Can you follow me here?
It all started with one woman’s “yes.”
Donna Fenchel left a high-paying corporate position after climbing to the top of a mountain at a Christian retreat in Colorado. There, she heard God say, “There is more work to do.” So she said yes. That yes led her to buy into an Orangetheory Fitness franchise in Jacksonville.
Then Donna went out on another limb—she created a marketing position that had never existed before in any OTF franchise. She hired me. Another yes.
Donna became so much more than a boss—she was a soul mate, a kindred spirit, and a sister in Christ. She opened my eyes to the horrific reality of human trafficking. As she poured herself into learning how to help survivors, she found Atlas Free, a global organization that fights trafficking and restores lives. When she invited me to join her on a fundraising hike with their campaign “Do What You Love for Something You Hate,” I never hesitated. I said yes.
That first hike was brutal—18 hours, 21 miles through the Enchantments. I lost three toenails and swore I’d never hike again.
But I had no idea that my “yes” was just the beginning.
That one hike led to many more. I began leading treks up treacherous mountains, fighting for the voiceless, standing with survivors, and using my platform to raise awareness. Donna and I, two women simply saying “yes,” became part of a ripple effect we couldn’t have imagined.
One of those “yeses” led me to a leadership retreat in Washington State, where I met Morgan—a young woman working for Atlas Free. Her maturity, passion, and purpose struck me immediately. I had to know: Who are you? Where did you come from?
She told me she had just come off The World Race—an 11-month mission trip traveling from country to country, serving local communities and spreading the Gospel with nothing more than a backpack and faith.
My first thought: This sounds like my daughter Sophia.
So I introduced them. Morgan and Sophia kept in touch, and two years later, after graduating, Sophia signed up for The World Race: Semesters—a three-month mission through Guatemala and Nicaragua.
With the unwavering support of my (now) husband Joe, we prepared to launch Sophia from Gainesville, Georgia.
And then came one of the hardest yeses.
I dropped my baby off at a cabin with her gear and drove away, heart in pieces. I had done 16 years as a single mom. And now, once again, I had to do this milestone moment—alone. Joe had family obligations. I was sad. Angry. Regretful. Broken.
But then… God showed up.
At Parent Launch, the speakers on stage seemed to speak directly to me. “This is YOUR journey too. What does God have in store for YOU, Noelle? Listen. Lean in. Say yes.”
Back at my hotel, I couldn’t stop searching. What is this ministry? How can I be involved? I tried applying as a Parent Facilitator—but was turned down because I wasn’t an alumni parent. Still, I couldn’t shake the call. Then I found a job posting: Parent Ministry Director.
I hadn’t applied for a job in 20 years. Didn’t even have a resume. But that job listing sat on my to-do list for weeks. I prayed over it. I waited. And then—I said yes.
Today, I serve as the Parent Ministry Director for Adventures in Missions. I walk alongside parents launching their children into the unknown, just as I did. I get to say:
Thank you for raising your child with courage and faith.
Thank you for honoring their yes—even when it broke your heart.
And thank you for your own yes—because of one racer’s yes, my life changed. Yours and so many others might too.
It all began with Donna, alone on a mountain, saying yes.
Then she said yes to me.
Then I said yes to a hike.
Then Morgan said yes to The World Race.
Then Sophia said yes to a call.
Now, I say yes every day to being part of something so much bigger.
Three women.
Three bold yeses.
And a ripple that continues
.
Mrs. Donna Fenchel and my Mushy (Sophia) on her race.
