Our Corporate Board

From her youth on an Iowa farm, to her graduation from National School of Business in 1980, to the adventurous highs and lows of adulthood, Karla Pope has a long history of service throughout her life’s
journey.

In 1998, Karla started an Elementary School Moms In Prayer group and has continued with that ministry to this day: leading prayer groups, serving as Ministry Partnership liaison for conferences, sitting on the Donor Development Board, and currently serving as part of the Donor Engagement team. Jumping into the study of God’s Word brought Karla to Community Bible Study in 1998 as well.

It wasn’t long before she stepped into the role of Teaching Director for Teen Community Bible Study bringing the first of its kind into Arizona. As the classes quickly multiplied, her role shifted to Area Director. What a joy she found in being part of this exciting start up program and shepherding those who pour into the next generation! Her next step was into the role of Regional Director since multiple states had Teen CBS classes popping up. Karla was then blessed to serve as the National Teen CBS Director until 2016.

Her passion for prayer also brought her into a unique opportunity to help kickstart 24/7 prayer at Arizona State University through LOVEASU.

Personally, Karla loves serving at Church for the Nations, joyfully leading an altar prayer team! Her life is so very full with her family recently growing with marriages and eight grandchildren along the way. Such a blessing!

She is thrilled to join this board and help guide the Blessing Group ministry prayerfully into all our LORD desires.

Mike Riches, D.Min., has served as a lead pastor since 1983, which included living 3 years in London, England with his wife, Cindy. He is still in full-time pastoral ministry as lead pastor of Harborview Fellowship in Gig Harbor, Washington. Since 2001 Mike has ministered internationally having founded the Sycamore Commission. His ministry involves teaching, training, leadership development and support. It has taken him to many nations in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Mike has authored six published works with some being translated into thirteen languages.

Christine and her husband Kevin have called Washington State home for over 35 years. They have two married children and six grandchildren. Her education, career, and life experiences have fueled her passion for the cause of bringing awareness of human trafficking, and prevention and restoration for survivors of exploitation.

Christine has served at-risk youth and women through lay counseling, jail ministry, and street ministries for the past decade. Her dream of making an impact became a reality in 2016, when her husband provided a location for the non-profit Adorned in Grace Ministries. This ministry expanded and led the community to donate and build out Adorned in Grace Bridal & Formalwear Boutique in Lakewood, Washington. Then in 2020 the Puget Sound team launched the first medical/dental clinic during covid. By 2023, they had held 7 healthcare events in Pierce County, serving hundreds of people with essential medical, physical, and spiritual care. Her role as regional director of the Puget Sound and her relationship with Compassion Connect Portland has been integral in launching the non-profit Compassion Washington, established August 1, 2022.

She is honored to be included on the Blessing Board in 2024 in advancing the Gospel through the next generation.

Her life’s mission is to honor the Great Commission and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the only One who can “set the captives free”.

Although now retired, Linda worked in the environmental consulting field for over 30 years. She advanced quickly within this profession to become her company’s Program Manager for Superfund Site Assessment and Brownfields work conducted under their contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This position required managing and training professional staff members consisting primarily of geologists, biologists, chemists, and civil engineers to successfully complete projects under this contract. Key components of this role included oversight of budgets and schedules for all projects being conducted on this contract as well as quality assurance review of all related technical reports.

In addition to her professional work, Linda has run a sole-proprietor environmental consulting business and several vacation rental businesses.

Linda has worked as a volunteer with Serve the Children to support their mission of operating Christian schools in India and Africa. Linda also has worked as a volunteer in St. Joseph Hospital’s Pastoral Care Department and as a mentor of women incarcerated the Washington Correction Center for Women in Purdy, Washington. After retiring, Linda ran for the Peninsula School District, School Board in an attempt to bring godly influence to decisions effecting local students. Although Linda was not elected, she made use of the contacts she made during her campaign to seat godly persons into Precinct Committee Officer positions with the goal of seeing them work to place godly people into political office.

Since early 2023, Linda has served on the Blessing Group’s Advisory Board, helping to troubleshoot and navigate this fledging organization as it advanced its mission to reach students with the love and hope of Jesus.

Linda enjoys golfing with her husband, serving friends and family, and hosting BBQs and dinners to encourage fellowship amongst Christians and to engage non-Christians with Christians in a natural and non-threatening setting…all to the glory of Christ.

Jesse Young brings a rare blend of business acumen, public service, and heartfelt ministry leadership to his role as Treasurer. With over twenty years of experience spanning multiple industries—including finance, information technology, human resources, and executive operations—Jesse has built a reputation for financial insight, strategic thinking, and cross-sector adaptability. His professional journey has taken him from managing complex systems in Silicon Valley’s tech sector to leading his own consulting firm in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he advises businesses and nonprofits on financial stewardship, operations, and sustainable growth.

In addition to his private-sector achievements, Jesse served for a decade as a State Representative in the Washington State Legislature. There, he became known for championing fiscal responsibility, economic development, and policies that empowered families and youth. His legislative work reflected not just technical skill, but a passion for building stronger communities through principled leadership.

Jesse’s commitment to service is rooted in a personal story of overcoming adversity. Raised in challenging circumstances in Tacoma, he understands the struggles faced by underprivileged families and uses that empathy to fuel his advocacy for vulnerable populations. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Management Information Systems, Jesse’s academic foundation reflects both intellectual rigor and a dedication to lifelong learning.

Outside of his professional and political life, Jesse has long been active in both international missions and local ministry outreach. He has played key leadership roles in nonprofit efforts focused on youth, including programs addressing child homelessness and mentorship. Whether it’s organizing support for unhoused teens or partnering with faith-based organizations to provide critical services, Jesse’s nonprofit work reflects a consistent thread of compassion, accountability, and faith in action.

Jesse lives in Gig Harbor with his wife, Jennie, and their six children. His leadership is deeply informed by his Christian faith, his love for family, and a belief that effective stewardship—financial and otherwise—can transform lives and communities alike.