Board Members

Deaconess Tina Earl is a member of Sarepta Sisterhood, a community founded 1869 in the tradition of Kaiserswerth. She has 2 grown up children, a daughter and a son. Sister Tina Earl works as Deputy Nurse Manager in the Hospice „Haus Zuversicht“ in Bethel, Bielefeld/Germany. Having served on several international ecumenical committees in Bethel, UEM (United Evangelical Mission) she felt connected to the global christian network. In the former European Baptist Convention (now International Baptist Convention = IBC) she served for many years in Church planting and as Music and Sunday School Director. Today her home Church is a Lutheran Church in Bielefeld where she is involved in the band and several choirs.

On a personal note:
Being part of the worldwide network of Diakonia, what a wonderful opportunity and privilege to have fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ! It is a great honour to serve as board member of Diakonia DRAE and World. Meeting people from different ecumenical backgrounds and hospitality is a great joy to me personally. I am thankful for several KAIRE meetings and Diakonia world conferences I was able to attend. Especially in times like these keeping relationships and communication alive on an international level are of the utmost importance.

Deaconess Mable Kifwabantu Sichali is a Deaconess with the United Church of Zambia. She has been the Head of the Department for the Community Development and Social Justice department for the church since 2014, based in Lusaka. She works with some of the poorest and most marginalised people in Zambian society, with a focus on social justice, gender-based violence, child abuse, and a response to climate change.

Mable has a Master of Social Work in Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation from DMI. St. Eugene University, a degree in Social Work from Cavendish University-Zambia, a diploma in Development Studies (Training for Transformation) from Grail Centre in collaboration with Kilmage college of Development Studies, a certificate in Diaconia Studies from UCZ Theological College, a certificate in Psychosocial Counselling by KARA Counselling, with a number of certificates in short capacity building courses. In addition, Mable is a trainer of trainer in Training for transformation, Child Safeguarding Principles and Policy formulation, Organisational capacity building, Gender Justice and Missional Congregations Approach.

Mable is also a member of the DIAKONIA World Justice Committee.

Gordon is a Deacon of the Church of Scotland currently serving as prison Chaplain in HMP EDINBURGH. Gordon previously served as a parish Deacon in Livingston. He was ordained in 2015 after working previously in Civil Engineering.  He has a passion for intergenerational worship and looking for ways to encounter God out with our buildings.

Gordon is married to Jennifer and they have two adult children. He loves football and when not in prison (…working!) he can be found mostly frequenting the ‘Tynecastle’ home of his beloved Heart of Midlothian FC.

Sebastian Haupt was confirmed as a Deacon in Neuendettelsau in 2022 by the Diaconia and Evangelical Church of Bavaria and has been a member of the Diakoneo Gemeinschaft Neuendettelsau since then. He had already worked for many years in his parish with children and young people. After studying education, he accompanied young adults during their voluntary social year. After this, he then worked in the field of adult education. Since 2022, Sebastian has been working as a Deacon at Diakoneo, which is one of the largest health and social enterprises in Germany. As part of this role, he is also the Representative for Financial and Law (RFL) for DIAKONIA World Federation e.V. For him it is important to create a network of Christians, to exchange ideas with each other, to support each other with his own gifts, to live in community and to try to introduce young people to the Christian faith in a modern way.

Sister Berthe led the community of Deaconess sisters, “Abaja ba Kristo“, in Rwanda for 11 years, concluding her role in 2021. She had taken over the role after the death of Sr Anke Slagmolen.

”I was born in a family of six children. I have been a member of the Deaconesses Sisters Community Abaja ba Kristo for 35+ years. When I was a little child, I used to attend and participate in Sunday School, whereby we were taught Bible stories, songs and how to pray. At the age of 15, I started to understand better what I had learnt in Sunday School, and the meaning of the Word of God in my life. So, that is when I decided to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Afterwards, I continued to hear a voice in me telling me to serve God being a sister. I think it is because I was living near a community of Roman Catholic sisters. However, I did not want to change my church. That voice did not cease. In my prayer I asked God saying, “If you want me to serve you in that way, start a community in our church. Meanwhile I kept silence and waited.
About two years later, I heard news that my church want to start a community of sisters. I feared God and was convinced that it was the answer that God gave me. Immediately, I collected all information and went to register for application. I joined the community on the 01st of December 1984.
I am grateful to God for how he has faithfully been with me all over these past years. I faced some difficulties, but the good that God did to me is far more than them. Until today, I don’t regret to have chosen this way. Glory be to God for His protection!”