Deby Carroll
(Controller - US)
Deby has a BS degree in Business Management from Northern Illinois University. The majority of her background has been in corporate travel management, servicing accounts such as Westinghouse, Eastman Kodak and Diners Club. Deby accepted a transfer from Chicago to Orlando in 1993. In 1996 she left the travel industry to open her own pet-sitting business in Sarasota when her husband accepted a transfer. In 1999 her husband passed away suddenly and Deby moved back to the Orlando area to be close to family. She now lives in Winter Park, Florida and is active with Westminster Presbyterian Church where she met Sharon and Morrie Butler, former U.S. Tour Coorindators.

Deby joined Music Mission Kiev in October of 2002 as Assistant U.S. Administrator. She feels that she was led to join Music Mission Kiev after hearing of the plight of widows and orphans in Ukraine. She is thrilled to be a part of a ministry that touches so many lives in such a wonderful way.

Veronica Santeusanio

(Missions Project Coordinator)

Veronica, a/k/a Ronnie, has a BS degree in Elementary Education
from Nyack College, Nyack, N.Y.  She moved to Orlando in 1977 from N.J. for a teaching position at a private school.  In 1981 she traveled to Japan where she spent two years teaching conversational English.  Upon return to the States, she entered the Insurance Industry as a “Claims Adjuster.”  After working almost 23 years in insurance, she sought a career change and desired to do something more meaningful with her life. She responded to an employment advertisement in the Northland Church newspaper, where she attends church. She then joined the ministry of MMK in November, 2005.

 

Ronnie is single and owns a townhouse in southeast Orlando.  Her parents live nearby, as well as her “twin” adopted sisters.  She also has four nephews ranging in age from 9-17 that all live within 5 miles of her home.  She enjoys spending time with her friends, going to the beach, traveling, photography, scrap-booking, bike riding, and reading. She is active in her church and works part-time in their bookstore.
Ronnie is excited about working for MMK and having a ministry to the widows and orphans in Kiev.     

Brenda Tompkins

(U.S. Tour Director/Donor Relations)

 

Brenda is honored and blessed to be a part of this wonderful ministry. Brenda says, "God has always used music in my life to touch my soul, lift my spirit and comfort my heart."

 

A little background information: She is a native of Virginia. Brenda has 3 grown children, three grandchildren, and has lived in Orlando since 1965.  She began a 34-year career in real estate in 1971 working as a real estate associate.  In 1972 she earned her real estate brokers license and did new home sales for 20 years.  Brenda then turned to management in 1993 earning her Community Association Management License in 2000.  The 4 ½ years prior to joining Music Mission Kiev she managed a 480-unit condo association and operated a small real estate office.

 

Brenda is actively involved in her church, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, FL. She is looking forward to meeting all our wonderful donors as she joins The Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on their tours of the United States.

 

Caitlin Nelson

(Donor System Administrative Assistant)                         

Caitlin joined the MMK staff in September 2007 after attending a ministry-sponsored orphan camp that summer. Born and raised in CT, she was a TESOL tutor and office coordinator for a small non-profit organization previous to her move down-south. Studying online with the American TESOL Institute to earn her teaching certification for Eastern Europe, Caitlin feels the peoples of the former Soviet Union are her heart-song and serving them is her God-given calling.

 

In her free moments, she loves to study languages, dance, travel (having already set foot in 7 different countries), cook for her loved ones and marvel at the beauty of a New England autumn.

                       

First introduced to Music Mission Kiev in 2004 when her family hosted 3 of the touring orchestra members, Caitlin feels blessed to be the Lord’s tool in this vibrant and God-centered ministry!

 

Sergei Basarab
(Director of Ministries)
Sergei graduated from Kiev State University in the Dept. of Journalism. He earned an M.A. in International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in 1990. He was interpreting for Pastor George McCammon when Roger first came to Ukraine in 1992. From the first rehearsal Sergei interpreted for Roger to the Ukrainian musicians. When Roger moved to Ukraine the next year, Sergei again helped him as interpreter for rehearsals, and for the beginning days of Church of the Holy Trinity.

Today Sergei interprets Roger's Bible lessons as well as the sermons at St. Paul's Evangelical Church through a simultaneous translation system for English-speaking visitors. In the office, Sergei has the important responsibility of communicating for Roger to high government officials (such as in the negotiations for the Radio and Television Studio), and translating documents and Christian books from English to Russian and Ukrainian.

Natasha Shevchenko
(Director of Widows Ministry)
Since 1995 Natasha Shevchenko has worked as a teacher of English at the Medical Institute. In 1996,one of her students invited her to Church of the Holy Trinity where she met the McMurrins for the first time and accepted Christ as her Savior.  In 1997, Natasha volunteered in the kitchen for the church dinners in the McMurrin apartment. Soon she became Diane McMurrin’s interpreter on weekends with the widows.

In the last seven years, the McMurrins have depended more and more upon Natasha talents as she has become administrator for the Evangelism Explosion program called “Heart to Heart” with the widows and pensioners, leader of the Widows Prayer Group, communications coordinator with the Widows Sponsorship Program, organizer for the Widows Fellowship Banquets, and now secretary of the St. Paul’s Evangelical Church.  Says Natasha: “I am grateful to God that He allowed me to meet the MMK Christian family and for the opportunity to help Roger and Diane in their important work.”

Vika Konchakovskaya
(Director of Concert Ministry)
Vika gradated from the University of Culture and Arts in Kiev. She taught singing and directed a folk choir. In 1993, her friend Anna Ilchenko who was singing in Roger's choir invited her to come to audition. She joined the choir that day.

In 1996 before the first KSOC tour to America, Roger, knowing Vika had conducted a folk choir, pointed to her in rehearsal and said, "You! Conduct this piece." Vika took the challenge, and Roger has used her as one of his assistant conductors ever since. In 1999, she co-conducted the chorus for the first presentation of West Side Story. By July 2002, her "never give up" spirit was needed and she was hired on staff to help in preparing documents and shipments to America for the Western tour as well as the recording of eight CDs that summer. Since then her management projects have included radio programs, recordings, and "worship and music" seminar projects in churches across the former Soviet Union. Vika became a Christian through the mission. 

Lilya Zolonitskaya
(Director of Christian Children's Clubs)
Lilya is a teacher working at the secondary school in Kiev. Since 2001, she started working with the Christian Children Club after school program, teaching Christian ethics to the students. In 2005, Lilya was appointed as the Director of the ministry. Lilya says "This takes a lot of strength of my own and gives a lot of joy through communication with students, who’s hearts are opened to the Lord."

The first time she became associated with our ministry is when she came to the Church of the Holy Trinity in 1998. She was invited by a friend to a Bible study. However before that time she had attended a few concerts of KSOC directed by Roger McMurrin. Lilya says, "The music that they played uplifted me above everyday problems, got deeply into my heart. With a great joy I started attending the Church of the Holy Trinity." In the beginning of 2000, Lilya became a member of the church. She is now leading the Sunday School class for kids, and also was taking care of some orphans from the orphanage #21.

Sergii Golubnychyi
(Conductor of KYOC)
Sergii Golubnychyi started his work as principle conductor of the KYOC in March 2005 when Matthew McMurrin moved back to the States. Sergii is a graduate student at the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky. He graduated with honors (class of accordion). He is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree at the Department of Operatic and Symphony Conducting of the National Music Academy of Ukraine. Sergii now serves as one of the assistant conductors with the KSOC, and most recently has started conduting the new youth choir.
 




Valentina Yenichek
(Widows Ministry Administrator)
Five foot-two Valentina grew up in an orphanage, and was sent to Construction Trade School to become a crane operator. (What were they thinking?) She later graduated from musical college in Lugansk in the Dept. of conducting. She sang in the A Cappella Dumka Choir and Chamber Choir. When Roger moved to Kiev, she was conducting a choir at the registry office of the Wedding Palace, providing music for State weddings. Her husband Valentine had auditioned for Roger's choir and advised her to do the same.

Since then Valentina has been one of the singers of the KSOC. She assists them as choral librarian, attendance keeper, and salary clerk. In 1995, Valentina began the widows program as administrator and continues to this day. She is in the office daily with her record-keeping responsibilities and she runs the big Xerox machine for printing many pages. Recently she has become advisor with Diane McMurrin in her Friends of the Fatherless weekly group meetings. She evaluates the young people's requests for help and works with funds that are available.