When God Calls, There’s No Ceiling: Connie Erpelding’s Journey of Empowerment
What does it look like to step into God’s purpose? For Connie Erpelding, it meant leaning into the unexpected — stepping away from her role at a large church in Iowa, moving across state lines with her husband, and establishing a new life in Marion, Indiana. She embarked on a journey to fully embrace her calling. Now, as the director of development at Wesley Seminary and the founder of She Gives, Erpelding is empowering others through her generosity, passion, and steadfast faith.
Building a Foundation with Wesley Seminary
Erpelding’s relationship with Wesley Seminary started long before she accepted her current role. While serving at Prairie Lakes Church in Iowa, she played a vital role in building a partnership with Wesley Seminary — one that would allow ministry leaders to receive theological education without leaving their local church contexts.
Later, she was invited to join the board of Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and eventually became the chair of the board for Wesley Seminary. While still living in Iowa and serving at Prairie Lakes, Erpelding was offered the position of director of development for Wesley Seminary.
“I was really dumbfounded,” Erpelding said. “I wasn’t seeking a change. I loved my church; I loved the work I was doing. But when they asked, I prayed about it. And through that process, I felt God saying, ‘Yes, this is where I want you next.’ I had to surrender my plans and say, ‘Yeah, that’s me. I’m willing. I’ll go.’”
The Beginning of She Gives
Shortly after starting her new role, Erpelding’s supervisor, John Jones, vice president for university advancement, approached her about a new initiative. Jones asked her if she would spearhead the launch of a philanthropic group for women at IWU.
“They were thinking there needed to be an opportunity for women who had this kind of passion,” Erpelding said. “I was excited — I knew we had amazing women at IWU and gathering them together felt like exactly what God was calling me to do.”
Launching She Gives
Erpelding began gathering a community of women who each brought unique talents and experiences to the table. She assembled 13 founding members, including Lena Kulaga, IWU’s first lady, and Karen Dowling, executive vice president and chief people and culture officer, among others.
“We are a community of women gathered to leverage our generosity to create opportunities for empowering others,” Erpelding said.
The group’s first gathering took place on Nov. 8, 2024, at the President’s House. During the event, the women participated in a design thinking workshop led by another member of the group, Wendy Puffer, founder of Marion Design Co. Together, they helped shape the group’s identity and chose its name: She Gives.
“Gives is a verb,” Erpelding said. “We are actively about being what this organization is becoming.”
A Philosophy Rooted in Leadership and Faith
Empowering women has always been a passion for Erpelding, rooted in her deep beliefs in discipleship, stewardship, and biblical generosity.
“We serve a God who is so generous,” Erpelding said. “He gave His Son. Why would I not want to encourage other people to go on a transformative journey that is so freeing?”
Using the skills and wisdom gained through years of leadership and ministry, Erpelding now leans fully into her work at IWU and in the greater Marion community, fostering generosity and leadership among women.
What’s Next for She Gives
Since its formation, Erpelding and her team have been working diligently to lay the groundwork for She Gives. This includes defining organizational guidelines, leadership structures, and the grant application process.
The group officially went live during IWU’s spring board meeting, held April 3–4. The night before, the official She Gives branding and logo were revealed at a special dinner event.
“Rolling out the branding during Board Week was incredible,” Erpelding said. “It felt like everything we had dreamed about was finally ready to be shared.”
Just one year into her role, Erpelding found herself not only celebrating her work anniversary but also unveiling the initiative she had faithfully shaped.
Closing Reflection
Throughout her journey, Erpelding has shown great humility, joy, and boldness in following God’s calling. Her willingness to step into the unknown has impacted leadership at IWU and beyond, inspiring women to recognize that God’s call often leads to more than they could ever expect.
“I’m a huge advocate for women stepping into all the roles that God calls them to occupy — all the way to the top,” Erpelding said. “There is no ceiling when God calls.”
