Client spotlight: Creating connections

Even though they live in different states, sisters Amanda and Rose James share a bond that stretches across life changes and miles of distance. While their lives look different in many ways, their connection remains rooted in the same values they learned early on: caring for family, showing up for each other and finding purpose in helping others.

For both women, pivotal experiences eventually led them to Thrivent. Here, they share what they've learned about asking for help, leaning on others and finding purpose in life's unexpected turns.

Amanda: I was a small business owner for about 20 years, buying my dad’s business in western North Carolina. COVID-19, then a divorce, took the wind out of me, and I moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’ve always worked in sales and teaching people but decided on a new path with the move. I took my passion of cooking for others to build a career as a private chef for four families.
Rose: I’ve lived in a number of places, but during COVID, my husband and I, along with our three children, moved back to the family farm in western North Carolina to be closer to family. We have renovated an 1800s cabin to make it home. I’m a nurse, and I work in public health with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, primarily in food distribution.

Amanda: Our parents always were in service to others. My mom was a nurse, with wound care as her specialty. No one wants to go to work in a storm, but Mom always did. She was there for her patients. As a small business owner, Dad made all the connections. During storms, he was out checking on people.
Rose: I remember Mom going out in a blizzard; she was picked up by an ambulance to get there. At Dad’s rental business, he often gave out generators or oxygen machines for free. He never charged during the hard times. We also worked in our church’s soup kitchens. I always felt better when I was doing that sort of work. If I have to work, which we all do, I want it to have a soul purpose instead of a monetary gain.

Amanda: Even when we’re far apart, we’re connected by how we were raised—to show up for each other and for others.
Rose: That foundation makes decisions easier. We both come back to the same question: how can we help?

Amanda: In Chattanooga, I became friends with Allison [Alli Van Roekel, a community engagement leader at Thrivent], who talked passionately about the organization and introduced me to many people. I had been married for 17 years, and while neither of us had been worried about finances, I knew it was important to find someone who could provide financial guidance in my new life.
Rose: When Hurricane Helene hit in 2024, my sister and I were in Maryland with friends. We lost all contact with family and friends at home and immediately flew to Charlotte. We rented a vehicle to get to the Asheville airport, which was shut down but was where our cars were. We had just the gas in our tanks and hoped we’d make it home. Once there, I immediately went to work helping secure supplies for the area. Amanda told Allison what I was doing, and she helped facilitate a donation from Thrivent to the MANNA FoodBank. That’s how I got to know Thrivent initially; it was an act of kindness that connected me with Thrivent.

Amanda: There isn’t a guidebook to know what to expect or what to do when you’re grieving. When my dad died, we were processing emotions and didn’t know how to ask for help. Alli called and said she was sending some grief care resources from Thrivent to my mom, including the Step by Step book. It made such a tremendous difference in getting through all the financial and legal things we needed to do. I’m learning that it’s not just about finances; Thrivent helps with the whole picture.

Rose: It means being honest with people and not wasting their time and energy. It means being present and capable of listening with my heart. It’s making sure every minute counts. The week of my birthday, I was working at a free food distribution where hundreds of people waited in line in the cold to get the food they needed. Several clients took the time to wish me a happy birthday. But the sweetest gift I got was some food storage containers from a woman who has had a difficult life. She knows how I give to people and it was an extremely thoughtful gift from someone who has nothing to spare. That’s what it means to live generously.

Amanda: I think when you’re starting a new journey or having a new adventure, you have to remember you’re not alone. There is someone out there who may not have the exact same story, but there are similarities. Lean on one another and ask for help. It’s hard to do, but I’m learning that if you ask, you will receive.
Rose: The day before my dad got sick, he was cutting down trees to help disaster victims. That’s how he spent his last healthy day on earth. I feel he lived life with no regrets and no hard feelings. When family and friends made mistakes, he never made people feel like they were their mistake. Being kind means everything.

Amanda: I’ve learned that people want to help—but you have to let them. When you’re in the middle of something hard, you don’t always know what to ask for. But even starting that conversation makes a difference.
Rose: Watching my family growing up, helping others was just what you did. It made it easier to accept help, too—because you understand how meaningful it is on both sides.

Amanda: It’s not just about money—it’s having someone who can help you think through decisions and show up when life is uncertain. Rose: In public health, I see how critical community is every day. It’s people showing up, organizing and caring for each other that makes the biggest difference.

Amanda: You’re not alone—even when it feels that way. Ask for help. Start by reaching out to one person. If you ask, you’ll receive.
Rose: Look for ways to stay connected. Community is what carries us through.