Staff
Get to know the people behind our shared ministry.
Lauri SoJourner
CEO
Lauri SoJourner
CEO
Camp shaped Lauri’s own faith, and she believes every child deserves that same chance. She came to NovusWay with more than 18 years of executive leadership experience in outdoor ministry and nonprofit management, and she teaches for Compass Points, a certificate program for camp and retreat leaders.
LaToya Ellis
Chief Financial Officer
LaToya Ellis
Chief Financial Officer
LaToya moved her family to Hendersonville in 2018 to follow God’s calling, later joining NovusWay after four years serving in a local hospital. She holds a Master of Health Care Administration and is a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach.
Leasha Hinsley
Chief Human Resources Officer
Leasha Hinsley
Chief Human Resources Officer
An Asheville native with over 10 years in human resources, Leasha has worked in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She says her time in ministry taught her what servant leadership actually looks like.
Rev. Nathan Gragg
Chief Development Officer
Rev. Nathan Gragg
Chief Development Officer
An ordained Lutheran pastor with over 20 years in congregational ministry, Nathan has known NovusWay his whole life: first as a camper, then a summer counselor, then an adult leader. Now he helps fund the ministry he grew up in.
Carter Blend
Chief Marketing Officer
Carter Blend
Chief Marketing Officer
Carter brings a lifelong passion for outdoor ministry to NovusWay. A North Dakota native who believes deeply in how camp shapes lives, Carter loves helping people connect, grow in faith, and experience camp firsthand. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and their two boys.
Van Van Horne
Executive Director
Lutheridge & Lutherock
Van Van Horne
Executive Director
Lutheridge & Lutherock
Van brings 29 years of experience in Lutheran outdoor ministry, including seasonal and year-round roles at Lutheridge and service as program director at Lutherock. He is passionate about serving youth and adults alike. Van loves the Dallas Cowboys, playing lacrosse, and lightning-prevention safety, a subject he knows personally after being struck twice.
Deacon Sue Mendenhall
Co-Executive Director
Luther Springs
Deacon Sue Mendenhall
Co-Executive Director
Luther Springs
Sue has served Luther Springs since January 2015 and now serves as Co-Executive Director. Before joining the camp, she spent more than 25 years in full-time youth ministry. She plans summer and non-summer programs for children, youth, and adults and serves as liaison with congregations and rostered ministers of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
Sarah Anderson
Co-Executive Director
Luther Springs
Sarah Anderson
Co-Executive Director
Luther Springs
Sarah has been with the ministry since 2006, first part-time under Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Florida. In 2009 she took on Hosted Ministry Coordinator responsibilities; in 2014 she became Operations Director when Luther Springs joined the NovusWay family. She has seven children and 11 grandchildren and loves being creative in her spare time. Sarah says, “I truly feel if you LOVE what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life; and I LOVE this place, and Jesus loves you!”
Sharon Campbell
Staff Accountant
Sharon Pettijohn
Development Assistant