Board of Directors
Rob was born in Richmond, VA to missionaries to South Korea, where he was raised until his graduation from Korea Christian Academy in 1969 before moving back to the US to attend Berea College in Kentucky. In 1976, Rob started his own building company (Rob Robinson Builder, Inc.) and later joined CFK in 2004. He serves as Board Chairman and as technical team leader for all CFK technical trips.
Rob Robinson
Board Chairman
Dr. John Akers is a founding board member of CFK and has made several visits to North Korea in the early 90's in preparation for the visits led by Dr. Billy Graham in 1992 and 1994. Dr Akers served as a special assistant to Dr. Graham and continues to serve on a variety of other boards and committees.
Dr. John Akers
Vice President
John’s parents and grandparents were evangelical, educational and medical missionaries in Korea and China. He returned to the United States at the age of 17 and completed his college education at Eckerd College. After a 38-year career in the shipping industry, John began participating in medically oriented trips to South Sudan and in 2017 made his first visit, as part of a CFK technical team, to the DPRK. John serves his church as an elder and participates in discipleship training, children’s Sunday School and church planting activities. John joined the CFK board in 2017.
John Crane
Secretary
Tom was born in South Korea, where he grew up to Presbyterian missionaries. Tom worked in the semiconductor industry until 2015, when he retired from Intel Corporation. He now does software consulting and iOS app development. Tom has a BA from Calbin College, an MSEE from Stanford University, and a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Texas in Austin. Tom and his wife Ruth live in Phoenix, AZ.
tom linton
Treasurer
Sissel has served on CFK's board since 2000. Born and raised as a daughter of missionary physicians to South Korea, Sissel feels very close to the Korean people and longs for them to know Jesus Christ. She attended UNC School of Medicine completing her degree in 1990 and has practiced in Asheville since 1997. Sissel makes regular visits to the DPRK with CFK to assist with the hepatitis B program.
Steve is a retired lawyer. He is a founding board member of CFK and has made several visits to the DPRK with CFK confirming teams since 1997. Steve and his wife Fran (who has also visited the DPRK) have two sons, Ben and Bill. Ben is a horticultural expert who has also made multiple visits to the DPRK as part of the CFK's greenhouse technical team.
Steve Aceto
Board Member
Sissel Topple, MD
Assistant Secretary
Rick is a semi-retired electrical engineer residing in Swansboro, NC with his wife Andie. Along with their children, they have been involved with short term missions for many years. Rick began traveling to the DPRK in 2007 with World Vision to assist in developing water systems using solar powered pumps. Rick has served in water design projects and participated on several technical visits with CFK.
Rick Armstrong
Board Member
Yeri previously worked as program coordinator for World Vision's DPRK office and was posted in Pyongyang for 9 months on a large scale emergency food assistance program. Her experience with the DPRK also includes conducting academic research, coordinating a Track-II conference, and participating in the New York Philharmonic's 2007 performance in Pyongyang as a tour manager. Yeri graduated Cum Laude from Yale University and received her Master of Pacific and International Affairs from University of California San Diego.
Yeri Im
Board Member
Marcia Kilsby is the retired chair, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI. She has a PhD in Educational Leadership with emphasis in Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine and holds 3 national certifications in laboratory diagnostics: MLS(ASCP)cmSBB and CLS(NCA). Her first trip to North Korea was in 2008 to introduce modern laboratory diagnostics to four of the tuberculosis hospitals supported by CFK. Since then she has led out in the CFK’s clinical laboratory diagnostic work. She and her husband, Harvey, continue to be actively involved in humanitarian work internationally and locally.
Marcia Kilsby, PhD, MLS
Board Member
In 2007, Eugene joined CFK as part of a consortium of US-based NGOs to deliver food aid throughout North Pyongan Province DPRK. The experience was impactful on his life and career, motivating him to pursue a fellowship in International Emergency Medicine and Global Health, and to later participate on several tuberculosis and hepatitis delegations with CFK. Eugene traces his Christian heritage to the Presbyterian missionaries who carried the gospel to the Korean Peninsula over 100 years ago and is thankful for opportunities to do the same today.
Eugene Oh, MD MPH
Board Member
Kay Rader is the former World President of Women's Organizations for the Salvation Army. She and her husband, General Paul Rader, served as missionaries to South Korea for 22 years and as international leaders of Salvation Army from 1994 to 1999. Kay holds an honorary doctorate from Greenville College, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Asbury Theological Seminary and has served on CFK's board since 2002.
Kay Rader
Board Member
Zbigniew is from Poland. He received his PhD degree in Materials of Science from the University of Science and Technology AGH in Cracow. After a few years of working at the University, he co-founded a company that builds and sells commercial greenhouses. With his technical and business background, he started voluntary work with Christian Friends of Korea in DPRK.
Zbigniew Wegrzyn
Board member
Liana graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. She worked as a missionary dentist for some time in Trinidad, Tobago, and spent 6 years working in Guam before moving to Asheville. Liana has made several visits to the DPRK with CFK.
Liana Wolfe, DDS
Board Member
Roald became director of Evangelisk Orientmission in 2011 after working there since 2006. Prior to that, he was Director of Open Doors, Norway, an international organization with focus on helping the persecuted church. He became aware of CFK through mutual friends in Beijing. It all started with a visit by one of EOM’s board members, Øyvind Dovland, who traveled with CFK to help set up one greenhouse.
Roald Føreland
Ex officio Board Member
Bill is the son of United Methodist missionaries and spent his early life in Korea and the Philippines. He received a doctorate in ministry from Lexington Theological Seminary and is a retired Pastor of Southern Hills UMC in Lexington, KY. Bill is married to his wife Sharon. Together, they have two children and four grandchildren.
Bill Moore, DMin
Board Member, Emeritus
Staff
Heidi has worked with CFK since its founding in 1995 and began serving as Executive Director in 2002. She holds a MA from New York University and a BA from the University of Washington. Heidi and her husband, Andrew Linton (co-founder), reside in North Carolina, along with their three children and grandchild. Heidi regularly leads CFK teams and visits to the DPRK to confirm delivery of all shipments and engage in technical projects.
Terry began working with CFK in 2004 as office assistant, later becoming program coordinator. She manages finances, coordinates shipments, and attains many other responsibilities. Terry, along with her husband Jim, help with landscaping around the office and loading containers sent from our warehouse. She has participated on several CFK delegations to the DPRK and makes visits to assist with the hepatitis B program.
Heidi Linton
Executive Director
Terry Smith
Program Coordinator
Jane joined the CFK team in 2018. She discovered CFK many years ago during a brief visit to Black Mountain. Like many visitors, she was in awe of this small non-profit that seemed hidden away in the mountains but amazed by their genuine devotion in helping the people of North Korea in such an impactful way. She is a graduate of the College of William & Mary. Prior to CFK, she worked for her alma mater for eight years, and discovered that her time at William & Mary fully prepared her for the day she would join Christian Friends of Korea.
Jane Kim Baker
Communications &
Volunteer Coordinator
Jim began working for CFK in 2014, serving primarily as the warehouse manager. As such, he maintains the inventory of the warehouse and prepares shipments to be loaded into shipping containers. In addition, he also supports the upkeep and grounds of the CFK headquarters.