MEET OUR TEAM

Africa New Life Ministries Rwanda was founded by Rwandans and is run by Rwandans. More than 300 Rwandan and East African staff serve to educate children, pastor families spiritually, care for the medical needs of our communities, and promote growth of the ministry in Rwanda.

Africa New Life Ministries International exists in the U.S. to support the work in Rwanda in the areas of sponsorship, development, team trips, financial accountability, and church/strategic partnerships.

Learn about our international leadership team and U.S. staff members below!

LEADERSHIP

The Leadership Team is composed of the high-level leadership of both the U.S. and Rwandan sides of Africa New Life. Its members work closely together in person and across thousands of miles to drive the ministry forward.

Dr. Charles Mugisha

President and Co-Founder
Kigali, Rwanda

Dr. Charles Mugisha

Charles Mugisha grew up in Uganda in a family of Rwanda refugees. After seeing the devastation in his home country following the 1994 genocide, Charles and his wife Florence founded Africa New Life Ministries in 2001 to bring hope to young Rwandans. With degrees from Reformed Theological College in Kampala, Uganda, Multnomah University, and Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Charles currently serves as the lead pastor of New Life Bible Church in Kigali and as the President of Africa New Life.

Alan Hotchkiss

U.S. Executive Director
Portland, Oregon

Alan Hotchkiss

In 2008, after having served as the National Director of Church and Community Partnerships at the Palau Association for 10 years, Alan joined the Africa New Life team. Visiting Rwanda and meeting his sponsored students in 2006 changed Alan's life forever! Today he uses his passion for the children of Rwanda to encourage others to partner with Africa New Life. Alan lives in Gresham with his wife. They have two daughters and attend East Hill Church.

Rev. Fred Isaac Katagwa

Rwanda Executive Director
Kigali, Rwanda

Natalie Green

Chief Advancement Officer
Austin, Texas

Natalie Green

Natalie's first trip to Rwanda in 2007 to meet her sponsored student opened her eyes to what her heart felt all along: the call to advocate for vulnerable children and families. With experience in teaching and in project management on Wall Street, she transitioned to working with Africa New Life in 2009. She has spent the past decade building Africa New Life's major programs, partnerships, and funding network in the U.S.

Florence M. Mugisha

Director of Women’s Ministry and Co-Founder
Kigali, Rwanda

Florence M. Mugisha

Growing up a Rwandan refugee in Uganda, Florence developed a passion for helping girls for whom education was out of reach. After meeting her husband Charles in college and receiving a master’s degree from Multnomah University, Florence used her savings to help sponsor the first 30 children and launch Africa New Life Ministries. Today, Florence serves as the Director of Women’s Ministries for Africa New Life and is a motivational speaker and preacher of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Matt Stein

Director of Development and Marketing (U.S.)
Portland, Oregon

Matt Stein

Having spent many years in working with students in local church ministry and Young Life, Matt came to Africa New Life with a passion to see God transform lives both in Rwanda and in the U.S. He brings a pastoral heart to his relationships with major donors and to his leadership in the areas of fundraising, church partnerships, marketing, and communications. Matt and his wife, Jocelyn, stay busy with their three children and their investment in the local community.

Eugene Mugisha

Director of Programs and Development (Rwanda)
Kigali, Rwanda

Donna Henry

Director of U.S. Programs and Strategic Alignment
Phoenix, Arizona

Regina Mukasano

Director of Operations (Rwanda)
Kigali, Rwanda

Dan Leischner, CPA

Director of Operations (U.S.)
Portland, Oregon

Peace Mukaigara

Director of Finance (Rwanda)
Kigali, Rwanda

Damalie Kayigwa Nsonga

Internal Auditor
Kigali, Rwanda

Dr. Peace Mukabalisa

Chief of Operations & Medical Director, Dream Medical Center Hospital
Kigali, Rwanda

Specioza Dusabe Mukazaire

Program Manager
Kigali, Rwanda

Augustine Ndemezo

Program Manager
Kigali, Rwanda

Trina Lee

Sponsorship Program Senior Manager
Portland, Oregon

Betty Davis

Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
The Woodlands, Texas

Crissy McDowell

Senior Manager of People & Culture
Houston, Texas

Yvonne Umulisa

Esther Scholar Program Manager
Kigali, Rwanda

Kelly Wesley

Post-Secondary Program Manager
Portland, Oregon

Elijah Nyemina

Post-Secondary Coordinator
Kigali, Rwanda

TEAM TRIPS

Our Team Trips staff work on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that every traveler to Rwanda with us has a safe, organized, and inspirational visit and gains a powerful experience of what God is doing through Africa New Life.

Lillian Abatoni

Missions and Donor Relations Administrator
Kigali, Rwanda

U.S. STAFF

The U.S. staff works out of our Portland, Oregon, headquarters and from locations in Texas, California, Indiana, and Connecticut. They would love to hear from you! Submit your questions or information requests via the contact form below and the appropriate staff member will be in touch with you.

Maggie Andrews

Bookkeeper

Emily Carminati

Communications Specialist

Leslie Forster

Systems Product Manager

Joanne Fuller

Donor Administrator

Morgan Jones

Development Project Manager

Tori Jowers

Communications Coordinator

Livia Le

Executive Assistant

Sonni Mackzum

Sponsorship Coordinator

Hannah Peterson

Sponsorship Administrator

Julie Rathjen

Sponsorship Coordinator

Jill Riewald

Development Administrator

Jeremiah Smith

Church Partnerships Manager

Megan Westby

Community Development & Grants Manager

Cheri Wilson

Operations Specialist

Any questions about the ministry or requests for information should go to the appropriate U.S. leadership or staff member through the contact form below or via our direct phone line: 866.979.0393.

MAKE YOUR BIGGEST IMPACT

Your gift to Africa New Life’s Impact Fund (general fund) makes the transformation of lives in Rwanda possible. A gift to the Impact Fund can be used wherever opportunities or needs arise, whether in Rwanda or here in the US; it allows Africa New Life to be the most responsive when we need to be. We believe the Impact Fund is the most strategic and timely investment you can make. Thank you for helping this ministry grow!

Give to the Impact Fund
Give to the Vocational Sewing Program Give to the Special Medical Fund Give to our Food and Care Program Give to Africa College of Theology

View all giving options