Board of Directors

A lifelong resident of Maryland, my wife and I moved to Las Vegas, NV in 2018 to spend more time with our grandchildren. After retiring from a twenty-seven-year career in law enforcement, I have maintained an active role in men’s and marriage ministry as well as in short term missions. I became actively involved with OneLife Africa in early 2012 and was a member of the first short term mission team to travel there in 2012. From that point I was all in and continued to travel to Kenya several times and serve stateside as I was able. I became a Bridge Board member in 2017.

I’ve been married to my husband for almost 10 wonderful years, and together we have two kids with a third on the way. We moved to Minden, NV, in 2023 from Texas and love exploring Nevada. I
I currently serve as the Women’s Director for Hilltop Community Church and am also a member of the Mission Board. 
Our experiences in Kenya have deeply shaped our journey in ministry—we’ve traveled there
three times as a couple, and I’ve had the privilege of going twice on my own. Our last trip has
deepened our love for the people and the mission of OneLife Africa. I’m thrilled to be serving on the
board and supporting the life-changing work happening through OneLife.  I’m grateful to be a small
part of what God is doing through this ministry and excited to see how He continues to move.

Laura lives in Rocky Mount, Virginia, with her husband of 23 years and their almost-grown son. She works for the City of Roanoke Transportation Division as a GIS and Asset Manager. Laura’s home church is Church of the Holy Spirit, where she serves as a prayer minister, lay reader, and Bible study facilitator. Laura’s work with Bridge Ministries grows out of her desire to see Christ glorified in all corners of the world. She loves the students supported through OneLife Africa and desires their spiritual growth and sanctification above all else. Laura traveled to Kenya for the first time in 2018 and eagerly anticipates another visit.

I live in Mount Airy, Maryland with my wife of 45 years.  We have been blessed with two daughters and seven grandchildren.  I will confess to being bitten by the pickleball bug and look for any and all opportunities to play.  
I currently serve as the Director of Ministry Operations at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Damascus, Maryland.  Earlier this year I was blessed with the opportunity to serve in Kenya with OneLife Africa.  This trip reinforced my love for the people and the ministry of OneLife Africa.  I look forward to using the gifts God has given me to serve this ministry as a Board Member and as Treasurer.

My passion is for Disciple-making so wherever the Lord leads me that is my purpose. I currently serve with The Navigators as Associate Field Staff as a Life and Leadership coach. My emphasis for ministry is Church leadership. I also volunteer in a leadership capacity at my home church, Redeemer Lutheran. Amongst my responsibilities there is to lead the team that travels to Kenya every year to provide a Disciple-making Camp for students in OLA. It is the highlight of my year.
I have a loving supportive husband of 44 years. Together we have parented 4 children all of whom are grown and establishing families of their own. We indulge in spoiling our 9 grandchildren. And I pray for the opportunity to take some of them to Kenya one day!
In my spare time I love to travel, paint, sew, and garden. But who has spare time these days?

I grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC where I lived for most of my life. My home church gave me an opportunity for a short-term mission in Kenya in 2012 alongside OneLife Africa. After this experience I developed a strong passion for the ministry and the students of OneLife Africa to be known. I have served on several short-term mission teams since that time.

After my move to Nevada, my involvement shifted to serving on the Board, mostly in Communications and Donor Relations. This serves my desire to connect our students with their sponsors and share the amazing things God has done in and through their lives.

Personally, I love the Lord and am blessed to serve in this capacity. I have been married for nearly 30 years to my husband Doug and am a mother of two and grandmother of three.

Mike Hoopes is a retired pharmacist living in Maryland with his wife Janet. They have three children and 4 grandchildren. His pharmacy career spanned five decades and included teaching at the university level; as an executive in the pharmacy management industry; and, finished his career working in the pharmaceutical industry in medical information. He and Janet attend Redeemer Lutheran Church in Damascus, Maryland, where he has served as a Sunday school teacher, worked with new members, served on Redeemer’s Council, leads a Grandparenting ministry and leads a Team that supports the Redeemer’s seminarians. Mike has been involved in and assisted with leading Redeemer’s ministry with One Life Africa (OLA) since 2015. To date he has made seven visits attending OLA camps. He worked supporting the development of the OLA LEAD program and was active in the first GAP program in 2018. Mike joined the Bridge Board in 2021 and looks forward to finding new opportunities to pursue his life’s mission of discipling others for Christ.

I am a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania native with a heart for serving others and growing in my faith.  I work as a Marketplace Manager at Outback Toys and am also a licensed realtor.  I serve my church in the orchestra playing the tuba and on the welcome team with the young adult group. Through two short-term mission trips to Kenya, I have developed a deep love for the people and a passion for supporting the work God is doing there.  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve on the Board of this ministry.

Wife, mom, grandma, Jesus follower.
Still amazed that God has allowed her to be a part of this ministry.

Read their bios here.