Meet Our Team

God has blessed our organization with some amazing people! We would love for you to meet them and also to join our amazing prayer team. This team is always praying for our ministry and each Faith45 family we serve.

Meet Julie Reuschel - Co-Founder and Executive Director

My most important title will always be MOM! I thank God every day for creating me to be Faith and Esther's mama, and here on Earth to be called mama by my three kiddos.
 
I attended Hope College, where Chris and I met, and since then have worked in accounting and have a thing for spreadsheets and numbers. I have worked as a public accountant, an accountant for a builder and most recently as a business controller. I recently left an awesome job to follow God's lead and commit to focusing on Faith45 and helping as many families as we can. I cannot wait to see where God continues leading this ministry and covet your prayers along the way.


Meet Chris Reuschel - Co-Founder and President

As Faith and Esther's dad, it is my goal to always honor them in everything we do. I am a dreamer by heart and I love dreaming for this ministry and figuring out all the ways we can help families. 


 

I also attended Hope College and graduated with a teaching degree. But God has led me to many different ventures since then. I am now the general manager for a local business. When I am able to find free time, I love hunting and fishing and really anything outdoors. 

Meet Vicki Ekdom - Mentor Coordinator


Vicki is not only our mentor coordinator but, more importantly, she is Faith and Esther's Nana. She was a part of the team that developed the mentor ministry and truly believes that talking with someone who has been there can be a huge step in the grieving process. 

 





When she isn't connecting with our mentors, you can find her either with her grandkids or at the beach or both! She loves camping, biking and just enjoying nature. She is always busy and loves spending time with her family. 

Meet Bob Carlton - Board Chair

Bob's ministry journey began as a worship leader and founder of "Encounter" at Willow Creek Community Church. He then left Chicago to plant Gateway Community Church in Austin, Texas. While there he won a Dove Award for his recording work with the band, Massivivid. After a lengthy season of touring, he helped plant more churches and co-led the Emerging Church Network, before pioneering the global church planting pipeline TRAIN at Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, TN, catalyzing growth and multiplication worldwide. His influence extended to co-creating the church planting operating system for SEND North America Network.


 

Relocating to Holland, Michigan, Bob served as Movement Pastor at Ridge Point Community Church, fostering the Fearless Network of Churches, all while traveling the nation as the National Director of Recruiting for Stadia Church Planting. Recently, as the Executive Director of Highpoint SEND, he propelled the Chicago based church planting network into becoming a global force for church multiplication. When not catalyzing church multiplication around the world as "the Multiplication Guru", Bob dedicates his time as the Park Township Fire Department's Chaplain, and making great memories with his beloved wife, Kristina, and their handsome dog, Walter Alan.

Meet Karen Wedeven - Treasurer

 

Karen Wedeven serves as the Finance Manager for the Fearless Churches in Holland, MI.  With many years of nonprofit accounting experience and a natural gift for numbers, Karen brings trusted oversight to her role as Board Treasurer.  But it's not just about spreadsheets for her, she deeply cares for families who are facing tragic loss and feels honored and called to support the mission of Faith 45.

Karen lives in Hamilton, MI with her husband Mat and two daughters Scarlett and Jade.  Karen is happiest on a day at the beach, with a book in hand, and a passport at the ready.  She's always up for an adventure - whether it's exploring a new city, hiking to a hidden lake or waterfall, or diving into a 2,000 piece puzzle that takes over the dining room table.  While she loves travel and a bit of adventure, her favorite moments are the ones spent with Mat and the girls. 

Meet Kelly Elders - Secretary

 

Kelly Elders is an HR Business Partner at Target Corp. Headquarters, where she’s been for nearly 5 years specializing in strategic talent planning, organizational structure, and engaging training plans with a team focus. Prior to that, she was an HR Director for the Amway Hotel Corp. And even before that, a High School teacher and Theatre Director. Kelly lives in Grand Rapids with her husband, Trent, and their two boys Hank and Charlie. Kelly and Trent have lived and worked in California on and off through the past years, landing back in West Michigan in 2021 to raise their sons closer to family. Kelly and her family attend Sherman CRC in Grand Rapids. 

 

After watching family and friends go through miscarriages and stillbirth, Kelly wholeheartedly believes in the mission of Faith45 and is honored and blessed to be a part of the board. Kelly prays that God will continue to use this ministry to bless parents walking through this difficult season.

Meet Kate Rietema - Board Member

 


Kate Rietema works as a registered nurse at Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital. The mission of Faith45 is meaningful to Kate as her work history includes many years in obstetrics, supporting women as they become mothers—even when they aren’t able to take their babies home. 

Kate and her husband Tony have five daughters through birth and adoption and have cared for many others in their ten years as a licensed foster family. She is the author of several children’s books, including When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful and All the Babies: A First Book About Adoption. Kate speaks across the country on topics related to adoption, parenting, and faith. Locally, she has led Bible studies and prayer groups for organizations including Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry, Bible Study Fellowship, and Moms in Prayer International.

In her free time, Kate hobbies as an amateur potter, pretends to go for runs—but then ends up walking, and hangs out at Tri Ponds—the campground her family owns and operates in Allegan, MI. 

 

 Interested in joining our team?? Please fill out the form below!