NAE Staff

Walter Kim has been president of the National Association of Evangelicals since January 2020. He previously served as a pastor at Boston’s historic Park Street Church and at churches in Vancouver, Canada and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as a campus chaplain at Yale University. He preaches, writes and engages in collaborative leadership to connect the Bible to the intellectual and cultural issues of the day. He regularly teaches in conferences and classrooms; addresses faith concerns with elected officials and public institutions; and provides theological and cultural commentary to leading news outlets. He serves on the boards of Christianity Today and World Relief and consults with a wide range of organizations. Kim received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, his M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, and his B.A. from Northwestern University. 

Heather Gonzales, NAE vice president and chief operating officer, has served the NAE since 2005, most recently as association director. Previously, she worked for IRI, an international democracy promotion organization; Africa Inland Mission in Namibia; and several congressional offices. Gonzales holds degrees in history and business management from Huntington College and a Masters of Liberal Studies from Georgetown University.

Galen Carey, NAE vice president of government relations, is responsible for representing the NAE before Congress, the White House and the courts. He works to advance the approach and principles of the NAE document, “For the Health of the Nation.” He is also co-author with Leith Anderson of “Faith in the Voting Booth.” Before joining the NAE staff, Carey was a longtime employee of World Relief, the relief and development arm of the NAE, serving in Croatia, Mozambique, Kenya, Indonesia and Burundi. He received an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary.

Sarah Kropp Brown, NAE vice president of communications and marketing, provides strategic oversight to the organization’s communications, marketing and branding efforts. She also serves as the NAE public relations officer, editor of Evangelicals magazine and producer of Today’s Conversation podcast. She joined the NAE team in 2007, and has served as a board member of the Evangelical Press Association. Kropp Brown graduated with a journalism degree from John Brown University.

Chaplain Steven E. West, NAE director of chaplaincy, served as an active duty chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the Air Force and Army for 41 years, retiring from his distinguished career as senior chaplain for Joint Base Langley/Eustis. West is the author of “The Bronze Scar: Understanding How PTSD Feels to Help Victims and Those Who Support Them.” He is a graduate of University of Mobile, New Orleans Theological Seminary, Alabama Theological Seminary and the Department of Defense Joint Staff College.

Jennifer Haglof, senior director of projects and events, has served at the NAE since 2002. During this time, she has held numerous roles. She currently oversees the coordination of a variety of projects and also develops and manages NAE events including the Washington Briefing and Christian Student Leadership Conference. Haglof has a B.S. in government from Liberty University and J.D. from Regent University.

Randall Bach serves as the NAE’s ambassador to denominations. In this role, Bach encourages a deepening of relationship between the NAE and member denominations and between member denominations. He seeks to help denominations become more aware of NAE resources, to affirm denominational participation in NAE initiatives and to encourage denominations as they contribute to NAE’s Influence for Good. Bach previously served at several levels of denominational leadership, including president of Open Bible Churches. Bach received his bachelor’s degree of American history and political science from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Regent University.

Brandon Doss is the associate endorser for the Evangelical Chaplains Commission. He is a founder and lead pastor at Cultivate Church (CultivateChurch.tv), a nondenominational multi-campus church in Shelby County, Alabama, planted in 2012. Doss received a B.A. in theology from Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama, and is currently pursuing an M.Div. from Rockbridge Seminary in Springfield, Missouri.

Steven Eng, NAE advocacy director, works with NAE leaders, constituents and others to help advance the principles of the NAE document, “For the Health of the Nation,” as they use their God-given influence to bless our nation. Eng has served for three decades as an ordained evangelical pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He received a degree in political science from St. Olaf College and a M.Div. degree from North Park Theological Seminary. 

Mekdes Haddis is an Ethiopian American who moved to the United States in 2003 to pursue her studies. She has a B.S. in communications from Liberty University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Columbia International University. For the past 10+ years Haddis has worked in several churches, building discipleship and outreach strategies that are holistic in their approach to include people on the margins. She’s the founder of Just Missions, an online community that elevates diaspora voices and equips western allies to become mutual partners for the work of the gospel. Haddis is the author of “A Just Mission: Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality.”

Toni Kim is the director of spiritual care for the National Association of Evangelicals. For 17 years, she was a minister at Park Street Church in downtown Boston. She received her B.S. from Yale University, and a master in Christian studies from Regent College. Kim is an advocate for educational equity and serves on the boards of Regent College and Abundant Life, a local Christian Community Development nonprofit. She is licensed with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. 

Brian Kluth became national director of NAE Financial Health in 2016 after serving in the financial and generosity sector of the evangelical community for over 35 years. He was president of the Christian Stewardship Association for five years before becoming senior pastor of First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs in 2000. In 2009, the church commissioned him to become a full-time generosity minister. Kluth holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Trinity International University.

Terri Miller serves as NAE’s global church representative. She represents NAE at events and meetings related to the global church, offers mutual learning encouragement and support for its members, and develops relationships with key evangelical leaders. Miller also serves as a ReachGlobal Europe Area Leader. She has also served as a graduate resident advisor and admissions counselor at Wheaton College. Miller has a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and a master’s degree from Wheaton College Graduate School.

Since July 2020, Cullen Rodgers-Gates has been serving as the director of development and membership at the National Association of Evangelicals. In this role, he established and leads the NAE’s development program while also engaging with a growing community of active members. Prior to his work at the NAE, Rodgers-Gates spent 20 years in international service-learning and nonprofit leadership, including six years as executive director of Congo Initiative USA. Rodgers-Gates holds two degrees from Wheaton College: a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in historical and systematic theology.

Diane Cokley, NAE office and technology services manager, gives support and general supervision for the NAE office (located in Washington, D.C.). Cokley received a M.A. in arts management for nonprofits from George Mason University and a B.A. in communications from Howard University.

Samantha Conway manages sponsorship for the National Association of Evangelicals and also serves as project manager for NAE Financial Health. In this role, she works closely with Brian Kluth on Bless Your Pastor, a national generosity campaign that provides church congregations with opportunities to find creative ways to care for their pastors. Conway earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Denison University.

Ginger Hall is a part-time data manager at the National Association of Evangelicals. In addition to working part time for NAE, she is an NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper at HLM Associates, LLC.  Hall holds an associate of information systems technology degree with database specialization from Lord Fairfax Community College in Virginia.

Marti Martinez serves as NAE’s content and engagement specialist. She is also co-founder of TruMission.com, a nonprofit dedicated to developing industries and individuals in their God-given mission. Martinez and her husband, Ray, pastored in Pennsylvania for 12 years. Martinez previously worked in public relations for a residential boy’s ranch in Texas, and holds a degree in technical writing from Oral Roberts University.

Emma Patel serves as NAE’s communications manager. In addition to managing and publishing content across the NAE’s communication channels, Emma also serves as assistant editor of the Evangelicals magazine. Prior to joining the NAE team, Emma worked as a writer for the Nebraska Legislature in Lincoln, NE, where she reported on legislative news. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a journalism degree.

Erika Reynoso was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C., and is grateful to have the best of both worlds — the privilege of being born and raised in the United States, while celebrating her roots from the beautiful country of El Salvador. Reynoso earned her bachelor’s degree in religion at Davidson College where she studied ancient Roman culture and Paul’s letters. Prior to the NAE, Reynoso served for seven years at UrbanPromise Charlotte, a faith-based organization that provides innovative and holistic out-of-school programs that work towards closing achievement gaps in disinvested communities.

Karis Watts is an executive assistant with the Evangelical Chaplains Commission. She is also a stay-at-home mom, seamstress and serves at Cultivate Church in Shelby County, Alabama.