FAITH IN DEEDS USA
Board of Directors
Member and Founder - Thomas Mollhagen
Thomas began life as Munda Ravi Babu, born into a family of the lowest cast in a village in East India. At the age of six and a half years old, he and his younger brother Raghu were turned over to a private orphanage. Their parents were very poor, and they saw this as a chance to get the boys adopted into an American family. They were soon placed into the state system which became a terrible experience for both. In November of 1992, at the age of ten and one half, Thomas and his brother Peter (Raghu) were adopted by Betty Mollhagen of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In December of 2005, Thomas made a journey back to India to meet his birth-family. He began each morning with a simple prayer: “Good morning Jesus, this is your son Thomas reporting for duty. Who shall I meet today? Where shall I go? How shall I glorify you? Show me the way." While visiting his parents and feeding the poor on the busy city streets, two children were dropped into his care by a mother who had AIDS. Before he could respond, she disappeared into the crowd. Thomas took the children home to his parents. By the end of the week they had seven children. By the end of two weeks they had twenty-one. Thomas then formed a non-government trust organization (NGO) in India, and together with his family they rented a house and began a ministry to care for the children and to train them to be disciples of Jesus. As his visa expired, Thomas returned to the USA to pay off his debt and to find others who would like to become involved with the children. Since that time many have come forward to partner in this remarkable mission. They continually care for between 40 and 50 children in the children’s home. God has given Thomas a big vision for these little ones.
President - Ken Sweers
After getting out of the Army in 1969, Ken served in the retail business world until 1987 at which time he incorporated a faith-based non-profit organization that served the persecuted church in Soviet Eastern Europe. Dorcas Aid International USA was one of five sister organizations of Dorcas Aid International, headquartered in the Netherlands. After the fall of the Iron Curtain in about 1990, Dorcas Aid International came to focus on Christian Relief and Development, committed to equipping the indigenous Christian communities in the Eastern Bloc countries and expanding their work to the Middle East and East Africa. Ken served as the Director of Dorcas Aid International USA from 1987 to 1997, and traveled to a number of the project sites during that period. In 1997 Ken took a staff position at Immanuel Reformed Church of Grand Rapids serving as Director of Building and Grounds and Assistant to the Pastoral Staff where he first
met Thomas Mollhagen. Besides the administration of caring for the facility and property, his responsibilities and duties included developing and sharing biblically centered life-lessons (pulpit supply), developing and teaching both children’s and adult educational curriculum, working with the pastoral staff in developing and refining ministry programs and events, and developing and/or supporting community outreach programs and events. Ken has served as a children’s mentor with Kids Hope USA for five years, and as the Immanuel Director of Kids Hope USA for one year.
Vice President - Mark Olivier
Mark Olivier is a native of Grand Rapids, and graduate of Hope College. Mark works as a partner and sales person for Olivier-VanDyk Insurance. Mark was introduced to Thomas Mollhagen when Tom was canceling his car insurance to go to India. "I gave Tom some money to help on his trip and he immediately started praying. I knew then that this would be a long term relationship". Tom has come back to my office many times and last year, as we were raising some money to get the children’s home home a stove, I told Tom that if he ever needed me to serve on his board, I would be happy to join. In his personal time Mark enjoys spending time with his wife Heather and son Jack. Mark is small group leader and a Sunday school teacher at Mars Hill, and a mentor with Kids Hope at Burton Elementary.
Treasurer - Liz Baker
Liz Baker works as an Administrative Assistant for Plante Moran Financial Advisors. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Grand Valley State University and has a deep appreciation for experiencing and learning about different cultures. Liz lives with her husband Ryan and her 2 boxers, Denali and Sierra. She has been blessed with loving parents who displayed the love of Christ to her and instilled the Word of God in her at a young age and she appreciates the impact that reaching children for Christ at a young age can have. On the Northwest side of Grand Rapids where she resides, Liz volunteers through United Way’s Schools of Hope program, reading with a second-grade girl at Stocking Elementary on a weekly basis throughout the school year. She also participates with her co-workers in raising funds for and volunteering at the Kids’ Food Basket, an organization that provides meals for local school children in need Thomas introduced the ministry of the children’s home one Sunday at their church. Liz saw this as an opportunity to help a child in need with the resources she currently had. It did not take much to convince Ryan that God was calling them to be involved in this ministry. Thus began Liz and Ryan’s relationship with the children’s home and their friendship with Thomas.
Member - Matt Postma
Profile coming soon...
Member - Dawn Oudbier
Dawn is a 28-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Michigan where she currently is working as a
hair stylist. Dawn has always been interested in learning more about other cultures, and has
spent the last several years aligning her life to make that dream a reality. God has blessed her
with opportunities to work in other countries all around the world. Since 2005, Dawn has been
blessed with the opportunity to spread Jesus' love and joy to the children of several countries. In
Ghana, Africa, she served the Lord in multiple ways in touching young children’s' lives through
the love of Jesus. She served in Greece by helping run a children’s' camp. Most recently, Dawn
lived in Guatemala, serving in both an orphanage and a children’s' hospital. After a season of
prayer, she ran into Thomas Mollhagen, an old friend from grade school. He shared about the
Faith and Deeds ministry in India and asked her to be involved. After a time of seeking the
Lord, her answer was a resounding YES to be an active partner in this ministry. She is ready to
do whatever it takes to share the love of Jesus with the FID children.
