MEET OUR TEAM

Africa New Life Ministries Rwanda was founded by Rwandans and is run by Rwandans. More than 500 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

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
Trina K. Lee

Trina Lee

Director of Program Alignment (U.S.)
Portland, Oregon

Donna Henry

Senior Strategist
Phoenix, Arizona

Regina Mukasano

Director of Operations (Rwanda)
Kigali, Rwanda
Dan Leischner

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
Betty Davis

Betty Davis

Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
The Woodlands, Texas

Specioza Dusabe Mukazaire

Program Manager
Kigali, Rwanda
Pierre Celestin

Dr. Rutayisire Pierre Celestin

Program Manager
Kigali, Rwanda
Julie Rathjen

Julie Rathjen

Sponsorship Program Manager
Portland, Oregon

Yvonne Umulisa

Esther Scholar Program Manager
Kigali, Rwanda
Kelly Wesley

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.

Alice Duppenthaler

Alice Duppenthaler

Team Trips Coordinator
Portland, Oregon

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, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. 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.

Marika Ahounou

Marika Ahounou

Sponsorship Coordinator
Maggie Andrews

Maggie Andrews

Bookkeeper
Tricia Arias

Tricia Arias

Development Manager
Livia Bircher

Livia Bircher

Executive Assistant

Emily Carminati

Communications Specialist
Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis

Advancement Administrator

Pamela Davis

Sponsorship Administrator
Sarah Davisson

Sarah Davisson

Sponsorship Administrator
Leslie Forster

Leslie Forster

Systems Product Manager

Morgan Jones

Advancement & Events Manager
Tori Jowers

Tori Jowers

Communications Coordinator
Julie Lowery

Julie Lowery

Operations Administrator, Finance
Amanda Moreno

Amanda Moreno

Operations Administrator, People & Culture
Amanda Regas

Amanda Regas

Marketing Administrator
Jill Riewald

Jill Riewald

Development Administrator
Brook Rodrigues

Brook Rodrigues

Sponsorship Coordinator
Jason Seifert

Jason Seifert

Church Partnership Representative

Jeremiah Smith

Church Partnerships Manager
Micah Watson

Micah Watson

Church Partnership Representative
Cheri Wilson

Cheri Wilson

Development Coordinator

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

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