Voices for Change: Real Stories, Real Impact
Ladies Night Out Recap
On a recent Thursday evening, the Connections Church community gathered for a powerful and moving Ladies Night Out. Under the theme “Voices for Change: Real Stories, Real Impact,” two courageous women from our own church family—Wendy Loloff Cooper and Kendis Byker—shared stories of faith, justice and transformation. The night was more than an event—it was a call to listen, learn and lean into God’s heart for the vulnerable.
As each woman took the stage, it became clear that although their paths were different, their convictions shared a powerful common thread: God’s call to stand in the gap for those who are marginalized.
Wendy Loloff Cooper: Education, Justice and the Power of Presence
Wendy, CEO of Generation Schools Network and a long-time education reform leader, shared her deeply personal journey into the world of justice-rooted education. Shaped by a family history of hardship—mental illness, addiction and poverty—Wendy’s heart was formed early on with compassion for those who often go unseen. Her work began in earnest at Denver Street School, where she mentored teens who had faced homelessness, trauma and court involvement.
What started as volunteering became a lifetime of advocacy. Wendy emphasized that education is not just a career path—it’s a justice issue. Kids who enter the justice system early are significantly less likely to graduate and more likely to remain trapped in cycles of poverty, violence and poor health. In Wendy’s words, “It’s life-on-life investment that makes the difference.”
She reminded us that God has written every child’s story before they are born (Psalm 139), and He calls us to help remove barriers so they can live into their God-given purpose.
Her passion led to the creation of pilot schools for justice-engaged youth in Aurora and Colorado Springs, where students who are justice-engaged can return to learning in environments of care, trust and opportunity. These schools are being launched in partnership with local ministries like Youth for Christ and Confidence in Hope, and rooted in mentorship, meal-sharing, learning and love.
And as Wendy shared about passing Colorado’s new Justice Engaged Student Bill of Rights (HB24-1216), she reminded us that systemic change can be rooted in faithfulness, relationship and obedience to God’s prompting.
Kendis Byker: Saying Yes” to the Fight Against Human Trafficking
Kendis, Director of Grantmaking Strategy at The UPS Foundation and co-founder of Truckers Against Trafficking, brought another powerful story to the evening—when she described how God directed her family’s heart for justice. Although none of them had experience combating human trafficking, or had connections in the trucking industry, God used their passion to “set the captive free” to say yes to His work.
In 2009, alongside her family, Kendis helped launch Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)—a nonprofit that mobilizes members of the transportation industry to recognize and report human trafficking. What began with a few truck drivers and a bold vision quickly grew into a national organization that has trained 2 million professionals. Their efforts have directly contributed to rescues, arrests, and lasting change across the country.
Kendis shared how this work brought her into conversations at the highest levels of government—helping shape federal legislation and inform national transportation policy. But even more meaningful to her than policy is seeing everyday people become protectors of the vulnerable—saying yes to God’s invitation to act.
Today, through her role at The UPS Foundation, she continues to champion global efforts that strengthen communities and dismantle injustice. For Kendis, justice is central to the Church’s witness. “God’s heart has always been for the vulnerable,” she said. “Be open to where He may lead you.”
Her story reminds us that God continues to work His redemptive purposes on earth and can birth powerful, life-saving movements in and through His children when they are open to His purposes.
Shared Convictions: Justice, Faith and God’s Calling
As the room sat in quiet reflection after Kendis shared, it became clear that these weren’t just two inspiring stories—they were two parts of a larger message God was speaking to our community. While Wendy and Kendis came from different backgrounds and work in different fields, the heartbeat behind their stories echoed the same truths. Both reminded us that when we say yes to God’s call, He can use our pain, passion and presence to bring about lasting change.
While Wendy’s and Kendis’s work looks different—one focusing on education, the other on trafficking prevention—the similarities in their callings were striking:
- Both allowed God to work through their family history to shape their future work on behalf of the vulnerable.
- Both are pursuing justice as a reflection of God’s heart, rooted in Scripture and lived out through bold action.
- Both emphasized the importance of relationships, proximity and presence—being willing to sit with others, walk with them and believe in them.
- Both challenged us to listen to the Spirit’s call to act, even when it’s risky, inconvenient or intimidating.
Their stories carried an undeniable sense of humility and dependence on God—reminding us that real change often starts with ordinary obedience.
Next Steps: Listening for God’s Voice Together
Wendy and Kendis didn’t just share about the work they do—they reminded us that God is always inviting His people to respond to the needs around them. Their stories of faith and justice are powerful because they’re rooted in obedience to God’s call, and they reflect what it means to live out the gospel in real, tangible ways.
As a church, we want to keep listening. We want to ask together:
“Where is God calling us to show up next?”
“Who are the vulnerable neighbors near us we might be missing?”
“How can our groups, our teams, our rhythms, and our resources reflect God’s heart for justice?”
Here are a few simple ways to take the next step—individually or as a group:
- Pray intentionally this week: Ask God to open your eyes to someone in your community who needs care, advocacy or connection. Share what you’re sensing with someone in your group or team.
- Reach out to Wendy or Kendis: Learn more about how their work is continuing locally and nationally—and how you might support, volunteer or advocate with them.
- Start a conversation in your group or ministry team: What does justice look like in our neighborhood? How might we respond as a group to needs in our city?
- Stay ready to say yes: You don’t have to have a master plan. Just a willingness to listen, learn and follow God’s lead when He nudges you to act.
We believe God is stirring something in our church—not just in individuals, but in our collective mission. As Wendy and Kendis both showed us: change starts with saying yes to the next right thing God puts in front of you.
Let’s keep listening together.
