Meet the Go and Tell Team
Christina Burke
Founder, President, & Chief Nana
My Background:
I am a widow, mother, and nana. I love the Lord and I try to live for Him daily. I volunteer at my local church and also at one of the local schools. I have been a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, and have served on short-term missions.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
I am so excited to be part of an organization that is truly committed to helping children. I love children and it breaks my heart to see these children suffering. To do something about it and be able to help them brings great joy to my heart.
My Go-To Verse:
“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
~Romans 12:5
Erica Koeppen
DNP, FNP-C, ANGP-C
Director and
Medical & Chief Nursing Officer
My Background:
I am a sibling, aunt, and work closely with San Diego’s veteran population at the Veteran’s Affairs in La Jolla. I serve as a mentor to pre-teens and young adults. I have served as a short-term medical missionary in India and have a new-found love for Uganda. I enjoy the outdoors and exploring God’s beauty.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
I am excited to be part of an Organization where I can give back to God what is already his. I am blessed with the opportunity to serve and grow in my faith with the Go and Tell family.
My Go-To Verse:
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11
Michelle Harris
Director and Nursing Officer
My Background:
I am beyond exited and blessed to be a part of this awesome group! It is such an honor to serve among you. I left a part of my heart in Uganda on my first trip! It was certainly God directed from the first moment. I had a vision of a place with red dirt and many beautiful children and just sharing the love. I was not sure what it meant but that vision stayed with me. One day soon after I was browsing at a book store, and there it was, the red dirt and children just like I had seen in my vision. It was Katie Davis’ book “Kisses from Katie”! I had chills. I read the book in 2 nights and knew God was speaking to my heart. I prayed for him to reveal His plan. I knew Africa was calling! Very soon after a friend from church, Devon Pratt mentioned he was planning a mission trip to Uganda. Again the chills, he explained about BWO. I immediately went home that Sunday and looked it up and next thing I knew applied. From there everything fell into place! I could not believe the very place I saw, the very place Jinja Uganda in the book , and I was going. I left my heart there, in those beautiful big brown eyes and smiles! I have followed Go and Tell and the amazing growth as a result of hearts God drew together to carry out His work. I knew God had more I just didn’t know what and when! So it is with great pleasure I accept the invitation to serve along side you all! I have been a nurse since 1992. I have a beautiful daughter Molly who has been to Uganda with me and also has a heart for it. She is 21 and about to start nursing school. My son Blake is 23 and while more of a homebody is proud of his mom and so supportive. Since I was small I always felt the call to missions but really had no direction. Everything in Gods time right?
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity I hope I can serve well and God will work through me to do great things! I am not an eloquent speaker or a scholar of the Bible but I know as my favorite verse says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
I am so excited and blessed to work with this wonderful organization and the Ssempa family. On my very first visit, I fell so in love with all those beautiful children. Just to share the love of God with them is such a true blessing. I hope to grow in my spirituality and faith as the Holy Spirit works through me. I have watched the growth of Go and Tell from the beginning, and I am so impressed with what has been accomplished.
My Go-To Verse:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
~Phillippians 4:13
Annette Nyqvist
Co-Founder, Director & Secretary
My Background:
I have been a tent-making missionary for most of my adult life. I have been a special education teacher for over 30 years, primarily teaching children in grades K - 3rd grade, while spending summers, Christmas, and Easter vacations on short-term missionary endeavors around the world. I have a deep love for people living in villages and creating sustainable incomes for these people. In my spare time, I am a woodcarver specializing in creating love spoons, wood sculptures, and crosses.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
From the very beginning, Go and Tell wanted to encourage and support a locally owned and operated ministry that knew the needs of the people better than foreign missionaries. The model developed from writings of former President of World Vision, Richard Stearns, who in his book, The Hole in our Gospel, encouraged support of ministers of local Churches worldwide.
My Go-To Verse:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
~Luke 4:18-19
Melissa Kauk
Director and Advisor
My Background:
I am a Mom and teacher who always wanted to be a part of something bigger. Then I went to Uganda! I served with the medical team, worshipped in the local churches, and had the privilege to serve at a special-needs orphanage. The beautiful children of Uganda stole my heart and I will never be the same.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
I am beyond blessed to be a part of the team and show God’s love and power to the gracious people of Uganda. Please pray about joining us!
My Go-To Verse:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
~Isaiah 61:1
Jenny McPhail
Director of Web Devlopment
My Background:
I have been blessed with many opportunities in my life, working as a forensic chemist, surgical tech, writer, editor, graphic designer, web developer, and mission director. However, my greatest “job” is being a mother to three amazing children. My heart is for missions and my prayer is to live my life in obedience to God’s call to glorify Him in everything I do.
Although I have done mission work in children’s ministries throughout the U.S., God called me out of my comfort zone several years ago. As a single mom, taking that step of faith was challenging for me, but I knew I had to be obedient to God’s call. That call has led me in many missions across the globe – from Belize, to Ecuador, to Turkey and Greece, to Nepal, and several missions into Africa.
My prayer and heart’s desire is to share the love and salvation of Christ to the ends of the earth.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
From the moment I met the team from Go and Tell in Uganda back in 2013, I have been praying for God to continue His great work through them. I have watched from afar for so many years, and to now have the opportunity to work alongside them is a tremendous blessing. I am excited for this next generation of children who have been so greatly blessed by God’s Hands through Go and Tell, and excited for the future generations as God continues to use this organization for His Glory.
My Go-To Verse:
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
~Matthew 25:40
Ssempa Ruth
School Director
My Background:
I am a wife, mother, and dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. I have four children, and we currently live in Masaka, Uganda. My husband and I are the founders of KidsCare School and also oversee Timothy Home. I graduated from Makere University with a degree in education and have a desire to bring hope to these children.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
My husband and I were heartbroken by the many orphaned children and the children being abused by their families in the area. We started off cooking food for the children, counseling them, and playing with them. Our desire to help turned into the bigger vision of KidsCare and now we are so excited to have partners who will help us save these children. We can’t wait to see all that God will do through us.
My Go-To Verse:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11
Dawna Tierce
Director, Treasurer, & Bookkeeper
My Background:
I am an empty nester mother of three. I worked at Costco for 35 years. God brought the ladies of Go and Tell into my life at the perfect time and I am thankful for each of them.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
I am so blessed by the love and compassion that Go and Tell shares with the children in Uganda. I am honored to be a part of such a beautiful ministry.
My Go-To Verse:
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
~Romans 15:13
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
My heart was changed in 2013, when God called me to step out of my comfort zone and see “His” children in Uganda. It was there that I met the wonderful ladies that make up the Go and Tell team. My prayer was “start a fire down in my soul, one that I can’t control”, a plea only He comprehended, unveiling my purpose in ministry. My husband, Greg, and I spent time with the team in California and saw firsthand the work of Christina, Annette, and Jenny. I prayed to the Lord that if the team invited me to join, I would wholeheartedly serve. I am honored to stand with the Go and Tell team and the Sempa family to nurture children into Godly men and women. I want to serve the Lord and contribute to building His kingdom.
My Go-To Verse:
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
I am a wife to Greg since 1993 and we have three grown children: Dylan, Emily and Tyler. My three mini doxies are my special luvs: Raven Joy and her babies, Mabelynn and Toby.
I have studied education for over 30 years with a Kindergarten-8 degree and a Masters in Early Education. My lifelong passion has been to teach children about Jesus and build relationships with families in the early childcare setting. I have worked at Gilead Christian School for the past 26 years with the last 7 on administration.
Greg and I had fostered for about 4 years. We had the privilege of opening our home to 18 children ranging from 6 weeks to 17 years old.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, puzzles, walks on our 12 acres and sports (hockey, nascar and football). God is so good!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
I am a wife to Greg since 1993 and we have three grown children: Dylan, Emily and Tyler. My three mini doxies are my special luvs: Raven Joy and her babies, Mabelynn and Toby.
I have studied education for over 30 years with a Kindergarten-8 degree and a Masters in Early Education. My lifelong passion has been to teach children about Jesus and build relationships with families in the early childcare setting. I have worked at Gilead Christian School for the past 26 years with the last 7 on administration.
Greg and I had fostered for about 4 years. We had the privilege of opening our home to 18 children ranging from 6 weeks to 17 years old.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, puzzles, walks on our 12 acres and sports (hockey, nascar and football). God is so good!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
My Background
Michele Knight
Director & Sponsor Liaison
Mike Brisson
Advisor
My Background:
In 1992, I helped plant a church in Southern California. For 23 years, I helped pastor it as we saw God work and grow that ministry to over 5000 members. One of my responsibilities was missions. I still have a passion for ministries that reach unchurched people and care for the basic needs of those people.
I’m an entrepreneur at heart and love new things. For the past 8 years, my wife Brenda and I have worked as realtors helping over 100 families a year sell homes and buy their dream homes. We have two adult children, Hannah (who sponsors a Go and Tell child) and Zack (who serves in the youth ministry at his church). We are very proud of them.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
I love the ministry of Go and Tell. I am blown away by what God has accomplished in a few short years. The women who lead this ministry are the most faithful, tenderhearted women I know. Their vision is clear and they have stayed committed to it. Their values resonate with mine and I believe in what they have done, are doing, and want to do in the future. I hope that after visiting this web site, your heart will be touched by God and that you will decide to join us.
My Go-To Verse:
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
-2 Timothy 1:7
Ssempa Peter
Director of Timothy Home, Kids Care,
Joy Mobile Clinic, &
Masaka Business Institute
My Background:
I am a husband, father, and dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. I have four children, and we currently live in Masaka, Uganda. My wife and I are the founders of Kids Care School and also oversee Timothy Home. I graduated from Makere University with a degree in education and have a desire to bring hope to these children.
What Gets Me Excited About Being a Part of Go and Tell:
My wife and I were heartbroken by the many orphaned children and the children being abused by their families in the area. We started off cooking food for the children, counseling them, and playing with them. Our desire to help turned into the bigger vision of KidsCare and now we are so excited to have partners who will help us save these children. We can’t wait to see all that God will do through us.
My Go-To Verse:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11