New Hope Uganda Ministries (USA) Staff
Johnny Karls, NHUM Board Member & Interim President
Primary Job responsibilities: The position of NHUM President is to glorify God by prayerfully taking the lead in building, managing, and increasing the capacity of NHUM, investing in donor relations and increasing fundraising, ensuring financial accountability and ministry excellence, recruiting and developing NHUM staff, and seeing that NHU (In Uganda) is supported in the recruitment and care of missionaries.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries? Since I was first exposed to NHU in 2005, I was impressed. Meeting the God fearing and faith filled staff was the first positive experience. Secondly, when I learned that the heart of the ministry is to empower (rather than entitle) I was hooked. I’ve seen so many examples of changed lives and of course that has encouraged me to contribute to the cause of bringing God’s love and truth to as many individuals as possible. I consider this to be a great privilege.
Where are you from? Montana for my first 20 years, Los Angeles for the next 20 years, now 10 years in Colorado.
Where did you go to college? Undergrad: Montana State University, Graduate School: Talbot at Biola
Family: Kathleen (Married 22 yrs), Jonah 21, Grace 19, Lissa 15, Kenny 13
Hobbies/interests: Theology, learning, growing, the outdoors, the family, travel, adventure.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM: To impact with the gospel as many lives as possible, but in Africa and the west.
Favorite memory from a trip to Uganda: Meeting Jay and Vicki in Uganda in 2005, and then again (by total divine providence) here in Colorado in 2006; the odds of this happening are off the charts. It’s such a joy to watch God be sovereign.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries?: I love that they are bringing these children into families, teaching them responsibilities and skills, and most importantly teaching them the gospel and their identities in Christ. This makes me so excited and thankful for the work that God is doing in and through New Hope Uganda/Ministries.
Marrisa Svaleson, Executive Assistant to the President
Where are you from?: Fargo, ND
My family: My husband’s name is Josh, and we have been married for 8 years. We have two sons. Uriah is 3 and Everson is 1. We had the privilege of adopting our son Uriah from Uganda in 2014. This is one of the many reasons we love Uganda so much. We also have one dog, and her name is Lily.
Hobbies/Interests: I love to crochet, play volleyball, play music, watch movies, read, go on dates with my husband, spend time with family and friends and be outside.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM: Right now, I feel like I am living a dream that I have had for a while. My dream was to be able to be home with my children and maybe find a job where I can work from home. This job with New Hope has provided this for me, and I am SO THANKFUL. I have a dream to make frequent trips to Uganda to continue to build relationships and spread the gospel and to one day bring Uriah back to Uganda to show him the beautiful country, people and culture. I have such a heart for children that can’t be cared for by any family or friends, and am so glad that New Hope is caring for some of these children. This is something I’m very passionate about.
Favorite Memory from a Trip to Uganda: I went to New Hope in 2013 with some friends, and we went on safari and the Paraa Lodge. Our driver, tried to get a safari jeep for us, but the driver of the jeep never showed up, so we just took our mini van that we were driving, and our driver ended up being our tour guide. It had rained quite a bit the night before, and there were LARGE puddles/streams. We got through most of them, but we did get stuck in a stream one time, and were not able to get out. We called for help but cell service was bad, and we weren’t exactly sure where we were at, and it was getting dark. We were eventually found and pulled out, but it was definitely nerve wrecking for the 3-4 hours that we were stuck! But we were so thankful that we got to explore this beautiful place and were thankful for God’s protection!
Steve Agosto, Director of Operations
Primary Job Responsibilities: Overseeing all administrative and operational aspects of the U.S. 501 c 3.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries? That they consider the whole person when they are helping and that the Lord is not finished with the ministry
Where are you from? I am from Lynwood, CA.
Where did you go to college? I started at LA Trade Tech and then to Long Beach City College.
My family: Married in 1986, have 3 children, one son is a pastor in Buena Park, Ca., another son in New York as a teacher in the arts and a daughter who is a manger in the retailer industry.
Hobbies/Interests: Love to spend time in the garden, photography, travel, spending time with family, helping others.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM: That I finish the race well serving the Lord.
Favorite memory from a trip to Uganda: To many to say favorite. But the time when a mob of Ugandans where coming toward our vehicle in a remote area with rocks and clubs.
Josiah Dangers, Director of Missionary Care & Development
Primary Job Responsibilities: Creating and implementing systems that will ensure health for our missionaries.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries? So many things. The commitment to the Gospel and to seeing the Gospel transform communities.
Where are you from? Born in CA, grew up at New Hope
Where did you go to college? John Brown University
My family: Wife of 12 years: Autum. Kids: Malakai 9, Owen 8, Asher 5, Barrett 3. (and son of Jay and Vicki Dangers).
Hobbies/Interests: music (particularly worship leading), anything outdoors with my wife and boys, elk hunting.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM : I have a heart to see our missionaries and staff flourish in their relationships with the Lord, with each other, and in their professional roles. When that happens, the fatherless will experience the Fatherhood of God.
Favorite memory from a trip to Uganda: When I was able to connect with all of the foreign staff during a recent retreat.
Carly Winterstein, U.S. Operations & Sponsorship
Primary Job Responsibilities: Oversee day to day operations and U.S. sponsorship. My job is to find the next sponsor!
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries?
I love the mission, “to bring the Fatherhood of God to the fatherless”. We not only meet the immediate needs of the children, but desire to address the root of the problem of fatherlessness in Uganda.
Where are you from? I grew up in Fargo ND and Oshkosh WI.
Where did you go to college? I received my bachelor’s degree double major in Global Studies and Psychology at Concordia College in Moorhead MN. I enjoyed playing in the Concordia College Orchestra, leading a CRU bible study, and working at a local homeless shelter part-time during my college years.
My Family: I met my techy genius husband, Robert, on our first trip to Kasana in 2011. He now generously donates some time to help with NHUM technology needs in addition to working in IT for a company in Rapid City. We have a son, Soren (2) and a baby girl (Gwen).
Hobbies/Interests: Music/violinist, painting, cooking, and hiking.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM:
My heart has always been for missions and particularly Uganda. God has grown my heart for missions and prepared me for my current role with NHUM. I have a heart for sharing NHU’s story and ministry (Fatherhood of God) with others. The experience of sponsoring my child and Ugandan missionary has greatly impacted my life. I’m passionate about sharing the stories of our children and finding sponsors for them!
Favorite memories from a trip to Uganda:
Meeting and getting to know our sponsor child and Ugandan missionary. We were able to deepen our relationships and had a chance to go visit our Ugandan missionary’s church plant. It was encouraging to see the church growing in Uganda.
Bridget Jensen, Donor Relations
Primary Job Responsibilities: Communicating with our donors and maintaining our database.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries? I love our heart for the fatherless and the focus on receiving the deepest love and acceptance from our heavenly Father. I also appreciate the wise way that New Hope has implemented their mission. The leadership is also willing to grow, change, confess and trust God for the future.
Where are you from? Palos Verdes Estates, California, but I’ve lived in Colorado for 30 years.
Where did you go to college? I graduated from UCLA, but went to UC Santa Barbara for my first 2 years. I accepted Christ at UCLA and then was on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ.
My family: My husband Dan (married 25 years), Luke (21), Caleb (19) at CSU, Josiah (16) and Jake (14)
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, photography and scrap-booking, sewing, coffee with friends, gardening, biking, tennis, and my children’s sports.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM : I have a passion for people to be in a relationship with God and my next greatest love of my life is family. I have been blessed by a wonderful extended family and as a mother, my heart goes out to those who don’t have that. So I am so grateful for the chance to defend and care for the fatherless and see New Hope set them in families that love them, teach them about their heavenly Father and resource them to break unbiblical mindsets. It is a joy to see lives transformed!
Favorite memory from a trip to Uganda: When I was able to connect with all of the foreign staff during a recent retreat.
Corinne Mattingly, Bookkeeper
Primary Job Responsibilities: Oversee all aspects of finances including payroll, accounts payable, board reports and all international transactions and disbursements.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries? I love how their vision has never wavered to bring the Fatherhood of God to the fatherless. Everyone seems united behind this vision.
Where are you from? I was born in New Jersey, spent some time in the Virgin Islands, several years in Southern California, and now Colorado.
Where did you go to college? Ramapo College of New Jersey
Family: My husband is Chip. He is the Outreach and Connections Pastor at Mountain Springs Church. My daughter, Kierra, is 21 years old and is a Nursing Major at Oklahoma Baptist University and will graduate with her BSN in May, 2017.
Hobbies/Interests: Anything outside. I love to hike, ski, water ski, swim, camp. I also like to cook, sew, entertain, and read.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM: I would like to see God bless the ministry tremendously this year to be able to update the many old buildings and infrastructure at Kasana. I would also love to see the clinic at Musana operational.
Favorite memories from a trip to Uganda: We went to pray for a woman with cancer that the team had been ministering to for quite a while. I do believe she was able to receive the care she needed thanks to the Musana Team and has conquered her cancer.
Lucy Cole, Donations
Primary Job Responsibilities: Sorting mail and entering the appropriate information, depositing all online and mail donations.
What do you love about New Hope Uganda Ministries?
I love the compassionate hearts of the people involved and their earnest, thoughtful desire to glorify Christ with this ministry. I love how NHUM reminds me that God can do mighty things with weak, flawed, seemingly-insignificant people. He is not limited by our pasts or our circumstances!
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. In addition to my part time work for NHUM, I also teach piano lessons and work as an optometric technician for Dr. James Trimble with whom I’ve had the privilege of doing eye clinics on two separate trips to Uganda.
My Family: My family consists of one ingenious, visionary, Father (Doug); one elegant, purposeful, Mother (Nancy); one super cool, hard-working, older Brother (Chauncey); and one creative, kind-hearted, Sister-in-Law (Abigail). We all reside in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Hobbies/Interests I’m zealous about reflecting Christ through music and the arts. Hobbies? Books, books, books. Also, tea-drinking and watching classic films.
Dreams and what you specifically have a heart for with NHUM
Being a recipient of the marvel of adoption myself, I feel intensely passionate about the mission of showing the Father’s heart to the orphaned and fatherless. I’m so excited to see what all the Lord has in store for this ministry and to get to be a part of a tiny corner of that!
Favorite memory from a trip to Uganda
How would I ever begin to pick? A few that jump to mind: meeting my sponsor child and hearing more of his story; spontaneously worshiping Jesus on the front porch of the Kasana Guest House with fellow believers from three different continents (Africa, Europe, and North America); praying with a young, village mother and her precious, blind, baby girl; because of the common ground of Jesus, feeling like I was Home even though I was half way across the world.