Our Staff
The staff of Children of the Promise is a diverse group of individuals and families who serve from Haiti, the United States, and Canada. Because we strive to practice excellent stewardship in everything we do, many of our staff are support-based.
Bud & Jan Bonnema- Executive Directors (Minnesota)
Bud & Jan Bonnema traveled to Haiti for quick week long mission trip. When they were there they were asked on three separate occasions to take in three babies. It was during this trip that they heard their calling from God to start an infant care center. Jan lived in Haiti for the first 5 years after they started COTP. Bud and Jan are both still very active on the board and help support our long term staff in Haiti. Bud oversees operations and Jan oversees all medical and adoption related decisions.
Email: cotp10@gmail.com
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Jamie and Jenny Groen have been familiar with Children of the Promise since its beginnings, as they grew up in the same community as the Bonnemas and their children. Jenny volunteered at COTP several times in its first few years. A trip to Haiti and COTP in 2008 inspired the Groens to leave their teaching jobs in CA and move to Haiti for a year. Once in Haiti, the Groens were hooked, they decided to adopt 3 beautiful children: Rosemika, Roselinda, and Alex. Soon after, they added a biological son, James. They are currently living in Willmar, MN, working on completing the adoptions and citizenship of their children and hope to return to Haiti some day. Jamie is now working as the Director of Operations for COTP. This role includes fund-raising, administrative work, promotion and speaking. Jamie and Jenny also coordinate volunteers.
Email: Cotpdirector@yahoo.com/COTPvolunteer@yahoo.com
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Robin Knight – Adoption Director (Texas)
Robin Knight is the daughter of Bud and Jan Bonnema. She went with on the Bonnema’s first trip down to Haiti in 1999. After she graduated high school, Robin moved to Haiti with her mom, Jan Bonnema, to start taking in infants. Robin lived there for about 2 years before moving back to the states. Robin has maintained connected to COTP daily since the very start. She is currently our Adoption Director and corresponds with all families interested in adopting. She also helps to advocate for children needing medical visa’s.
Email: cotpadoption@gmail.com
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Nick & Nikki Stolberg- Field Directors
Nick and Nikki have both been on several mission trips to Mexico where they built houses and taught VBS. Nikki also spent a month in Rural Kenya teaching 4th grade. Nick has a degree in Management and Operations from Washington State University and Nikki’s degree is in Human Services from Western Washington University. Both Nick and Nikki grew up in Washington State and have lived full time in Haiti since June 2010 with thier son Eventz. Nick oversees all of COTP’s operations, including adoptions, maintenance, staffing, payroll, and supply runs. He is also in charge of overseeing the baby house in regards to our Haitian Staff. Nick is also in charge of overseeing all maintenance and projects on our compound. Nikki oversee the baby house in regards to the babies. She runs the formula and Medika Mamba programs. She also is in charge of admitting and discharging our kids. When a child is discharged she and our Haitian Social Worker do home visits to check in on the child.
Click Here to Read Their Personal Blog
Email: Cotpfielddirector@gmail.com
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Sheila Den Ouden-Nurse (Haiti)
Shiela first learned about COTP from Jamie and Jenny Groen who attended her Church prior to moving to Haiti. She learned of an opportunity to volunteer at COTP in March of 2010 and eagerly decided to come down and help paint murals in all of our baby rooms. After returning home, Haiti was always on her mind. In the Fall of 2011, she received an email informing her that COTP was looking for a new nurse and was wondering if she would be willing to serve with us! She knew it was a calling from God and moved down in October 2011. Prior to moving to Haiti, Sheila received a degree in Nursing from Hope College in Michigan, and spent four years working as an orthopedic nurse at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
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Adam & Mateja Barrett- Volunteer Coordinator & Preschool Teacher (Haiti)
Adam and Mateja have desired to serve in missions for a long time and are very excited to finally be fulfilling that dream here at COTP. They first heard about COTP when their church Central Baptist (Sioux Falls, SD) partnered to help after the earthquake. Later, they heard about a need for a couple to serve at COTP. Through prayer, meetings, and support from their church, God’s calling became evident to serve with COTP.
Adam is the onsite Volunteer Coordinator and will be overseeing all short term volunteers. He will also spend a lot of time working with and mentoring our Haitian Staff. Mateja runs the preschool and is helping our kids who will be adopted learn English and pressing them all to reach their developmental goals!
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Chante Fox- Child Development Leader (Haiti)
Chante fox grew up in Arizona. From the age of 15 she has been involved with Missions and helping children. She grew up with 6 brothers and sisters all of whom were adopted from Bulgaria and Macedonia. Chante’s extended family has adopted 20 children, including the children in her immediate family. She has a lot of experience with children and especially loves working with children who have special needs. She took a trip to Haiti with her church (e3 Scottsdale) and fell in love. She knew immediatly that God was calling her to COTP. During her time here, she will be working on child development. She will also be in charge of sponsorship updates!
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Marcia Roorda- US Financial Coordinator (Minnesota)
Marcia has known about COTP since the beginning as she is Jan Bonnema’s sister. As COTP grew, the need for a person dedicated solely to finances became necessary. She began working with the finances in July of 2008. When visiting Haiti, she was impressed with the way God has used COTP to help not only the infants but the families around them.
Email: cotp_marcia@yahoo.com
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Mary DeJong- Canadian Financial Coordinator (Ontario)
Mary and her husband Jerry first became involved with COTP in 2001 through their connection with Daryl Hunick. They worked deligently to register COTP as a Non-Profit in Canada, which was completed in 2005. They have both been on several trips to Haiti. Mary often comes when long term staff are gone to help fill in. Mary is also the Canadian Book Keeper.
Email: marycotp@hotmail.com
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Mary Young- Child Sponsorship (South Carolina)
My name is Mary Young. I live in Greenville, SC where I work as a nurse in an adult Intensive Care Unit. I first travelled to Haiti to volunteer with Children of the Promise in June 2001. I have 1 son, Moise, adopted from Haiti. Currently, I coordinate the Baby Sponsorship program.
Email: cotp_mary@yahoo.com
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US Board:
Bud & Jan Bonnema
Mike & Gwen Bonnema
Keith & Kammy Nelson
David & Jodi Becker
Canadian Board:
Bud & Jan Bonnema
Daryl & Sarah Huinink
Rick & Jennifer Branderhorst
Jerry & Mary DeJonge
The links provided to blogs of Staff Members are not maintained by COTP and are the views of that individual. COTP is not responsible for their content and does not necessarily endorse the views or content they contain.
