Board & Staff

Crystal Davy

Chair


My name is Crystal Davy and I am the board chair for Juniper Refuge and the Worship Director at Grace Chapel here in Lincoln. I am married to my best friend Ben and I have three children, Addison (2008), Nora (2010) and Solomon (2014). I grew up in Mexico as a missionary kid, feeling like the luckiest person on the planet to have the adventures and friendships I experienced. From an early age, I saw firsthand the beauty of diverse peoples and the challenges of living cross-culturally. And when we have been God’s celebrated guests, how can we not turn around and welcome others into that same hospitality.

CHURCH

Grace Chapel PCA

Amanda Trost

Vice President


I moved to Lincoln, NE for college (UNL), where I met my husband, Bryan. Together we are raising 4 active children and a rambunctious rescue pup. I love to travel, try new food, listen to live music and can usually be found in the stands at my kid’s sporting events.
I have always felt that hospitality has been a passion and calling on my life. Being a part of Juniper Refuge has given me the opportunity to expand that definition in the context of God’s command to love the stranger (Matt. 25:34-40). I am honored and blessed by the relationships I have made with refugee and immigrant families in our community!

CHURCH

Lincoln Berean

Susan Meckel

Treasurer


During our 25 years in Lincoln, my husband Clyde and I have raised three children, now all adults. I enjoy meeting people from different cultures, and love eating and cooking a variety of international foods, especially Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Having been involved in various local and international ministries, I am happy to be able to serve refugees and immigrants in our community through Juniper Refuge.

CHURCH

Zion Church PCA

Anand Titus

director


My name is Anand Titus, and I am the husband to an amazing woman, the father of two incredible children, and a faculty member at the University of Nebraska. I am a member of Grace Chapel, and I believe that the need for community is deeply woven into our inner fabric. I am also the son of immigrants, and hope that I can be a part of a community that extends the kind of hospitality my parents received when they arrived in this country.

CHURCH

Grace Chapel PCA

Tim Branum

Co-founder, Director


 

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Grace Chapel PCA

Nikki Long

Executive Director


I am a wife and mother from southeast Georgia, where I was born and raised. I married my husband Dave at a young age, and we have grown up together following Jesus wherever He leads. After college we moved to North Africa, and have moved every two years since with our two daughters in tow, living also in East Africa and northern Iraq. We landed in Lincoln in 2017, when my husband received an invitation to work at UNL. I was brought into ministry again in 2018 with Juniper Refuge, where it has been a privilege to work with refugee and immigrant families. If you’re interested in exploring how you can be a part of our mission, shoot me a text at 912-324-9742, and I would love the chance to connect!

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Grace Chapel PCA

Shanda Fujan

Volunteer & Program Manager


I have been working with Juniper Refuge for almost a year, living in Lincoln and loving the opportunities to pour into this community! After earning my degree in Art Therapy from Concordia in 2021, and a year of teaching and barista-ing, I’ve been working full-time in this position and recently added a part-time graduate program to for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am very excited to see how my studies and passions will inform the work I do with Juniper Refuge and serving the refugees in this community. The part of my job I love most of all is getting to know people like YOU, and equipping and then matching volunteers with refugee families to foster a mutually beneficial and long-term friendship. Interested in getting involved with Juniper Refuge? I might be your first contact!! Reach me at shanda@juniperrefuge.com to learn more about what God’s doing around here!

CHURCH

Grace Chapel PCA

Diane Brown

Refugee & Resource Liaison


I am honored to join the incredible Juniper Refuge team as the Refugee and Resource Liaison! My husband, Jeff and I spent 17 years investing our lives in four different countries with our two children. From the Costa Rican Ticos, to Caracas, Venezuela; Chiang Mai, Thailand, to the United Arab Emirates where our kids went to schools with other kids from all over the world and we truly formed our community, including worshipping with people from across the globe. Our lives were richly blessed by becoming friends with internationals who took the time to help us initially, and become lifelong friends in the process. I know what it feels like to be a foreigner/nomad here on earth, longing for “home”. It’s such a privilege to be able to extend this hospitality to our newly arrived neighbors, and walk with other Lincolnites as we all look forward to our Heavenly Homeland (Hebrews 11:13-16)

CHURCH

New Life Church

Ry DeVries

Finance Manager


I am a recent college grad who has a passion for numbers and serving people. I was blessed to be an intern with JR during my last year of college and fell in love with the work and mission we have. Now I get to manage everything finance related and use my giftings to bless the people around me while learning and advancing my education. When I’m not in the office I enjoy going outside, hammocking, and doing all things crafty. I love to crochet, cross-stitch, puzzle, and bake. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and my community doing something I love.

CHURCH

Grace Chapel PCA