Yuri Lopez

Yuri was born in Honduras and was separated from her siblings when placed in an orphanage at the age of two, leading her to wonder about God’s purpose for her at a young age. When Yuri was six years old, she received a shoebox gift from Operation Christmas Child. Inside the gift, there was a note that said, “Jesus loves you, and I love you too.” It was the note that reassured Yuri of the plan God had for her life, when at the age of 13, she questioned God’s presence. The impact of that gift was so significant, that Yuri now travels the United States as a full circle speaker for Operation Christmas Child, sharing the good news of Christ’s love for all.

In 2005, a family from Dayton, TN (The Hollingsworth’s) came to Honduras for a mission trip, and she was their translator. God had even bigger plans because then, in the fall of 2008, even when she did not meet the Bryan requirements for admission, Yuri came to live with her new family and attend Bryan as a probationary student. At the end of that fall semester, with the help of several professors and student tutors, she was able to make the Dean’s List and was officially admitted to Bryan.

Yuri played for Bryan’s Women’s Soccer team. She was given the Academic All-Conference award in 2010-2012. Also, while in college, Yuri worked as a Spanish tutor with the Academic Support Center, served as a spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, worked at summer camps with the Charlotte Eagles and Chattanooga Sports Ministry, and did an internship for FCA Soccer Ministries in Atlanta, GA. She even took some of the Bryan College women’s soccer team to serve in her home country of Honduras.

After graduating in 2012 with a degree in Exercise and Health Science, Yuri served as a full-time missionary with FCA Soccer and then UPPER90 for twelve years in Atlanta. As of the Fall Semester, 2024, she proudly became part of the staff at her alma mater, Bryan College, where she is serving as the Student Success Coach in the ARC (Academic Resource Center) using the gifts God has given her to serve the students.

I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do in this new season of her life here at Bryan. I am honored to give back to the Bryan Community and I am truly thankful to be in a place where I can spread hope and love through the talents He has entrusted me with. I believe that each opportunity to serve and uplift others strengthens my faith and deepens my sense of purpose.