Nicole Opgenorth

The smell of rich, Nicaraguan coffee wafts through the air as Bernardina starts her day. Today is harvest day. She walks down the lush green rows, picking ripe vegetables and fruits she cultivated from small seeds. Last year, this garden didn’t exist. Thanks to the faith-based training she received through the Council of Protestant Churches of Nicaragua (CEPAD)—an RCA partner—she is now able to feed her family and generate income by selling the surplus.

Nicole Opgenorth amplifies the voices of people like Bernardina and fosters relationships with CEPAD staff and beneficiaries. She enters homes, farmlands, and churches to listen to what God is doing. In turn, she shares with RCA supporters how their gifts are empowering rural communities to lift themselves out of poverty through pastoral training, leadership development, economic empowerment, food security, and environmental care. Nicole also serves as a cultural and language translator for visiting groups.