Meet the staff at Crossroads

Elizabeth was born and raised in central Michigan and earned a degree in business management from Ferris State University. After graduation, she traveled extensively and lived in various places across the country. In 2023, she joined the Crossroads team and is now enjoying being back home near family with her husband, David, and their four girls. Elizabeth loves home improvement projects, spending time outdoors, camping, going to the beach, and enjoying all the beautiful scenery that Michigan has to offer.

As operations team lead for Crossroads, Liz manages the schedules and workloads of the volunteers who serve at the home office each week. She credits the smooth and efficient operation of the Crossroads operations center to the volunteers’ dedication and commitment to the ministry. When she has time off, Liz enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren.

John joined the Crossroads team in February 2021, bringing thirty years of experience in prison and jail ministry to his role as director of student programming. He draws on his background in prison program design and curriculum development as he works to improve the Crossroads student experience. John and his wife, Sue, have twin daughters and, as of 2021, two grandchildren. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary.

Douglas joined Crossroads in 2017 and is the director of church engagement. Since his release from prison, he has served as a church pastor and led both prison in-reach and post-incarceration ministries. He also serves on the advisory board of the Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. Douglas and his wife, Hendrina, have two grown children and two grandchildren.

Paige began her career as a high school social studies teacher after graduating from Calvin College (now Calvin University). After a few years of teaching and taking a gap year to travel and serve internationally in eleven different countries, she felt called to serve populations often overlooked by society. This desire led her to Crossroads, where she initially worked in the operations department, processing thousands of letters and lessons each week. She later transitioned to the communications department, where she enjoys sharing the stories that Crossroads has been entrusted with. In her spare time, Paige loves to read, seeks opportunities to travel, and spends time with her family and friends.

Steve grew up in Puerto Rico, where he was known as “Esteban.” He later moved to East Texas and served as an interpreter with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). While serving with YWAM, he met and married Susan, who is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They moved to Grand Rapids in 1998 to be closer to family. Shortly afterwards, Steve began serving as director of a small neighborhood ministry in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in southwest Grand Rapids. Steve now is the translations manager for Crossroads Prison Ministries, serving extension centers throughout the world.

Wynnielle was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. She is a true renaissance woman who loves to cook, plan parties, and weld! When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughters and traveling.

Alicia is a remote employee on the Crossroads team, working from her home in Indiana. As an Asana Ambassador and Certified Associate in Project Management, she provides project management, strategic planning, and data analysis support to the ministry. A bit of a ‘jack of all trades,’ Alicia enjoys a wide range of activities in her free time, including cooking, music, astronomy, DIY projects, and all sorts of crafting.

Brian is the director of international ministries at Crossroads, bringing over 35 years of experience across business, non-profit, and international sectors to his current role. He is passionate about leading and developing leaders to make a kingdom impact for Christ.

His career includes roles such as executive director of a non-profit, international missions pastor, and vice president of Operations for a fulfillment company. Brian has also managed several small businesses.

Brian has been married to his wife, Nancy, for 30 years. They have two adult children and enjoy traveling and spending time at their cottage on the Little Manistee River in Irons, MI.

Jerry comes to Crossroads with five years of experience working at Mel Trotter Ministries’ homeless shelter in downtown Grand Rapids. For the last thirteen years, he has volunteered at various jails and prisons in Michigan, sharing the Gospel with men and women inside. A coffee connoisseur, Jerry also enjoys camping, hiking, golfing, reading and spending time with his five grandchildren and his wife of thirty-eight years.

Linda is passionate about bringing life and hope to individuals struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, extensive criminal history, and homelessness. A graduate of Hope College, she has used her education degree to teach people in prison about the relevance of God’s Word and the abundant life He offers. Linda assists the director of international ministries in supporting incarcerated individuals globally, providing them with God’s living hope. She has three sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, and two golden retrievers—one a ‘gentle giant’ and the other the ‘dramatic princess’ of the family. Linda enjoys gardening, seed harvesting, and camping. She views gardening as a metaphor for our personal lives, believing that, just as God brings dead things to life in the right season, there is always hope.

Jen holds a master’s degree in management, strategy, and leadership from Michigan State University, making her role as the director of staff and volunteer experience at Crossroads a natural fit. A sports enthusiast, Jen openly confesses that she ‘bleeds green.’ If there’s a Michigan State game on, especially football or basketball, she’ll be watching. In her free time, Jen enjoys cooking, baking, exploring new places, and drinking lots of coffee. She considers it an honor to live out her faith in a work setting and strives to faithfully serve the Lord in her role.

Jose was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States at age eleven. He supports both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking mentors, as well as several of the ministry’s logistical needs. A lifelong learner, Jose continually seeks to expand his biblical knowledge. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and hopes to further his education if the Lord permits. Jose is grateful to work in a place focused on sharing God’s Word with the forgotten. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, working out, playing video games and sports, watching movies, listening to music, and meeting new people. His happiest moments are when he shares God’s Word with others.

Bernice has worked at Crossroads in various capacities since 2000 and currently serves as the director of operations. One of her favorite aspects of the job is reading student testimonies about how studying God’s Word with Crossroads has transformed their lives. Outside of work, Bernice enjoys watching football with her family and reading from her personal library of over 800 books.

Alexis joined the Crossroads church mobilization team in 2021 as the mentor program coordinator. She graduated from Cedarville University with a degree in social work. When she’s not working, you can find Alexis drinking a chai tea latte, snowboarding, taking care of her houseplants or reading a good fiction book. Alexis loves working at Crossroads because the staff is like-minded in helping people in the local and global community learn more about the great news of the Gospel!

Karina was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States when she was fifteen. She joined Crossroads in 2022, serving as the bilingual mentor program coordinator. She is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Crossroads team and to be able to use the gifts God has given her as she looks for every possible way to share God’s love. In her free time, Karina enjoys cooking, cleaning, volunteering with the children’s ministry at her church, making memories with her new husband, Jonathan, and spoiling Deuce, her neighbors’ dog.

Samantha moved from Florida to Michigan in 2016 to embrace the Northern lifestyle and marry her now-husband, Jared. Together, they have two dogs and a daughter on the way. With experience in both the pediatric dental field and preschool teaching, Samantha finds joy in caring for others and bringing smiles to those around her. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Michigan with her husband, running in local races, and hosting events for her loved ones. Samantha joined Crossroads in 2022 and feels blessed to use the gifts God gave her to show the love of Christ to others.

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Steve joined the Crossroads team as operations coordinator in 2023. He has been married to his wife, Barb, for twenty years, and they have one teenage son. Steve and his family are actively involved in their church and enjoy trips to the lakeshore every summer. Steve’s hobbies include sports, movies, and reading.

Robert is passionate about connecting with people and spreading joy with a smile. A native of West Michigan with an extensive background in sales and marketing, he serves as the donor relations manager at Crossroads. Years ago, while he was incarcerated, Robert was introduced to Crossroads and was deeply moved by the kindness and love he felt through each returned letter. This experience fuels his commitment to building strong relationships with mission support volunteers, mentors, and donors nationwide. Outside of work, Robert and his wife, Heidi, enjoy hiking, camping, traveling, and spending time with their family, especially their grandchildren.

Alaina has been with Crossroads since 2017, supporting our volunteer mentors in various roles. She enjoys assisting mentors with reviewing Bible study lessons and encouraging students through letters. Alaina is excited by the passion our mentors have for the ministry and loves supporting them as they raise awareness within their churches and communities. Outside of work, you can find Alaina chasing her two-year-old son and dog around the house, or enjoying coffee and conversation with her husband at a local coffee shop or on a long walk along their neighborhood trails.