As our team sat together during a staff retreat in Breckenridge in early January of 2022, I was overwhelmed with a sense of deep joy.
I can’t really explain it. Perhaps it was a move of the Holy Spirit, but I can tell you that I have not experienced that feeling for quite some time.
I think the source of this feeling was the incredible love that I share for each one of our staff members. It’s so exciting to look around the room and acknowledge that each one of the people sitting there is there because God has called them to be there.
They have proved they are faithful in the little things, and now they are serving alongside us in this exciting mission.
It’s a beautiful feeling. A legitimate gift from God.
When Leza Shupe was introduced to our team as a potential staff member, it was the easiest decision ever.
Why?
Because we knew her. We witnessed her demonstrated sacrificial service to others—for a full decade!
Luke 16 reminds us that if we are faithful in the little things, we will have opportunities for greater responsibility—more opportunities for service. As Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…” (Luke 16:10a).
When I asked Leza to describe what drives her to serve others, this was her response:
“One of my favorite verses has been God’s good promise: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).
Since graduating from college, almost every position I’ve had has been within a ministry. I served college students at Colorado State University on the staff team with Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru). That’s where I met my husband, Mark. When we left staff, I worked in different administrative positions at Cherry Hills Community Church, before moving to Cherry Hills Christian School where I was the Communication Manager for 18 years.
I took a brief break to pursue work as an Independent Contractor serving clients who needed help with blog writing and website content management, but I missed working directly in ministry. In 2020, I returned to Cherry Hills Christian School as a part-time Teacher Assistant in 5th grade. I loved working with the kids, but when the opportunity to work on the Hope Haven team was presented to me, I believed it was directly from the Lord!
Mark and I have been friends and supporters of Hope Haven since the very beginning. It seemed a perfect fit for me and easy to say “yes” to God’s clear direction.
I’m thrilled to work with our team, helping in the background. I cannot wait to get to know our team in Rwanda and I’m especially excited to meet our Kugaba kids, Jonathan and Benitha! They are part of our family.
Speaking of family, we have one daughter, Rachel, who has been married to Taylor for a little over two years. They both live and work in Highlands Ranch and she carries on the family tradition of serving in ministry as an event planner for Professional Athletes Outreach.”
I hope it is clear to you why Leza is an incredible addition to our team!
Please join us to welcome her and pray with us that she will fulfill her purpose in this new role at Hope Haven Rwanda!
How and where has God equipped you to serve today?