Board

Edith Yoder, EdM, is the Chief Executive Officer of Bridge of Hope National, which oversees the local work of Bridge of Hope in Lancaster. Edith also serves as chairof the community board for Bridge of Hope Lancaster. She authored the original church volunteer training manual for Bridge of Hope and developed many Bridge of Hope manuals on nonprofit management, fundraising, and board issues. Edith holds a master’s degree in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Eastern Mennonite University. After 30 years with Bridge of Hope, Edith is more passionate than ever about building neighborhoods of support for families facing homelessness.

Tina Bare, B.S. Marketing, is the Marketing Director for Bare Wealth Advisors in Gap, PA. Tina creatively communicates Bare’s mission, oversees brand implementation and events and helps others grasp the vision of stewardship and generosity. Tina’s experience in creatively communicating stories as well as event planning and previously serving as a Neighboring Volunteer allows her to speak purposefully into the Bridge of Hope board.    

Tina & her husband Ron live in Atglen on their 6-generation family farm. They have four adult children and attend Worship Center church in Leola. In her spare time Tina enjoys cooking, hospitality and hiking. Tina has volunteered for many years with a local single moms Bible study mentoring group and believes strongly in the vision and model of Bridge of Hope. “I have seen firsthand the impact true Biblical community has had on a number of the women in our group. It is a privilege to walk alongside them in practical care and to help those in the body of Christ experience this blessing themselves!” 

On a day full of tears back in 2013, I was accepted as a participant in the Bridge of Hope program.  As a human being, I felt crushed and just about hopeless about digging out of a life of working so very hard, but seemingly getting deeper in a financial hole.  Bridge of Hope Neighboring Volunteers walked beside me, picked me up and in the spring of 2015, I graduated from the program a changed person with financial rationality, hope, optimism and so much love for the world again. The challenges continued, but I could follow the steps I learned and “walk through the fire” or better yet, “step around it.”

Todd Capitao is the Director of Programming at Solanco Neighborhood Ministries and oversees the programs and services of the ministry. In this role, he partners with churches, local businesses, government programs, and other non-profit organizations to find the best available resources to meet needs.  

Sib Nafziger Charles is the Senior Manager for Joni and Friends Pennsylvania. She has been involved with the organization since 1990 and was instrumental in the creation, development and leadership of the Family Retreat program. There are now 182 weeklong retreats for families affected by disability nationally and internationally. Sib also played a key role in starting the Joni and Friends Warrior Getaways. The Getaways are for veterans, and their family, who served in active combat and have visible and invisible wounds of wars.  Prior to Joni and Friends, she was the Executive Director of Beth Shalom a home for teen moms in Lancaster City. 

Sib is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, a certified Trauma Healing Facilitator through ABS and a founding member of the Lancaster Christian Council on Disability. She co-wrote a small book,Doing Life Together: Building Community. Sib travels and speaks around the country encouraging churches, corporations, and small businesses to begin to engage in the life of individuals affected by disability. Sib is the parent of one adult son who is married and lives in New Jersey. 

Sib and her husband Jesse Charles – who became a quadriplegic in his late teens following a farming accident – advocated together for marginalized people and the needs of individuals affected by disability during their 30 years of marriage. Sib’s husband Jess passed away April 2022.

Karl Fisher started his career as a respiratory therapist, after graduating from Shenandoah College.  He then spent most of his professional career as a sales and management consultant. For the past nine years, Karl’s retirement career has been as a realtor with The Shreiner Group/Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Realty. Karl and his wife, Eileen, are members of Calvary Church in the Lancaster area. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. Karl is excited about the Bridge of Hope ministry and looks forward to serving on the Lancaster board. 

Mari Hernandez-Tuten feels God’s pleasure when she walks alongside women and families, as she reflects on the words of Eric Liddell an Olympian runner who once said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”  

For Mari it’s an honor to share God’s hope and Truth in a practical way through her work as a life coach, biblical counselor, speaker, published author, and Bible teacher. Her MA from Columbia International University and life coach certification through the American Association of Christian Counselors has equipped her to work in her community, and workplace. 

Mari enjoys being a mom to 3 young men and wife to her college sweetheart. Mari and her family served in Ecuador on the mission field for 9 years working as a counselor at an international school, with street children, the missionary community, and women rescued from trafficking. They currently reside in Lancaster and have made Calvary Bible Church their home church.  

Kris Lundquist holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Millersville University.  Kris is a Realtor and part of the Shreiner Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices –HomeSale Realty, where she has served her clients for the past 21 years.  She is acutely aware of the need for safe and affordable housing in Lancaster County. The work of Bridge of Home was first brought to her attention when she worked for a small ministry over 25 years ago and saw first-hand how the Bridge of Hope program works and is a bridge toward ending homelessness.  Kris says, “I look forward to learning more about Bridge of Hope and how I can use my skills and abilities to assist and work within our community.” Kris and her husband Dave live in Manheim Twp. They have two adult children. They attend James Street Mennonite, and enjoy hiking, camping, theatre and travel.

Crystal Martin, Ed.D. is the Assistant to the Superintendent for the Columbia Borough School District. She holds the belief that with consistent, predictable, positive, and safe environments, schools do a better job, more of the time, with more students, across more differences. Crystal’s background in working with schools equips her with a unique voice at Bridge of Hope Lancaster.

Ayanna Oman is the Birth-Through-Three Teacher’s Assistant with Thrive to Five, Community Action Partnership in Lancaster County, PA.   

Anna Rodriguez is a Sales Specialist for Westover Companies Sales.   Anna’s voice as an alumna of Bridge of Hope’s program makes her a powerful ambassador for the mission of Bridge of Hope.  She shares her story this way, “I left an unhealthy relationship and went to a shelter around the time of COVID. They put my children and myself up in a hotel, and I kept praying, fasting, for a home. My counselor at the time explained to me about Bridge Hope and he told me to apply. Long story short, Bridge of Hope was there for my family and helped me to get back on my feet. That’s what I would like for other families – to see them succeed and help them to have a stable home that they can call theirs. We can accomplish anything when we have our fellow brothers and sisters next to us to hold our hands through hard times.”  

Stan Shantz, MDiv, DMin is serving as interim pastor for a Mennonite Church.  He was born in Kitchener, Ontario and graduated from the University of Waterloo with degrees in Environmental Studies and Peace Studies.  But in the early 1980’s Stan moved to the United States to attend seminary.  Since then he has served churches in Indiana, Arizona and most recently in Lancaster, PA.   

Joanie Yoder is a business consultant with several decades of experience as part of the ownership team of a multi-state family owned/operated transportation company.  Her specialty areas include payroll, benefits and office administration. She received her B.A. from Goshen College (IN) in Business in 1983.