2017 Butterfly Brunch | Diane Studer

We are pleased to announce that our speaker for the 2017 Butterfly Brunch will be Diane Studer, executive director and founder of Soles for Jesus. Please make plans to join us on Saturday, March 11, 2017. Online registration will be available in January 2017.

Diane Studer is the Founder and Executive Director of Soles For Jesus (SFJ). Diane grew up in Elm Grove, WI and met her husband, Jon, at North Central University in Minneapolis. They reside in Brookfield with their two children.

Diane worked at an investment firm for 15 years, until she returned from a life-changing trip to Africa seven years ago.

In the fall of 2009, Diane went on her first mission trip to Ethiopia, Africa. On this trip, the Lord gave her a powerful vision of His plan to start an organization called Soles For Jesus. The plan was for people to collect shoes in the U.S. that would be sent across the ocean to the under-served throughout Africa— and the shoes would be shared along with the life-changing message of the Gospel.

As soon as Diane returned home, she began sharing her call to start Soles For Jesus with others and immediately received donated warehouse and office space. This allowed SFJ to be up and running just weeks after the return of her first trip!

In just two months, SFJ became an official 501c3 Organization, formed a board of directors, had volunteers serving in the warehouse and office, and their web site went live.

Since the start of Soles For Jesus, strong partnerships in Africa have been formed, 275,000 pairs of shoes have been sent to Africa and thousands of lives have been changed. To God be the glory!

Diane also finds great joy in encouraging others to follow their God-given dreams and plans, and she enjoys speaking to groups. Diane believes that God has great plans for His daughters, even when you’re in new and uncharted waters. You may not know the plans that He has for you but you can trust your faithful Father to lead you!

Diane's favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”