Meet the staff – Louise Koonce

HopeWorks is blessed with caring staff who are committed to our students and helping them succeed. While often behind the scenes, Louise is an integral part of our staff. Her servant’s heart shines brightly through her work, and we’re so thankful for her passion, dedication and commitment to HopeWorks, our donors, our staff and students. Keep reading to learn more about Louise and her role at HopeWorks.

When did you start working at HopeWorks?

I started working at HopeWorks in August 2020.

What is your favorite/the most meaningful part about working at HopeWorks?

I had the privilege of serving as a foreign missionary for 22 years, so when we moved back to the States, having a graphic design background, I wondered what kind of job I would find. Truthfully, I doubted if the next phase would ever be as rewarding in “kingdom” terms. It’s been a delightful gift from God that I can use the talents He blessed me with to do more than I ever imagined.

Can you share a story related to your job?

Being one of the people who serves behind-the-scenes, I get few opportunities to engage with our clients, but when I have the honor of interviewing one of them for a story or taking their photo, I’m reminded of the value assigned to each one by the Father.

What does “hope works” mean to you?

HopeWorks is a network of people working together to build a better Memphis. At any time, any one of us may be the one holding a hammer and, at another time, find our nail bucket empty. As one of the people groups I worked with said of challenges and victories alike – “turi kumwe,” which means, “we are one.”

For someone unfamiliar with HopeWorks, what’s one thing you’d like them to know?

I really love Deuteronomy 8, especially verses 10 to the end of the chapter. In short, it’s a reminder we have a tendency to think our accomplishments are of our own making, but anything we are, have or do is a gift from the all-sufficient Father.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.

– Deuteronomy 8:10-10

Is there a fun fact about yourself you’d like to share?

I once won a golf tournament in West Africa where the prize turned out to be a case of beer, which I exchanged with a local merchant for a case of Dr. Pepper. He thought he got the better deal!