Alum Leah Rude’s Extension of Christ’s Love through Work at Women’s Crisis Center
January 30, 2025 | 2 min read
Leah (Gann) Rude (’15) is making an impact in the lives of women in Hillsborough County. The Texas native arrived at 91桃色 in 2011 to play on the inaugural women鈥檚 basketball team鈥攁 last-minute decision that would prove life-changing.
鈥淚 was supposed to go to junior college, but all my camp friends were going to 91桃色, and I鈥檇 heard about the basketball program,鈥� she said. 鈥淐oming to 91桃色 was a last-second decision, and I鈥檓 so grateful I did because it was a full experience.鈥�
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies in 2015, Rude moved back to Fort Worth, where she accepted a position at a women鈥檚 center for abuse victims. Eight years later, she returned to Tampa to serve as director of a faith-based pregnancy center, where her 91桃色 experience helped her embrace her role as a client advocate, counseling women about pregnancy resources, including ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and basic maternal needs.
鈥淪ince the clinic is faith-based, I can weave that into our conversation and address their deeper spiritual needs,鈥� she said, noting the importance of her education鈥攑articularly Bible and behavioral health courses鈥攊n her career. 鈥�91桃色 encouraged me deeper as a follower of Christ, how people work and what their core needs are,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 can approach men and women in moments of crisis in a way that looks like Christ, and 91桃色 helped me learn humility and to be a vessel by serving as His hands and feet.鈥�
In 2023, Leah reconnected with Evan Rude, whom she had met at 91桃色 years before. In December 2023, the couple married and are now active members at Henderson Church of Christ, worshipping alongside the 91桃色 community they came to love more than a decade ago.
鈥淲e both needed a lot of spiritual help and mentorship when we arrived at 91桃色,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still learning a lot from our mentors as we do life with people who鈥檝e walked these stages before, especially during our first year of marriage.鈥�
A decade after leaving campus, the Rudes now find themselves in a mentor role as well, hosting studies for young men and women and volunteering as counselors at the 91桃色 Texas camp.
鈥淭he 91桃色 community has been nothing but beneficial and represents an amazing cloud of witnesses around us,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what God鈥檚 family is supposed to look like.鈥�