Meet The Board
Pastor Travis Knoll
Founder & Chair of The Knoll Fund
Travis Knoll was raised by Jerry and Rachael Knoll as a wandering Aramean, constantly connected to the Methodist Church in one congregation or another. Since 1979 (at age 10) he has lived somewhere in Maryland, finishing with two degrees in Mathematics (90/92) from UMBC and later a degree in Divinity (99) from Wesley Theological Seminary. In 1996 he entered the pulpit and has continued to serve as a pastor since, at 8 different congregations and counting. Currently serving at Nichols-Bethel UMC in Odenton, he is blessed to passionately pursue God with those whom God sends into his life.
Along the way, Sarah (Burzawa) Knoll joined him on the journey (89) and they were blessed with three sons (Christian, 94), Caleb (97), and Lewis (2001) all of whom are healthy, wealthy, and wise,
or at least a pride and joy to Travis and Sarah.
Travis and Sarah have been financially blessed by God and when Jerry Knoll died (20), predeceased by Rachael, much of this inheritance was available to do the work of the kingdom, and so it has, together with the generous gifts and passion of others called to this work of kingdom building through the Bishop Innis Graduate School of Theology in Liberia.
Rudolph M. Bropleh, Ph.D.
Vice Chair of the Knoll Fund
Dr. Rudy Bropleh is an educator, preacher, and visionary leader. Passionate about equipping and empowering others, Dr. Bropleh works extensively in the areas of capacity building, economic empowerment and leadership development. His empowering messages have inspired people around the world. National recording artist, Chance the Rapper, featured a portion of one of Dr. Bropleh’s messages in his hit song, “How Great.” The song was performed at the 2017 Grammy Awards, and Chance the Rapper won 2 Grammies for this work. A sought after speaker, trainer, and conference leader, Dr. Bropleh’s work has taken him across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and many parts of Africa.
An adjunct economics professor at Shepherd University and an ordained Elder in the UMC, Dr. Bropleh serves as the Senior Pastor of Asbury Church in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. While at Asbury the church has gone from a one-classroom congregation to the largest multicultural, multi-ethnic United Methodist Church in the state of West Virginia. Asbury has completed two multimillion-dollar building projects including a gymnasium, a Family Life building, and an Office Annex.
Dr. Bropleh has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Liberia and a Master of Science in Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Howard University and a Master of Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University. He studied at Oxford University, earning a Ph.D. in Pastoral Psychology.
Dr. Bropleh is married to Everane and they have 5 children. His mission is to equip, encourage, and empower others to accomplish God’s purpose for their lives.
Rev. Thomas Lambrecht
Secretary of the Knoll Fund board
Rev. Thomas Lambrecht is an ordained elder in the Wisconsin annual conference, appointed since 2011 to extension ministry as the Vice President and General Manager of Good News, a 50-year-old renewal movement within The United Methodist Church. Tom served on the board of Good News from 1993 until 2011, including four years as chair of the board. In addition, Tom has worked with the Good News legislative team at eight General Conferences, the last four as coordinator of the Renewal and Reform Coalition. Tom has submitted numerous briefs to the Judicial Council and participated in oral arguments before the Council. He was one of the original trustees who formed the Wesleyan Covenant Association, and currently serves on the WCA Council.
Tom served churches in Wisconsin from 1982 until 2011, after a brief career as a music teacher.
Tom has been instrumental in the cause of evangelical renewal within the Wisconsin Conference since 1983, helping to establish the Wisconsin Association of Confessing United Methodists (WACUM) in 1996, the first conference-level Confessing Movement organization, and serving as its first president.
Tom’s wife, Mary, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, a writer, and a speaker at workshops, retreats, and continuing education events. They have three grown daughters and six grandchildren.
Pastor Earl Mason
Treasurer
I am a Baltimore native and graduate of what is now Towson University. I went on to attend Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. and was fully ordained a United Methodist pastor serving congregations in Maryland and West Virginia.(my day job) In 1976 at a bicentennial celebration, I sat next to a young man(Arthur Kulah-later Bishop Kulah) that would in many ways change my life. He was on his way to attend as it turned out to be my seminary. He is both brilliant and highly dedicated to the Lord’s work. He first got me to help raise funds to provide scholarships for the children of village pastors. While I have been involved in many projects in the US such as organizing crop walks for the hungry, 5 years as head of police chaplains for the Cumberland Police department, and over 40 years especially trained in counseling mostly with substance abuse, spouse abuse, premarital and marriage counseling, and suicide prevention. I always rely on God and my training.
Yet in all of this, I have been over the years drawn back to projects for Liberia, West Africa. Unlike the United States, who have been involved in long wars in my life time, Liberia had only been in two since it’s founding in 1828 with the back to Africa movement. Both times to aid it’s closest ally, the United States in World War 1&2. In the 1980’s it all fell apart in a brutal civil war. During that war I served for a brief period as a missionary there.
Two things I want to share from this trip. First while interviewing any pastor who wanted to talk to me, they would describe in detail how many and sometimes all of their family members that had been killed. They ended every interview with the same phrase. “We must forgive or there is no hope for our country.” Second was the tremendous thirst for knowledge from grade school to college.
One never works alone in ministry. The Lord is always there and so was my wife and later my family. My wife is a true partner in my ministry. Also thanks to my daughter Alicia and her husband Aaron who are working on this project with me.
Thanks to Rev. Knoll for including me in such a distinguished and dedicated group of volunteers that make up the board. It is my honor to help.
Pastor Tim Beardsley
Member
My name is Tim Beardsley, I am a pastor with the UMC, and I am serving in the PenDel Conference. I was an owner/operator of a landscape construction company for twenty years prior to God calling me into ministry. I am now a graduate of Asbury University (Spring of 2019) with a BA in the Ministry and Leadership program. I am excited this year to complete my M-Div at Asbury Theological Seminary! I am also looking forward to continuing this adventure in the educational community with the Knoll Fund. The ability of helping others to get a sound theological education in West Africa is such an exciting mission!
Local cultural fun fact: I live on the top of the Chesapeake Bay so favorite food is the Maryland Blue crab! Picking crabs around a table in the summer is a great time of community and dialog.
Fay Pierce
Member
I am retired and enjoying life with my husband and our children and numerous grandchildren. I have been very blessed in my life.
I was a Realtor for 28 years working with home and business buyers in Maryland & Pennsylvania .
I am a faithful follower of Christ and member of a bible beliving church. I have served in many capacities at the church and hope to continue serving God. I have been or numerous mission trips both here and abroad.
I would like to go where I’m led and make a difference with my presence and prayers.
Advisors To The Board
Rev. Dr. Jerry Paye-Manfloe Kulah
Dean
Bishop Innis Graduate School of Theology, United Methodist University
The Reverend Dr. Jerry P. Kulah is an Elder of the United Methodist Church. He is an Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, and Administrator. Since 1997, the Reverend Dr. Kulah has served the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in several capacities, including-Seminary Lecturer, local Pastor, Conference Director of Evangelism and Missions, District Superintendent of the Monrovia District, Dean of the Gbarnga School of Theology, and now, a Lecturer and Dean of the Bishop Innis Graduate School of Theology, United Methodist University. He has been a delegate of the Liberia Annual Conference to the 2012, 2016 and 2019 General Conference. He currently serves as Head of Delegation of the Liberia Annual Conference to the 2022 General Conference.
Dr. Kulah heads the UMC Africa Initiative, an advocacy group within the three Central Conferences of Africa that is committed to upholding the practice of biblical Christianity within the three Central Conferences of Africa and strengthening the growth of the church in Africa. Thorough Initiative, and in partnership with the International Leadership Institute based in Carrollton, Georgia, Dr. Kulah has facilitated missions and leadership seminars, conferences and workshops for pastors and leaders of the UMC in several African countries. He is a Global Council Member of the Wesleyan Covenant Association representing West Africa.
Rev. Dr. Kulah is married to his high school sweetheart, Ruth Chea Kulah, and this union is graciously blessed with four children.
Alicia Barnett
Graphic Designer
Alicia has known the Knolls for close to 30 years. She has a heart for missions and helping others in any way she can. Alicia works as a graphic designer as well as a manager at a Maryland apparel decoration company. She has helped countless clients with their branding and image. She feels it is an honor to volunteer her services to help further God's mission of loving himself and his people. Alicia lives in Maryland with her husband Aaron. She loves spending time with her friends and family and playing board games.
Jerry and Rachael Knoll
Jerry and Rachael are the Knolls of the Knoll Fund. Rachael passed into her eternal reward in 2004, followed by her lifelong husband Jerry in 2020. After meeting at Huntington College in Indiana, near Rachael's childhood home, they married and moved hither and yon as Jerry worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense in various engineering and computer programming capacities. Their three sons were born in a US Army hospital in Italy in the midst of their wanderings. They continued to have a very broad outlook on the Kingdom of God, performing mission work on 3 continents, building churches, caring for orphans, rebuilding from storm and other natural disaster situations, digging wells, and sharing the gospel as God directed them. Lifelong Methodists, they lived their later days and died while actively serving God as laity at Nichols-Bethel UMC in Odenton Maryland.
Financial discipline was a hallmark of their lives, and their sons have been able to provide for themselves and their families as a result. Two of their three sons completed Theological Education and have served God in the specialized ministry of the pastorate. Through God's blessing, they left behind funds in excess of their children's needs. Some of those funds formed the seed around which the Knoll Fund has grown. It is our prayer that their legacy will continue to be a blessing toward God's Kingdom even past their own deaths, and that the blessing of God will continue to bear fruit for the Kingdom as we continue their work of faithfulness. Theological Education in Africa is an opportunity for precisely that blessing to be continued and multiplied greatly.
We at the Knoll Fund invite you to join us in this great work.