Rhoda Pfotenhauer and her husband Paul co-founded Woodbury Lutheran Church in Minnesota in 1967 and an additional church in Manzanillo, Mexico in 2001. I have a close connection to Woodbury Lutheran, as I attended church there for most of my life. Rhoda is a deaconess in the Lutheran church, she has been married to Paul for 55 years, is a former missionary, retired nursing home chaplain, world traveler, mother of three, and a self-proclaimed encourager. Above all though, Rhoda is filled with joy.

Colette Campbell not only radiates light, but she has this amazing ability to draw out the light in others too. Highlighting talent and light in others comes so naturally to Colette, that she has made a career of it as Director of Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion at Bremer Bank. She is also a mom of three (ages 11, 14, and 16), wife to Jonathan, and owner of Kona the dog and Angel the bird.

The day we met, I left Colette’s presence being reminded that there is light in the world and that there is light in me. May you have the same experience as you read Colette’s words.

Bethany Lundgren is a model of courage. She is a mom of three (ages 5, 3, and 1) and is also the Children’s Ministry Pastor at City Church in Minneapolis. She is no stranger to struggle and the art of perseverance. A little over a year ago, Bethany and her husband Trygve had their third child, Evie, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, in addition to numerous other health complications.

That day, Bethany taught me something of hope; how we see beauty in brokenness and, even more, how darkness and struggle can somehow cause goodness and light to shine even brighter.

Pang Moua is committed to empowering others.

Pang is the Diversity and Inclusion Associate at Bethel University, where she supports emerging urban leaders in becoming agents of change in their communities. She is also an educator, a graduate of Bethel Seminary’s Marriage and Family Therapy program, and co-director of Children’s Ministry at River Life Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. I am also so grateful to say that Pang is a friend of mine.

To talk with Hannah Baker is to be inspired. To talk with Hannah about beauty is to be transformed. Hannah and her husband, Jared, recently returned from living for four-and-a-half years in Marseilles, France. While in Marseilles, Hannah partnered with a faith-based non-profit to help launch a French-based anti-trafficking association. Part of her work included investing in relationships with women who had been trafficked, as well as teaching English and literacy classes for adult learners at a local community center.

Allow me to introduce Susan Wynia. Wife, mom, grandma, faithful post-surgery nurse at Unity Hospital, breast cancer survivor, and a dear friend of mine. She is also a warrior. Not the Braveheart, weapon-touting type, but the brave and persevering type who daily chooses to lead with love and hope and joy. That rainy Wednesday we met, we talked about Susan’s current battle with ovarian cancer, but mostly we talked about how Susan sees beauty in the world.