Karmen Friesen - Global Forum for a World Without Orphans

a strategic time
to activate, connect,
and equip the Christian community
worldwide to address the orphan crisis

Executive Director - CoMission for Children at Risk

Karmen has led CoMission since 2001, networking, resourcing and equipping Christian leaders, organizations, churches and individuals in Russia and Ukraine to minister more effectively to orphans and children at risk. Since 2007, a major focus has been equipping Russian and Ukrainian Christians for adoption and foster care. As a result, Karmen has been involved in developing the Russia Without Orphans Alliance and supporting Ukraine Without Orphans, movements that are engaging the Church in their own countries for family-based care. He is also on the steering team of World Without Orphans, working globally to mobilize national movements like the ones in Russia and Ukraine. As part of his work, Karmen has coordinated numerous conferences and led the development of online directories of orphan care resources and events, in both English and Russian. Karmen's current focus is on helping to coordinate the Global Forum for a World Without Orphans. Karmen currently lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA with his wife, Kristen and children, Luka and Anya.

More leadership team members

Judith Rycus

Program Director and Manager of International Programs, Institute for Human Services / North American Resource Center for Child Welfare

Ron Braund

Co-Founder - CoMission for Children at Risk; President - Family Business Transitions

Steve Young

Senior Program Officer with the First Fruit Institute

Arto Hamalainen

Chairman of Pentecostal European Fellowship and of World Missions Commission of Pentecostal World Fellowship

Ruby Johnston, L.S.W.

Director of International Field Operations – Institute for Human Services; Co-founder - LAMb International

Shiferaw W. Michael

Africa Coordinator for Transform World Movement 2020

Brian O'Connell

President - REACT Services; Chair - Refugee Highway Partnership; Global Children's Forum

Andriy Fedun

Steve Weber

President - CBN Ukraine

Nikolay Kuleba

Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children's Rights; Co-Founder - Alliance for Ukraine Without Orphans

Luis Bush

Servant, Transform World 2020, Servant Catalyst, 4/14 Window Movement and Chancellor, Cornerstone International University

Luis Bush is Servant, Transform World 2020, Servant Catalyst, 4/14 Window Movement and Chancellor, Cornerstone International University

Anita Deyneka

Coordinator of Home for Every Orphan - Mission Eurasia

Karmen Friesen

Executive Director - CoMission for Children at Risk

Karen Springs

Project Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Orphan’s Promise

Menchit Wong

Global Advisory Council for WWO, as Vice-Chairman of the International Board of the Lausanne Movement, the Global Leadership Team of the 4/14 Global

Jodi Jackson Tucker

International Director for Orphan Sunday, Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO)

Brian Wilkinson

Head of Programme, Viva Network

Gordon Showell-Rogers

Global Director, One We Stand, Executive Advisory Team, World Without Orphans, Formerly Associate Secretary General, World Evangelical Alliance

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