Leadership Team
Paul Minakov
President & Founder
Paul was born into a Christian family in Siberia, Russia. He grew up in the city of Valga, Estonia where his father, a pastor of an underground Baptist church during the communist regime, was repeatedly arrested for sharing his faith. This resulted in Paul’s father spending almost 20 years in Soviet prison camps for preaching the gospel. In 1975, at the age of 13, Paul went to a children's Christian camp for the first time where he entered into a relationship with Christ. Since then, his sincere desire has been to preach the Gospel to future generations across Eastern Europe and beyond. Paul launched Hope International Ministries (HIM) in 2002.
Paul and his wife, Luba, live in Florida. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Leonid Regheta
Chair & Missions Director
Pastor Leo Regheta is a native of Ukraine. He came to the United States in 1989 as a religious refugee. After graduating from the University of Washington with a Business Administration degree, he continued his studies earning a Master of Divinity degree from North Park University. Pastor Leo has been doing mission work in Russia and Eastern Europe since 1997. In 2011, he planted the River of Life–Dallas Church in Texas–of which he is still the senior pastor. In 2013, Leo first joined HIM’s efforts as a guest speaker. Then in 2016, he became a member of the Board of Directors. As of 2020, Pastor Leo also serves as the Hope International Ministries Eastern European Missions Director.
Rusty Popp
Treasurer
Rusty was born and raised in Western New York, but now lives in Northern California. He has worked with ministries throughout Eastern Europe in a variety of capacities, mostly working with children and young adults. His daytime job is real estate asset management. He is a member of the HIM board since 2021.
Jonathan Stevens
Secretary
Jonathan has a Masters Degree in Russian History from the University of Illinois. He has traveled to Russia numerous times, and has participated in HIM’s youth summer camps in both Estonia and Latvia since they first began in 2002. Jonathan and his wife, Rachel, live in Wheaton, IL with their two sons and daughter.
Mark Tucker
Member of the Board of Directors
Mark Tucker has been Managing Director and Founder of Aspen Equity Partners since 2009. He has spent his career in the investment and financial services industry. Mark obtained a BA in Business Economics from Wheaton College, followed by an MBA degree with concentrations in finance and real estate from Northwestern University. He has a passion to see churches and Christians advance God’s Kingdom, by truly living out their faith through their use of service, talents and finances. Mark has attended Glen Ellyn Bible Church for more than 33 years and has served many terms on the Elder Board. He currently lives in Wheaton, IL where he and his wife, Karen, raised their two children.
Explore Missions
Sharing the hope, help and healing of Christ in Eastern Europe and beyond!