Q & A With Houseparents Joseph and Zayde!

All of us here at New Song are very grateful to God for bringing us houseparents Joseph Lopez and Zayde Gonzalez. Joseph and Zayde are a very kind and compassionate couple who have a huge love for the Lord and for vulnerable children.

Below is a Q&A, which we hope gives insight to who they are and how they have blessed New Song!

How did you two meet?

We met at college. We were studying for a Marketing Management degree in Bogota. 

What is your origin country?

We are from Colombia, South America.

How did you get to the U.S.?

We visited our family many times in the U.S. and our daughter has been living in the states attending school for the last several years.

How long have you been married?

We have been married for 27 years.

How does it feel to be serving in ministry at New Song?

Serving this group of children and being part of the New Song ministry team as a couple is a tremendous blessing! We love serving the children together and using all of our talents to help these kids to know more about Jesus and show them the Gospel. It is a joy to see how freely we can share about the love of God and salvation in Jesus here on campus. It is a privilege to support families that are facing difficult situations and help moms who are trying to raise their children under such challenging circumstances.

How would you describe each other?

(From Zayde) My husband is a godly man that always wants to do everything with excellence. He is organized and methodical in every little or big project, and he takes his responsibilities as a way to honor the name of God. I love the way that he teaches our kids at home about being responsible and how they see him as a house father, loving and caring.

(From Joseph) My wife has a great heart for children and is always thinking about different ways to show love and support to our kids at home. She takes care of the children in many ways, she gives them opportunities to learn about hospitality and teaches them how to handle simple daily situations from a biblical perspective. She also is very creative and plans fun activities for the children!

When did you first realize God gave you a heart for vulnerable children?

In Colombia, we worked with different ministries serving vulnerable kids since we were engaged 29 years ago. When we became Christian in 2008, we started to serve at church directly with children, some of them who had very difficult situations.

What has blessed you the most since coming to live and work on campus?

Campus is a very special place for us. We used to live in big cities, and we had the opportunity to live and visit places with a lot of people, and this place is so peaceful and beautiful. Working with a Christian ministry is a blessing, as is the New Song team and the local church that we are attending.

What activities have you most enjoyed doing with your students?

We enjoy sharing devotions with the students and reading books to them at night. We also enjoy the fun activities we do in the home with the children and our off-campus outings. We really appreciate the chance to give them different opportunities and to enjoy simple activities together, such as board games. We love sharing the good news of Jesus everyday with the children!

Have you had any meaningful conversations or experiences with your student that have stood out to you?

One morning a student woke up very scared because she had a very bad dream about her mom’s situation. I hugged her and she cried for several minutes. When she calmed down, she told me everything about the dream and all of her feelings. This student had a special interest in God’s word, and we went to the scripture and read a beautiful passage in Philippians 4:6-8 about praying to God for peace when we are afraid and anxious. After reading the verse and talking about it, we went to the kitchen and had some hot tea, and she was better. It was special because this student was very reserved and tried to show that she is strong but in a moment of weakness I was able to show her the truth and the confidence that we have in Our Heavenly Father.  

How has your experience been working as a married couple in ministry?

At New Song, we are enjoying the opportunity to serve together and provide the children with the resources to learn and grow. This has also been a great time for us to grow spiritually, depending and resting on God’s strength and plan every day. It is an amazing opportunity to see God moving in the hearts of children and staff here on campus.

How have you seen God moving at New Song?

We see God moving in the lives of our kids and the team every day. The way that He provides for the kids that we are serving and impacting is very special. God has a purpose, He is in control, and we trust in Him. 

Joseph and Zayde are a very special couple and we are so thankful they are serving as houseparents with our ministry! Please keep them in your prayers.