Elders
Antonio Thomas serves as lead pastor at The Bridge Church Atlanta, bringing a passion for compassionate leadership and biblical literacy. With over 20 years of ministry experience, Antonio is dedicated to fostering a discipleship environment where individuals can grow in their faith as followers of Jesus Christ and find support in their spiritual journey. A graduate of Liberty University with an Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling and a B.A. in science and religion, Antonio combines theological depth with practical insight, striving to make the teachings of Christ clear and accessible to all.
Antonio was born in Panama Republic of Panama where he accepted Jesus as both Lord and Savior at the age of 16. Through many tests and trials, triumphs and failures, he has come to realize that the journey towards a closer servitude to Christ is a lifelong journey. Antonio is a longtime resident of Gwinnet County where he lives with his wife Shelley and the last two of their six children who are still at home. It is Antonio’s lasting dream to make Christ known to as many people as possible for as long as possible.
Ken Fransen was born and raised on a farm in Southwest Minnesota. His grandfather, an immigrant from the Netherlands, purchased the farm, and it remains in the family to this day. Ken’s parents and siblings were devoted members of their local denominational church, where he was raised under the consistent preaching and hearing of the Word. Due to childhood health issues, Ken was not suited for farm work, so his father encouraged him to pursue a technical career. This guidance led Ken to focus on electronics in high school and college.
During his college years, while living in a big city far from home, Ken recognized his personal need for Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life and committed his heart to Him.
Ken married Marla, a fellow member of their family church. Over the years, as they navigated marriage, raising children, and various job-related moves, they encountered diverse church settings, relationships, and roles of responsibility. Through these experiences, they continued to learn and grow in their faith. Ken has witnessed God’s hand guiding him through each stage of life, presenting new opportunities, challenges to strengthen his faith, and blessings along the way.
Mike Miller and his wife Lynn have led a life marked by adventure, service, professional success, tragedy, health challenges, and numerous trials. However, the greatest fulfillment they have found is in following Christ. Mike accepted Christ at the age of 13 and later had a transformative experience during a career crisis that led him to become a team and leadership coach, a role he continues to this day. Though that period was initially devastating, Mike now treasures it as one of the most significant moments of his life.
Mike was raised on a farm in Michigan, where he learned that no matter how hard or well one works, only God ultimately controls the results. This lesson has shaped his approach to all aspects of life. He pursued education in engineering and business. After marrying Lynn in Indiana, the couple embarked on a series of job transfers across the country, living in Illinois, Georgia, New York, California, and eventually returning to Georgia. Mike held senior manufacturing positions and served as chairman of the deacons. Together, he and Lynn taught 5th and 6th graders for 13 years—a role that provided him with valuable insights about adults ("no filters!"). They served in various churches, including Baptist, Methodist, Saddleback, and North Point congregations.
Mike and Lynn joined The Bridge around 2006 and have loved it ever since. They describe it as a "graduate school for Christians" that truly equips people to fully experience and share an exciting relationship with Christ.
Javier Vazquez has served as an elder and youth leader of Next Generation Ministries at The Bridge Church Atlanta since January 2021, serving students from middle school, high school, college, and young adults. He converted to Christianity at the age of 16 and since then has been serving in ministry for over 20 years. Holding positions of youth leader, children's church leader, elder, deacon, creative director, teacher, and campus pastor. Javier is dedicated to building bridges between cultures and generations within the church.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and has 16 years of teaching experience in the public schools. Javier is bilingual (English and Spanish) and has served as an interpreter for many years. Born in Buffalo, NY, he has lived on his own since he was 16. Turning away from a life on the streets he worked his way through college and married his high school sweetheart. Together they have raised three adult children and are celebrating almost three decades of Christ-centered marriage. He forms a dynamic part of the preaching team, bringing energy and a solid understanding of scripture to present the gospel in a way that brings all generations into an exciting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Patrick Leboehi was born and raised in Ivory Coast before moving to New York in October 1998, where he spent eight years. In February 2006, he relocated to Indianapolis to be closer to his future wife, and they married in March of that year. After settling in Indianapolis, they started their family and became active members of their church, with Patrick serving on the sound team and his wife contributing to the children's ministry. In 2007, they accepted Christ, were baptized, and welcomed their first child, Kendra, followed by Jean-Marc in 2010. They also adopted Patrick's younger sister, Grace, who has become a beloved part of their family.
The family later left their home church to support a church plant, continuing to serve in similar roles for a decade. During that time, Patrick occasionally preached, performed baptisms, and hosted a church group in their home.
In December 2018, after moving to Cumming, Forsyth, the Leboehi family joined The Bridge Church, where they have been active members ever since. Patrick serves on the Audio-Video team, his wife assists in the toddlers' class, Kendra and Grace participate in the praise team when possible, and Jean-Marc helps with the lighting team. For about a year, Patrick has been honored to serve as part of the elder group, working alongside remarkable and seasoned men of God.
Raz Pataca was born in Lugoj, Romania, in 1988 as the middle child of three in a family of believers. In 1994, his family immigrated to New York City, beginning a new life in America with the support of his grandparents. From a young age, church and ministry played a central role in Raz’s life. Inspired by the example of his parents and their love for God and ministry, Raz began serving in his church’s audio/video ministry at age 14—a role he continues to fulfill today.
In 2005, Raz made a life-changing decision and publicly dedicated his life to the Lord. In 2010, he married his "much better half," Alina, and together they embarked on a journey of faith and service. Having been raised in a traditional Romanian church, they transitioned to The Bridge in 2013. At The Bridge, both Raz and Alina have been actively involved in various ministries, finding joy and fulfillment in serving their church community.
Raz continues to serve on The Bridge’s tech team, providing support across multiple ministries.