Our TEAM
The work we do at Pathways To Promise is crucial in creating inclusive and supportive environments for individuals facing mental health challenges and those who support them. Our staff members and trainers are committed to making a positive impact nationwide by using their expertise and skills to serve faith communities and other organizations. Meet the team behind our success.
Staff Directory
National Trainers Directory
Rev. Mark Stephenson
Executive Director/Board President
Mark Stephenson’s journey has given him a big heart for the mental health challenges that people face, and it has given him great joy to serve on the board of Pathways to Promise since 2006 in his mission to connect mental health, faith, and culture. Mark is passionate about his faith, and the ways faith commitments and faith communities can help individuals with mental health challenges flourish. Like the undertow along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, anxiety pulled at him and sometimes threatened him throughout his life. For much of his life, Mark tried to deny its existence, and once he was fully aware of its presence, he tried to eliminate it, but that was impossible. In recent years, Mark has finally learned that, like the common presence of undertow and rip currents in Lake Michigan, he needs to make peace with his anxiety and live with it in his journey with family, friends, and fellow believers. Taking the Enneagram a few years ago helped him immensely in this regard. (Mark is an Enneagram 6.) Ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed denomination in 1989, Mark served as a pastor of two congregations for 17 years. He recently retired after serving another 16 years as a leader of Christian Reformed denominational ministries, primarily Disability Concerns, helping congregations engage healthily with people with disabilities and mental health challenges. Early on, Mark coined Disability Concerns’s tagline “Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.” to describe in a few words what that healthy engagement looks like. Having a heart for people at the margins, he also served as interim director of his denomination’s ministries of race relations, social justice, and chaplaincy. Mark has two advanced theological degrees, and has two units of training in Clinical Pastoral Education. He is a certified Companionship workshop leader, serves various volunteer roles in his local multicultural congregation, serves his denomination as a facilitator for Race Relations training events, and is a Sandan (third degree black belt) in Shorin Ryu karate. Mark and his wife have lived in west Michigan most of their lives. They have five living children, and one child who passed away. Their oldest daughter lives joyfully with severe, multiple disabilities, and they adopted their youngest child when he was 19 years old. Two of their children are married, and they take great delight in their three grandsons.
Bishop Bonnie Radden
Companionship Coordinator
Bonnie is a seasoned mental health professional, pastor, and community leader with over 25 years of experience bridging faith and emotional wellness. She holds dual master’s degrees—one in Clinical Psychology and the other in Pastoral Counseling—and has earned certifications in Disaster Crisis Counseling from the University of Southern California. A trusted voice in trauma response and recovery, Bonnie has supported communities in the wake of national tragedies, including the Las Vegas mass shooting. She founded The Gathering Place, a grassroots nonprofit offering wraparound mental health and wellness services to underserved populations. Bishop Radden is the Senior Pastor of Refiner’s Fire Fellowship United Church of Christ in Long Beach, California. She is also a Senior Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM), where she oversees TFAM’s mental health initiatives, providing vision, strategy, and support for emotional and spiritual care across the network. She brings extensive experience in program coordination, trainer support, and workshop facilitation to her new role. Over the years, she has developed training materials, coached facilitators, and led initiatives to strengthen communities through mental health education. Known for her attention to detail and strong communication skills, Bonnie thrives in independent work environments and brings a solution-oriented mindset to every assignment. She wrote the forthcoming book and workbook, INSIDE OUT, a transformative resource focused on healing from trauma and living with emotional integrity and spiritual purpose.
Abi Dodrill
Marketing Associate
Abi Dodrill brings over a decade of experience assisting non-profits, businesses, and churches with their marketing needs. In recent years, she has extended her commitment by dedicating time to running a Little Free Pantry and actively participating in committees through her church and the broader community. As a trained social worker, she recognizes the crucial need for mental health support and loves contributing to the vital and life changing work at Pathways to Promise. In her role, Abi's responsibilities encompass a range of tasks, including email communications and editorial support for both Mental Health Ministries newsletters and Pathways to Promise. She manages the Pathways to Promise and Mental Health Ministries' social media presence on platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn, and creates graphics for promotions and fundraising efforts. Additionally, Abi provides essential support for various communication and marketing needs. Abi shares the joy of parenting with her husband, Matt. Together, they are raising four children – Paisley, Adeline, Silas, and Mabel Anne – along with their two dogs, Vinny and Clementine.
Michelle Rouche
administrative assistant
Michelle Rouche is a dynamic communicator, community advocate, and visionary leader with over 20 years of experience spanning media, outreach, and program development. As a passionate storyteller and connector, she brings a unique ability to engage diverse audiences while championing causes that uplift and empower individuals and families. At Pathways to Promise, Michelle serves as an Administrative Assistant, where she plays a vital role in supporting daily operations while advancing the organization’s mission to restore hope, build resilience, and create meaningful pathways for personal growth and stability. Her work is rooted in authenticity, compassion, and a deep commitment to meeting people where they are—while helping them envision what’s possible. With a background in marketing/event curation, public speaking, and community engagement, Michelle has consistently created spaces where voices are heard, stories matter, and transformation can begin. She is known for her relational approach, strategic mindset, and unwavering belief that everyone deserves access to opportunity, support, and a future filled with promise. Whether she’s developing programs, fostering partnerships, or speaking life into others, Michelle leads with both heart and intention—empowering individuals not just to overcome challenges, but to thrive beyond them.
Rita Rippentrop
MDiv, LCPC
National Trainer
Rita Rippentrop is currently the owner and therapist at a private counseling practice, Courageous Counseling Services based in St. Charles, Illinois. Rita holds a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor license in the state of Illinois, having completed a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy. Rita has worked in the mental health field for over 25 years, as a clinician, group facilitator, conflict resolution ministry, school counselor, mental health awareness coalitions, and has held some leadership positions in corporate healthcare, community based mental health organizations, and private mental health practice. Being passionate about raising awareness around mental health and wellness and reducing the stigma around mental health challenges, Rita is honored to be a part of the Pathways to Promise National Trainer team. One of the community coalitions she has served with is Interfaith Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) in Illinois. Through their work together, Rita became familiar with Pathways to Promise and has been involved in the Companionship model for many years. She brings a warm and compassionate demeanor to the role of trainer.
