Our Team
-
Leslie is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and more recently of NIU. She currently works for a local creative agency, OC Creative, as the Design Director. She calls Christ Community Church home and co-leads a women's Bible study. She currently lives in South Elgin and enjoys exploring all of the local forest preserves.
In her down time, you can find her baking, cooking, or tending to her many houseplants. Experiencing the cultures of the world through travel, food, and friendship is something she values.
Leslie says, "It's an honor to be part of this great ministry and be the hands and feet of Christ for those in our community”.
-
Jane has been involved with Network of Nations since its incorporation in 2000. Over the years, she has served on the Board and played a key role in planning and launching the Friday night Intercultural Café.
She has been actively engaged in weekly prayer for students, served as a Café MC, and contributed to the early days of programming and activities at the Café. Jane has also supported a wide range of initiatives, including furniture distribution, airport pick-ups, and the gala and fundraising dinner planning committee.
In addition, she participated in the Spouses’ Group (now GloW) and helped support the team during the Intercultural Food Market initiative throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have lived in another country, and this is in a small way how I have paid back their generous hospitality to me”, Jane shares.
-
James McNicol (Jim) moved to the DeKalb area with his wife, Jeanette, from Southern California in 2005. During their time in California, they served for approximately twenty years in the college ministry of their local church. Through leading small group Bible studies and participating in camps and retreats, they developed a deep appreciation for community and for helping students apply biblical truth in meaningful ways.
After relocating to Illinois, Jim served as an elder for seven years in his previous church, where he and Jeanette were committed members. He also taught Sunday school for children in grades 3–5. Through a series of providential circumstances, they, along with others from their church community, became part of First Baptist Church in Sycamore. While no longer serving as an elder, Jim continues to teach Sunday school, serves on the church’s care team, and, together with Jeanette, leads and hosts an adult home Bible fellowship.
Jim says, “I consider it a privilege to serve on the Network of Nations Board of Directors. Over the years, Jeanette and I have enjoyed hosting Intercultural Café gatherings with their church, building relationships with international students in a welcoming and informal setting.
Now, as part of the Network of Nations leadership, I am grateful to serve alongside a team committed to sharing the love of Christ within their local community. I look forward to continuing to support and walk alongside international students as they navigate life in this unique season of their journey”.
-
Johnson is a Christian from Ghana, West Africa. He is currently a member of GT Church in Dekalb and a doctoral student at Northern Illinois University.
With over 15 years of teaching and research experience at the university level, Johnson has interacted with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, gender, ethnic, and political backgrounds. His academic journey and other interests have taken him to several countries across four continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, and America.
Since arriving in the US to pursue further education, Johnson has found the Network of Nations to be an invaluable organization. It has helped him settle smoothly into the US and provided platforms for receiving assistance and sharing experiences with other students. Through the various activities and engagements of the organization, Johnson has both learned from and contributed to the student community in Dekalb and its environs.
Johnson says, “I am both honored and excited to serve on the diverse and inclusive Board of Directors of the Network of Nations. As someone passionate about volunteering and witnessing for Christ, I view this role as an opportunity to positively impact many students. I am committed to supporting the organization's mission, prioritizing students’ interests and welfare, and allowing God to use the organization to bless students in many ways”.
Johnson is married to Elther, and they have four children:
Jesse, Janetta, Janet, and Joan.
-
Grace graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a BA degree in Biblical Studies. During her studies she worked with Network of Nations. After graduation she was a ministry leader with CRU in Michigan for a year. And now she has returned back home and again returns to NoN.
Grace lived in Kirkland, and has been part of the Sycamore/DeKalb area for her entire life. She loves to travel and has a heart for the nations. She loves engaging with and building relationships with international students.
She has attended Crossview EFCA in Sycamore for many years, and serving with the high school youth group.
-
Lisa has been with Network of Nations since 2018. Lisa believes that an invitation is one of the most important things to bring people together. The invitation is relational, engaging, and a warm gesture. The invitation makes people feel welcome and wanted. Lisa knows that "God has made us for connection."
As a conduit, she brings the community together. This community consists of the Church, students, NIU, leaders, and DeKalb County together. Lisa is always looking for resources, and opportunities to bring support to the whole of the community through hospitality.
Lisa states, "I am so blessed to be part of this beautiful picture of God's story, it is a privilege to see His story unfold and share with love and joy to others”.
Lisa is married to her husband Edward Dietrich. She has wonderful Children; Natalie and her husband Nathan, and grandchildren Jameson & Isla, Maxwell is a Senior at Iowa State University, and Samuel is a senior in high school.
Lisa is committed to running the race well, and serving in humility as a servant leader.
-
Pastor Geoffrey grew up in Kenya as a PK (Pastor’s Kid) and came to the United States in 1998 to attend college. He desired to work in computers and obtained a degree in Applied Science Computer Technology Integration specializing in Cyber Crime and Digital Forensics. In 2001 he was hired by Ruby Tuesday where he worked his way up to becoming the General Manager.
By the year 2011, God started working in his heart and called him to the ministry. He received his exhorter’s license and then participated in the MIP (Ministerial Internship Program) where he became an ordained Minister and recently ordained as a Bishop.
He worked at Fort Mill Church of God in South Carolina as the Communications Pastor for about 8 years and moved to Grand Forks, ND to become the lead pastor of Calvary Community Church of God. In addition to serving as Calvary Community Church Lead Pastor, he served on the North Central Region Church Planting and Revitalization board. Pastor Geoffrey now serves as the Lead pastor at Cathedral of Praise in Dekalb, Illinois.
He states, “My decision to serve at Networks of Nations stems from a core belief in the importance of embracing diversity within our community. By engaging with international students, I am afforded the opportunity to not only extend hospitality and friendship but also to gain invaluable insights into different cultures, perspectives, and experiences. Through meaningful interactions and shared experiences, I am able to foster cross-cultural understanding and create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel valued and respected.“
Furthermore, “By investing my time and energy into this ministry, I hope to not only make a tangible difference in the lives of international students but also to contribute to a more interconnected and understanding global community. My own journey as an international student has instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude and a passion for serving others, and I am honored to play a role in enhancing the experiences of students who are embarking on similar journeys”.
-
A native of northern New Jersey, Lars came to the area in 1991 after graduating from Wheaton College and serving three years in Germany as an Army officer. He continued his military service part-time in the National Guard for another 22 years while pursuing full-time employment in several fields. Lars is currently a Junior ROTC instructor at a high school in Chicago.
He attends First Baptist Church in Sycamore, where he leads an adult Bible class, directs the choir on holidays and occasionally leads worship. He and his wife have three grown children and live in Sycamore, where he enjoys astronomy, bike riding and exploring history.
Lars is “truly humbled to serve on the Board of Directors for Network of Nations, constantly in awe of how God continually provides for this ministry” .
-
Fortunata Msilu-Agrey experienced firsthand the challenges of building a new life far from home, including navigating an unfamiliar culture, adjusting to the pace of a new community, and finding a sense of belonging while balancing the demands of academic and family life throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies.
As an international student, Fortunata found a home away from home at the Network of Nations (NON), which she and her family will always cherish for its Mission. She confirms that NON provides an environment where Fortunata, her spouse, and their children can openly discuss the joys and challenges of living in a foreign country and receive invaluable practical support and spiritual encouragement during those seasons of life.
Fortunata graduated from Northern Illinois University, where her research focused on competencies and professional development needs for online teaching. She also has a diverse educational and professional background spanning educational research, evaluation, and assessment; project management; human services; and social psychology.
Fortunata seeks to bring firsthand insight into the international student experience to NON leadership and to ensure the organization remains a welcoming, open-door space where students from all backgrounds can find community, resources, and encouragement as they adjust to life in a new country. Fortunata, her husband, and their children also support NON beneficiaries by serving as spiritual and physical stewards through their church, Bethel Assembly in Sycamore, IL.
-
Lois Miller has been involved with Network of Nations since the early days of the Intercultural Café. On any given Friday evening, she can be found faithfully serving in the kitchen, helping create a warm and welcoming environment for students from around the world. She considers it a privilege to play a role in making the Café a place where students feel at home.
During the school year, Lois works as a librarian at Jefferson Elementary School, where she has the opportunity to interact with many children whose families are part of the international student community at Northern Illinois University.
On weekends, she worships at Hillcrest Covenant Church, where she actively serves in various hospitality roles, including greeting, preparing refreshments, and assisting in the kitchen. She also serves as an online children’s leader with Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), where she finds great joy in sharing God’s Word with the next generation.
In her free time, Lois enjoys reading, working on jigsaw puzzles, baking, taking walks, and creating handmade greeting cards—an expression of her love for creativity.
Lois shares, “My life verse is John 10:10 where Jesus says, ‘The thief comes only to steal and destroy but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.’I thank God for the abundant life He has given me. Being invited to serve on the Network of Nations Board is one more way He has filled my life abundantly”.