Ben joined PLI as the Global Executive Director in 2024.  Prior Ben served as Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  He also served as the pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Boca Raton, FL and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gainesville, GA.  A few of Ben’s interests are the history of the New Testament and the early church pre-Constantine, the intersection of church and society, and pastoral/congregational leadership.  Ben and his wife Celina, who works in elementary education, have two sons and make their home in St, Louis, MO.

As Director of Donor Engagement, Rika Beckley connects with donors who share PLI’s mission of training and investing in multiplying missional leaders. With a masters in nonprofit management from Indiana University’s Lilly School of Philanthropy, Rika has spent most of her career in university advancement. Rika lives with her husband Ike in Wheaton, Illinois. They also share their properties (just outside Rika’s hometown of St. Louis in rural Illinois) as vacation rentals. Rika and Ike enjoy international travel, bicycling, skiing, hiking, walking their Wheaten Terrier Maggie, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

As Director of Operations, Bryan supports PLI’s mission to train ministry leaders. Bryan is familiar with the PLI Experience having gone through our Senior Leader and D2MC Learning Communities. Bryan lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Melissa. They have two sons – John, and Luke who is in heaven. In his free time, Bryan enjoys fly fishing and has traveled in the Rocky Mountains and the Ozarks looking for his next great catch.

Jennifer is passionate about creating spaces that empower others to live courageously in Jesus. She has been a coach for PLI since 2015 and joined the PLI team in 2016. Whether checking in with alumni to hear their stories and pray together; inviting the PLI family to partner with a financial gift; or coaching and teaching in Leadership Essentials, she loves helping people take intentional next steps as they follow Jesus. Jennifer lives with her husband Matt and their 4 children near Flint, MI. When not asking people thought-provoking questions, she can be found homeschooling and shuttling her little crew, knitting, reading, or looking for ways to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Dr. Rev. Emmanuel Makala joined PLI full time in 2023 as one of the Africa Development Leaders. Celebrating 40 years in ministry, before joining PLI Emmanuel held several ministry leadership positions as Head of the Bible Knowledge Department at the Mwadui Secondary School, pastor of the Mwadui Parish, District Pastor in Southern District Shinyanga, and Bishop ELCT-ELVD Mwanza. Emmanuel speaks three languages: Nyiramba of Tanzania, Swahili, and English. Emmanuel resides in Shinyanga, Tanzania, with his wife Lilian and their three children.

Rev. Rony Marquardt was a participant in PLI from 2008 to 2012. Since 2013, he has provided leadership and introduced the PLI movement in Brazil and throughout the Lutheran Churches in Latin America. He has been a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brazil (IELB) since 1984 and was General Secretary and Vice-President of Theological Education on IELB’s National Board. Among his values, commitment and hard work are the most present. Rony lives in Brazil with his wife Anica. He has four children and three granddaughters. Rony loves to travel, make new relationships and work with texts, including writing, revising, and translating books and Christian messages.

New to PLI in 2024, Angie serves as the Learning Communities Coordinator working with PLI hosts and participants to ensure a smooth and supported PLI process. Angie brings with her 30+ of years of combined church ministry and non-profit experience, having developed her organization and leadership skills as a pastor’s wife and social worker. Angie lives in Nashville with David, her highschool sweetheart, where they shepherd a local congregation. Together they raised five children to adulthood, and have now moved on to  grandparenting. Angie’s love language is hospitality, Diet Coke, and office supplies – which is a perfect combo for her role organizing PLI’s learning communities.

Raechel connects people and teams from around the U.S., and sometimes the globe, into the right PLI leadership Learning Community. In this role, she is delighted by how God has woven together her education and experiences in community and church leadership with her love of people, cultures, the body of Christ and the sweet grace of Jesus. Raechel considers it an honor to invite people into a PLI space and marvels at the hope and courage and movement she has witnessed emerging as a result of the PLI experience. Having spent her childhood in Latin America, Raechel and her husband now call the western suburbs of Chicago home. She loves gathering lots of chairs around a big table so their three young adult children and family and friends and neighbors can enjoy the goodness of sharing a meal and long dinner conversation.

Rev. Dr. Scott Rische is enormously grateful to be serving as the Director of Training at PLI alongside his wife Lori. He coordinates Christian leadership training for churches in more than 22 countries. Scott’s passions and callings in life are to see people come into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as to teach, encourage, develop, and mentor leaders for mission and ministry. Prior to joining our team in 2011, he served as a church planter, lead pastor, and founder of a church planting network. Scott received his D. Min. from Bakke Graduate University in 2006 in the area of church planting movements. Scott is a private pilot and enjoys flying, writing, music, woodworking, and anything outdoors.

Heather became a coach with PLI in 2022. Then in 2023 she had the joy of supporting the Leadership Essentials team through Spanish translation and serving on the leadership team for the first ever bilingual cohort. She has a love for sharing the Gospel, supporting leaders to expand in their God-given gifts, and compassion for people of all backgrounds. These gifts  made it simple for Heather to join the international team at PLI as the part time Administrative Assistant. She and her husband live in Milwaukee where they are raising three young children and work together in several entrepreneurial endeavors! She loves hiking, enjoying playful adventures with family, and restoring furniture.

Rev. Paul Schult and his wife Beth joined PLI as trainers in 2015 and as Assistant Regional Leaders in 2019. He is honored to share the life-giving ministry of PLI in Africa. His personal values of humility, leadership, faith, and discipleship have been profoundly affected and strengthened by PLI. Paul grew up in Indiana which influenced his initial career path of being a high school basketball coach and English teacher. After attending seminary, he served as a pastor in Council Bluffs, Iowa, St. Charles, Missouri and now in Redwood City, California. He loves being outdoors with Beth, traveling, reading, and most of all, spending time with their children and their families — especially their grandchildren!

Kellie is a dynamic leader with a heart for ministry, a strategic mindset, and a spirit of adventure. As Campaign Manager at PLI, she channels her energy and expertise into fundraising, outreach, and relationship-building. Kellie embraces Minnesota’s fleeting summers by spending as much time as possible on her pontoon. When she’s not on the water, she’s road biking, experimenting with bold new recipes, getting lost in a great novel, or tackling learning piano. Married to Todd, a pastor, Kellie is deeply committed to supporting church leaders. She is the proud mom of three children: Makenzie (in heaven), Nathan, and Madeline. Driven by faith, family, and a love for adventure, she is excited to play a key role in strengthening and empowering church leaders.

After several years of coaching and teaching for PLI’s Discipleship to Missional Community track, Erin joined the PLI team to bring out the best of D2MC coaching and content. She wants all people to know Christ, to love those God has placed in her path, and to be continually molded and shaped by the Spirit. She is honored to walk alongside others as they recognize God’s movement in their lives and respond in big and small ways that result in wins for the kingdom. Walking into the West family home is like walking into a musical, as her husband Brian and their two daughters are never without a song. Whether it’s backyard barbecues or evenings around a firepit, the West family enjoys inviting friends and neighbors into their own personal crazy. It’s about families coming together, growing together and sharing both the joys and sorrows of life.