brian Kiama, a Kenyan pastor, to help plant a gospel-centered church in Nairobi and to identify and train future pastors.

Before coming to Kenya, Jonathan pastored churches in North Dakota and Minnesota. He gained his love for Africa through missionaries in his church as well as a mission trip to Kenya when he was in college. Lilli was born and grew up in Africa as a missionary kid in Madagascar. In sixth grade she went to RVA as a student and graduated in 1990. Since receiving her nursing degree she has served in nursing homes, hospitals, and in homes providing private duty care.

Jonathan and Lilli have four children: Hannah, who nannies four children and married to Henrik Stevens who works as the assistant manager at FedEx Office in Minneapolis; Tiana, also disciples university students with Campus Outreach in Minneapolis; and Josh and Sophie who both started at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul Fall of 2023.

While you’re here, we ask you to consider partnering with us in helping establish Biblical, gospel-centered, evangelistically zealous,  and leader equipping churches in Nairobi and beyond. Here’s how:

  1. PRAY FOR US – We believe God has called us to help establish this kind of church in the heart of Nairobi. We need your regular prayers to do this effectively!
  2. ENCOURAGE US – It’s amazing how encouraging it is to receive a simple note from someone saying they read our letter and are praying for us. We hope we can be an encouragement to you as well! Sign up to receive our updates at the bottom of the page and send us a note!
  3. SUPPORT OUR SALARY – Our living expenses are completely dependent on churches and individuals like you who give monthly. Click on the Give menu at the top right.