Explore our dedicated team of professionals driven by their love for Jesus and passion for serving the people of Madagascar. With a comprehensive suite of skills and a shared commitment to making a positive impact, we are poised to empower communities and transform lives. Join us in our mission to spread love, compassion, and hope across Madagascar.
Pastor David Lerseth
President and
Executive Director
A Lutheran pastor who has served parishes in Rosholt, SD; Peoria (Bartonville), IL; as an assistant to Bishop L. David Brown of the Iowa District/ALC; Aberdeen, SD; and as Director of Global Mission Support for the ELCA, Chicago. Upon retirement he served as interim pastor at Ingleside, IL. and also at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN. A graduate of Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD; and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He and his wife, Diane, reside in Victoria, MN. He enjoys landscape gardening, driving his restored 1929 Model A Ford, and doing charitable auctions as a professionally trained auctioneer.
- Phone: (847) 445-8177
- Email: david.lerseth@madagascarmission.org
Eric Swensson,
Associate Director of
Digital Media Management
Recently retired and living in Florida with his wife Joyce. They have a son, Christopher. Ordained in 1993, Eric also worked with Lutheran groups in communication, marketing and development and now serves Friends of Madagascar in digital messaging.
Lori Krei
Administrative Assistant
Lori enjoys life with her husband, Brad and their 2 dogs. They have 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren. In her spare time, Lori enjoys reading, traveling, genealogy, sewing, cooking, and preserving healthy foods.
Lori is a technology professional with a Computer Science degree and a Masters in Education specializing in Computer Education. Her computer programming experience includes legacy and modern programming languages using mainframe and personal computers. Lori has worked as a computer programmer, website manager, college computer instructor, technology director, and church administrator. After retirement, Lori joined FOMM and is blessed to share her education, skills, and experience supporting staff, board members, and donors.
Jeff Tetzlaff
Vice President
A retired businessman with experience in sales, marketing, business development and program management. He has a BS in Education and an MBA in Marketing. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Shorewood, MN. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Loren Morschen
Board Member
Loren Morschen is a registered architect and is currently a firm principal at Linner Morschen Architects based in Chaska, Minnesota. From 1993 through 1998 Loren and his family lived and worked in Madagascar designing and constructing hospitals and other mission related structures, primarily with the ELCA mission. Loren also keeps busy with his wife Stephanie and four children. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
Andrea Crew
Board Member
A professor of practice at Northwestern College’s Physician Assistant Program in Orange City, Iowa. She previously practiced in family medical clinics in Corning, IA; Spencer, IA; Sioux Rapids, IA; and Hartley, IA. A graduate of Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA, and PACE University, New York City, NY. She also served for 13 years on the Clay County Foster Care Review Board, advocating for children placed in foster care. She lives in Spencer, IA with her husband and has four grown children. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, traveling, and spending time with her family.
RABEZATO Lovamalala Narcisse
Coordinator for Friends of Madagascar Mission activities in Madagascar
In the interview process, when asked why he would want to work with FOMM, he replied with two reasons:
- to be able to help the people of Madagascar who have great needs and,
- to help them to know of Jesus’ love!!”
He is in the process now of moving to Antananarivo and setting up an office there.
He will help FOMM in communication, in visits to the programs for evaluation, and help in the setting up of new or adjusting programs. He will be working half time with FOMM and also be working to finish his law degree. Please pray for him as he begins this work with Friends of Madagascar Mission.
Catherine Marks
Board Secretary
A stay-at-home parent who previously was in the Human Resources field for 18 years. She is a graduate of Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD. She and her husband, Ted, along with their two children reside in Eden Prairie, MN. In her spare time she enjoys working out, doing home projects, and spending quality time with her family and friends!
Craig T. Norenberg
Board Member
Currently serves as co-founder of Avant Private Communities, LLC, a real estate development company with an emphasis on market rate and senior housing. Craig also serves as a Director of Let’s Go Fishing (LGF), a 501.c.3 nonprofit headquartered in Willmar, MN, and Treasurer of Stellar Impact Foundation. Prior to joining these organizations, he co-founded two high tech startup companies in the twin cities, the latest of which is StealthMark, Inc. Prior to the startups, Craig spent his career in financial management for both Medtronic, Inc. and Control Data Corporation. Craig is married and lives with his wife, Eileen, in Brooklyn Center, MN. They have two adult daughters and five grandchildren.
Rabenasolo Lanto
Program Director in Madagascar
Lanto is a former CFO for an NGO with 100+ employees and has 23 years of experience in the supply system. In addition, he was Director for Research and Strategic Planning and a former Director for Sales & Distribution.
Lanto recently completed 22 years, have been within the Executive Board for a non-profit organization (Health Department of the Malagasy Lutheran Church).
He is a multi-disciplinary manager with background in Economics and Micro-management from the University of Antananarivo Madagascar.
Lanto comes to FOMM with 38 years of experience with church-related organizations, strategic and organizational work and, skills in Christian Leadership.
In addition, he is currently a deacon in the Ambatovinaky Lutheran Church, Madagascar.
Lanto spends his free time playing soccer and loves to walk. His love of reading led to an award in book reading (more than 2000 books) and he continues to read books and magazines. When possible, Lanto loves travelling the world and the country of Madagascar.
Lanto loves Madagascar Island, is an empathetic person, likes watching documentary films, likes doing historical research especially the history of Christianism worldwide and in Madagascar.
Jeannot Luther Razafindrabefitory
Translation Coordinator
Kirsten Schlicht
Board Treasurer
A Client Relations Manager with St. Croix Solutions, Minnetonka, MN. She has been in the technology field for the past 12 years. She is a graduate of Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD. She and her husband, Jeff and sons, reside in Jordan, MN. She enjoys running, cooking, and reading in her spare time.
Lee Laaveg
Board Member
A Lutheran pastor who has served parishes in Park River, ND; Hoople, ND; Jewell, IA; Forrest City, IA; our Saviors, Rockford, IL; and Spencer, IA. In addition he has served as the Development Director for Ingham Okoboji Bible Camp, Milford, IA. Upon retirement he serves as a part time pastor at Fosston, MN. A graduate of Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He and his wife, Denise reside at Bemidji, MN He enjoys outdoor activities (fishing, water skiing, hiking), music, reading and chasing his grandchildren.
Lalao Rasoarizay Norohanta
Director of Finances in Madagascar
She has a distinguished career in financial management. She has a degree in Financial Management from the University of Madagascar, a certificate in operational auditing from the national Institute of Accounting Sciences and Business Administration and a certificate from the Forecast and Budget Professional Training in Business and Commerce Administration.
These financial management qualifications have led her to be the Head of Internal Audit Department at SALFA (Madagascar Lutheran Church’s Medical Program)from 1986 to 2009 and from 2009 to 2010 the Malagasy Lutheran Church Project Coordinator.
She has been an active member of the Malagasy Lutheran Church and has served as a deacon at her home congregation from 2005 until the present. While she and her husband live in Antananarivo, they are still people of the land as they have a farm to grow rice.
David Isaacson
Director of Research
and Grant Writing
David is a Messianic Jew who came to faith in Jesus the Messiah at a young age. He is a trained teacher and works as an online learning specialist and educational strategy consultant in Melbourne, Australia where he lives with his wife and daughter. He is part of a local church community and has a heart for missions related to orphanages, education, poverty relief and capability development and has actively engaged in supporting programs and projects in these areas for more than 25 years. He completed a research PhD in 2020 for which he developed software for improving the quality of learning design. David is a classical guitarist and plays in a community orchestra in Melbourne.