Growing up in the Champaign community, Valena talks about the village that helped raise her and sustain her through many of the struggles that, statistically, derail young people. Her message is that God sometimes speaks to us through the people in our lives.
Balancing parenting, being a wife, and working full-time in a ministry role is extremely difficult. When she hears God’s voice speaking through her children when they tell her they don’t get to see her enough—she listens! Valena talks about some of the ways she’s made it work and what she’s discovered along the way. She believes the family is the first priority and she lives a life of service. Service to her husband and her children. This concept may ruffle some feathers but be sure to listen to the loving way she describes what mutual devotion looks like.
Valena is passionate that all women, no matter what their role is, understand and appreciate their innate worth and beauty.
Meet Valena
Valena Claiborne is the Executive Pastor of CU Church and has served with that congregation since January 2019. Before that, she was the Outreach Minister at Windsor Road Christian Church, where she joyfully encouraged others to share God’s love within our community and to boldly engage the world.
Valena identifies herself as a perfectly imperfect follower of Jesus, wife to her better half, and supermom to three kids. She’s volunteers as a board member with both Real Life Families and the United Way of Champaign County. She leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts with them. She’s also a certified yoga instructor and has provided classes for the community and University.
Find Valena on Facebook, Instagram, or email Valena@cuchurch.com
Resources We Mention
- Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life by Sarah Jakes Roberts
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