Chris joined the Ruth Harbor staff as our third-ever executive director in 2022. Chris is a lifelong Iowa and Ankeny native with a 30-year history of serving on the pastoral staff of Grace Church in Des Moines and First Family Church in Ankeny. Before joining Ruth Harbor, Chris served as associate executive director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa. Chris is married to Chris (yes, Chris & Chris), and together they have three adult children and two grandchildren. Chris enjoys reading history and apologetics, writing, and teaching.

Aimee joined Ruth Harbor as the Office Manager in January 2018 and now serves as Administrative Director. In this role she oversees the front-office operations, supports the Executive Director and staff team, manages fundraising events and develops/oversees Ruth Harbor's volunteer program. Aimee and her husband, Derek, love spending time with their three grown children and one grandson anytime they have the opportunity. Aimee also enjoys baking, reading, and playing pickleball.

Sara joined the Ruth Harbor team in October 2022 and serves as Family Care Director. She has an M.A. in Human Services and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. In her role, Sara oversees our Family Care Program which specifically seeks to engage the local church in offering group events for former residents of RHM. Nurturing community opportunities is powerful and a key component to the success of our moms, and Sara is committed to advocating and supporting each one's unique and individual needs. Sara delights in empowering women to discover their value, voice, and worth. Her hobbies include training her dog Saylor, competing in various canine sports, reading, and gardening.

Having spent several years in non-profit fundraising and development, Kelly comes to Ruth Harbor excited to build on the strong partnerships already connected with the ministry. She hopes to deepen those relationships as well as share the mission with grant-makers and others who are newly introduced to this work. Kelly is also an associate missionary with Action International Ministries, serving in mobilization. She walks alongside gospel workers as they prepare to go to their field work. Kelly is married to Tim and has three young adult and teen children: Adam, Nathanael and Lila. She was a classically trained dancer in younger years and still makes time to take a ballet class every week. You'll also find her cheering on their kids at football games and cross-country meets.

Amanda joined the Ruth Harbor team as Life Coach in 2019, has served as Family Care Advocate, and more recently as our Program Director. In her new role she provides leadership and oversight. Her energies focus on stabilizing and strengthening program operations in order to most effectively serve our moms and babies, as well as prepare RHM for long-term success. She continues to be committed to reassuring our moms that they are not alone! Amanda and her husband have been married for 30 years. They have five children, two of whom are adopted, and they are former foster parents. Amanda enjoys listening to podcasts, and reading and listening to classic books.

Julia joined Ruth Harbor Ministries in 2024, initially serving alongside her husband, Adam, as a House Parent. She is now the Residential Program Manager, where she is passionate about creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for the women in the residential program. With extensive experience managing a transitional living facility and supporting pregnant mothers as they navigate important decisions around parenting and adoption, Julia brings both practical expertise and a heart of compassion to her role. She is deeply excited to walk alongside the women at Ruth Harbor, empowering them with the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need during this significant season of life. Outside of work, Julia loves slowing down for cozy chats over a warm latte, taking long peaceful walks, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Lexi started as Ruth Harbor’s Administrative Assistant in April 2025. Her responsibilities are varied, relating to account receivables, database management, volunteer oversight, as well as event and administrative support. Lexi grew up in rural Illinois and spent some time in Lakeland, FL before moving to Iowa to study at Faith Baptist Bible College. During her time at Faith, she had the opportunity to spend a year in Lima, Peru, for an internship as part of her her B.A. in World Missions. Lexi enjoys doing anything hospitality-related with her husband, Ben, and their baby boy, as well as reading, eating, singing, and spending time outside.

Faith joined Ruth Harbor in July 2024 and is currently operating as Program Support Specialist. In this role, she works directly with women in the interview and application process before they come into the RH program. She is excited to share the hope and love of Christ with women who are reaching out to Ruth Harbor. Growing up as a missionary kid in Southwest Alaska helped her develop a passion for ministry. This led her to Faith Baptist Bible College, where she pursued Office Administration and discovered her calling for full-time ministry work. Recently, she married James Busenitz. In her free time, Faith enjoys running and fostering her houseplant collection.