LifeTalk Podcast
LifeTalk is the official podcast of LifeHouse Church MOT. Our heart for this podcast is to help our church grow and to go deeper here at LifeHouse. We’ll be interviewing staff members & hearing their testimonies. We’ll be discussing various topics such as parenting, marriage, day-to-day functions of the ministry and so much more from a biblical perspective. Our goal is to help equip our church to glorify JESUS in every area of life.
LifeTalk Podcast
From Parade To Purpose: How Service Transformed A Family And A Church
A small-town parade and a kids’ choir on a float changed everything. That’s the unlikely doorway where Gelsie’s story turns—from church hurt and distance to a clear encounter with the gospel, repentance, and a next-day baptism. From there, her life took on a new rhythm: serve where God is moving and watch him work up close.
We walk through the layers of that calling. Gelsie shares how children’s ministry taught her to see with tenderness, how student ministry forged deep trust over the years, and how the connection team became a hub of redemption stories—newcomers drawn in by a livestream, a roadside flag, or a cross-country move. She also opens up about being appointed a deaconess, the humility it requires, and the quiet, crucial work of caring at funerals, baptisms, and holiday outreaches. The thread through it all is simple and strong: saved people serve, not to earn favor, but because grace compels action.
Beyond Sundays, we explore what faith looks like at work. As an executive assistant at JPMorgan, Gelsie treats her desk as a mission field—befriending colleagues, praying for families, showing steady joy on hectic days, and letting excellence speak before words do. Her story makes a practical case for seeing work as worship, where integrity, patience, and presence become a living witness. We also dig into small groups as spiritual neighborhoods, where vulnerability replaces performance and leaders learn as much as they teach.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step in, this is it. There’s room for your gifts—kids, students, hospitality, parking, ushering, AV, worship, or a connect group. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find these stories. Where will you serve next?
New episodes every Monday
www.lifehousemot.com
info@lifehousede.com
Join us Sundays at 9 & 11 AM
Intro music by Joey Blair
What's up, Life Talk family? Welcome back to the Life Talk Podcast. We're coming to you today with another great episode. This is Nate, and I am joined by a very special guest, one of my favorite people at Life House, Jelsey Borja. Jelsey, how's it going today?
SPEAKER_00:Hey, Nate. How are you?
SPEAKER_03:And it's on the podcast, so I'm doing great. So, and I'm happy to have you on. I know uh you have a great story and just how much you do here at Life House. And uh so for the Life Talk family, we're in November. Man, it's November. Thanksgiving is like right around the corner. I don't know when you're listening to this, but it is 2025 is flying by. But we're in the We Work Month. So November, all about how we work in response to Christ. We don't work to be saved, but uh, when we are saved, it just moves us to be more faithful in serving, whether it's in church, our families, uh, our careers. And so I'm looking to bring great stories. And I know, Jelsey, you have a great one. Just uh we'll touch on it, so I won't spoil just all you do here, the many hats you wear. It's always uh impressive just to see what you do. But maybe let's start at the beginning. You just kind of share with us your story, how you grew up, uh, just your faith journey, how you landed here at Lifehouse, and uh just so we can get to know you a little better.
SPEAKER_00:Sure. All right, so I grew up Catholic. Catholic Um, yep. We did a lot of the uh holidays, you know.
SPEAKER_03:Um were you creasers or was it uh very faithful, deeply captain thing? Yes. Never heard that. Deep Catholic, and then there's a creaster Catholic, right?
SPEAKER_00:No, yes. Um, that's kind of how we grew up. Um, you know, I did the sacraments um when I was younger. Uh when my husband and I relocated from New Jersey to Delaware in 2010, I said, you know, it's a fresh start. I want to get my kids in church.
SPEAKER_03:So we started away from church at that point or still just so I hadn't even been doing the creaster thing for um only the creaster thing at that point.
SPEAKER_00:Um, and you know, having marriage struggles, and we came here and I said, you know, let's start fresh. So we started visiting a local Catholic church. Um that didn't go so well. Um, I was basically told that because we were not married in a Catholic church, I couldn't be an example to others, even though I served there as well as one of the religious ed teachers.
SPEAKER_03:Interesting.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. So I said, I am never going to church ever again. Okay. Um little did I know that the Peach Festival of 2014, my son was in karate. So he was demonstrating with the karate team that he was on at the festival. And it was the first time in the four years that we lived here that we decided to go that year to watch him perform. And um, I remember just being in the sidelines with my two youngests, and you know, our oldest is there, and all of a sudden the Life House float comes by with all the children singing, and I was like, man, this is what I want for my kids, you know, like to see that joy of them singing for the Lord. Um, I I can't explain it, but I was just like, I need to go visit this church. So I told the kids, hey, let's go to this church, and they're like, Yes, let's go. So the very next day, visited Life House, uh, left crying. Um and we have not left since then. Like we've been there since August of 2014, part of Life House.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, that's awesome. So you say that's kind of when you came to faith as well, and coming to Lifehouse, hearing the gospel, you know, kind of recognizing your need, you would say.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. Um, about a month later, it was the Townsend Parade in September. And I remember walking by the tent, and Pastor Mark walks by, and he's just like, Hey, I'm like, Hey, Pastor Mark, and he's just like, So what are you waiting for? And um, I got saved under the tent at the Townsend Fair with Pastor Mark, Brandy Miller, and my husband next to me, and we all prayed together, and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, repented of my sins, and uh got baptized, I believe it was like the very next day at uh Todd Nelson's house back then. They used to do it in the backyard. Um, so yeah, I got I got baptized that very next day, and uh yeah, it's been a journey.
SPEAKER_03:That's cool coming as a family too, you know, at the opportunity, you and Renee coming together and seeing that change in your your life as well.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Well, um, when I started coming to the church, a little backstory, um, you know, the kids came home that first day and they said, Daddy, you have to go to this church because he didn't want to go.
SPEAKER_02:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:He said, I'm Catholic, I'm not going to that church. So the kids convinced him and they were like, Daddy, please just go once for us. So the very next Sunday, um, after the peach festival, he came and uh here we are.
SPEAKER_03:God working through kids. I know I've heard that a few times, but amazing how God will work even through exactly little ones to draw us in and mother and father, so that's awesome. So yeah, coming to faith, being part of Life House, you know, kind of maybe talk a little bit about what encouraged you then to serve. Was it kind of because sometimes we see many people come to faith and okay, cool. Um I got my faith and I can kind of just come to church and you know, just chill a little bit, you know, just uh listen to the preaching, the music. But you know, what was different for you? How did that kind of start your journey in in terms of responding and and just serving and seeing the need to be part of working as in unto Christ?
SPEAKER_00:Um, I can't tell you what it was. I just know that I just had this desire to serve. Like I started serving with the children's ministry on um back then it used to be Tuesday nights Bible studies at the school when we were at the middle school and started serving with the little ones there every week. Um I I don't know what that was. It's just a desire that I had, and I served in the children's ministry for a couple years before moving on to LSM and uh serving in the uh Lifehouse Student Ministry there. Um and then from there I've moved on to the connection team, which I currently serve in as the connection lead under Jarvis. And I love every Sunday. I can't imagine not being here on Sundays, and sometimes if I'm under the weather and don't make it, it makes me really sad. Um, I just can't imagine just coming in and sitting and leaving. Like I love serving.
SPEAKER_03:And so I think, and we were talking a little bit before we jumped on the mics, just maybe kind of share it. You know, you had that desire, maybe especially in kids' ministry, maybe you could talk a little bit, you know, seeing, you know, kids poured into, you know, what was especially, you know, seeing God work through the work that you did with kids during that time.
SPEAKER_00:Um, in the young children's ministry, when I was serving on um, excuse me, on Tuesdays, um I mean it was just seeing them, you know, when we do worship with them, how they worshiped and the stories, and you know, you try to make things animated and how they just remembered, like they just soaked it all in. And then, you know, when they would see you on Sundays, it's like, hi, Miss Chelsea, and and that like love they have for you. Um I don't know, it was it was it was so cool. It was so cool just to see them the stories um of the kids uh coming home and telling their parents and me getting messages from parents, like, you know, thank you for how you love on our kids. And um, I'm telling you, like the Lord just really opens your heart to see people different when you come to saving faith. And then moving on to the student ministry, just that connections that you're able to make with the kids that are a little excuse me, a little bit older, and um watching them all grow and go through the student ministry and the questions and you know how they are encouraged, you know, they trust you, they ask for prayers and um you know, seeing them come to Saving Faith and now years later watching them get engaged and get married, you know, like um it's just been an amazing journey to to see that as they progress through children's ministry onto LSM. And um yeah, it's just awesome. I mean, I I just love the opportunity that God gives me to be part of a witness to the work that he's doing everywhere. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03:And then getting into the connections. I know you were sharing, you get to hear lots of great stories of how people find the church, you know, what really led them here, you know, any that have been particularly impactful, you know, anything that's really stuck out, you know, just God moments, you know, in that serving that you've done, you know, especially as part of the connections ministry.
SPEAKER_00:Uh yeah, I mean, I've met people that are like, I was just driving and saw the flag, and I felt the Lord tell me, like, you need to go to this church. Um, I've heard, I listened to it online and I I needed to come. Um, actually, one of the young girls that I connected with lived in Texas and she was moving to Middletown and um watched one of the sermons, and she was like, I need to be part of that church. And here she is, part of Lifehouse and got baptized upon coming. Um, also um, I've heard people, I had another couple from California, same thing. You know, they were moving to the area, they searched us online, found us, and started coming. I mean, just seeing God bring people from all walks of life, different nations, and I just I love connecting and hear the stories of how God brought them here, and not necessarily because it's our church, but just brought them to his house. You know, and uh I I I just love it. I love connecting with people.
SPEAKER_03:Oh yeah, you get to, like we were talking, you get to see God at work. You know, if you were not doing what you were doing, if you were not serving, if you're not doing that work for the Lord, you miss out on seeing him work. So the the working is kind of, you know, we don't have to work to be saved, but we really miss out on seeing God's work in other lives, seeing the transformation you mentioned through the students and and those kind of things that really you get to be front and center, you get a front row seat to what God is doing. Whereas if you're uh back row, you know, uh row baptist, whatever, you're just missing out, right? Your first thing, your last, yeah. It's just you you don't get to see that change in lives, which is so awesome to be part of. And then so, and for those who don't know, you're also a deaconess here at Lifehouse. You know, biblically we have elders and we have deacons who help serve the body. Maybe share a little bit about uh that position, you know, how you arrived at being a uh deaconess and what that means, and and how you serve in that way too.
SPEAKER_00:So um that was not something that I was looking for. Um I was approached back then, it was Jonathan Brazzle, who was here as the executive pastor a few years back, and he sent me a text, and I was like, I think you're taxing the wrong person. Um I did not see myself as fit for a deaconess role. Um, I even had a conversation with a good friend of mine, and I was like, I don't understand why, why me? And she's like, the Lord is working, like I don't understand why not you, you know, and um I prayed about it, came to my husband, I said, Hey, and he's like, What? You know, um, and yeah, so I accepted the position, and it's been, I think, about three years now, three, four years. Um we get to serve in many different capacities from you know, serving at funerals or baptisms, serving the community, helping around Thanksgiving. Uh, we usually do a big uh drive and drop of food for different families in need, and um just being able to serve the community in that way and be Jesus. Um it's it's been very fulfilling. I mean, the stories also are just amazing. Um, there's a young girl, she she comes here. I mean, we've walked with her and um she got baptized, like watching her kids also, um it's just I I just love it. I really do get to meet amazing people, and I I still sometimes feel like I'm inadequate for that role, but um, you know, because we we know ourselves, you know, we're all sinners in need of a savior, and it's just a reminder of God allowing us to be part of his story and us getting out of the way and just allowing him to work in and through us. Um, it's just been amazing.
SPEAKER_03:I think something you said that's so important is the day we feel like we're qualified and worthy, we probably are not. Right. You know, I think that's always we were talking a little bit before we uh jumped on the mics, you know, people who think they deserve a position or a title are probably the wrong people in God's kingdom. We know the first will be last, the last will be first. Yes. One of my favorite parables is like, hey, when you go to a feast or whatever, you know, sit at the bottom of the table and let the master call you up. You know, God is calling you up and and calling you out. Now when you obedient and respond, it's he who qualifies us. And like in your case, it's the serving heart that qualifies you to be in that position. Correct. Not really authority per se, you know, but in a deaconess, it's an important position. You know, you're a someone who's looked up to in the church as an example of you know strong servant and somebody who is a leader within the church, you know. So I think another, so I said I said at the lead-in, Jelsey wears lots of hats. So you lead a connect group for us. I know you uh work to help other women to help them learn and grow. Maybe just talk about that as well in terms of you know the work that that takes, the work that it puts in, but just the value you know you see of filling that role as well.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, um, so I do have a connect group, and you know, God just brings the people that you need to that group. Um, I have so many God stories that it's like, which one do I pick to share?
SPEAKER_03:We'll be here all day. I know.
SPEAKER_00:Um so, real quick, one of the girls that's in my connect group, uh, if you rewind about two years ago, Paul came to me, Paul uh Paul Northern. If nobody knows him, you should be able to do it.
SPEAKER_03:She was on the podcast back in August. So for the listeners who want to hear more from Paul, it was it was in August, I believe, for the weekend.
SPEAKER_00:Um he sent me a message that there was a girl in need of transportation to come to church. And I reached out to this young girl, and she was like, Yes, you know, I need a ride, I'll get back to you. Well, she never did. I reached out again and you know, didn't didn't get a response pretty much. So, fast forward two years, I had this random girl come up to me one day and she's like, I have to confess. And she's like, I was the girl that needed a ride. Um, and she's part of my connect group. She actually lives in my neighborhood. She's been she got baptized, she got saved in front of our church, um, like outside on the bench near the the cross. Um, and she's part of my connect group, and she's it's been a that's an amazing story. Like, if I didn't have the connect group, I would have never connected with her in the way that I am now. Um, so just being able to be part of that and walking with her in her story um of how God is working in her life. Um and you know, I remember when I first came to Saving Faith, like the way people poured into me, the way um, you know, people prayed for me and came alongside of me. I know how important that is for someone else's walk. And I just love being able to do that um for others as it was done to me. Um and you get to share Jesus.
SPEAKER_03:So yeah, groups are such an awesome, you know, if you're not in one, you should be in one. If you have been in one, you probably should be leading one, you know, lead one. You'll you'll get as much from leading, like you say, and working and serving. Yes like you get filled up a lot of times just from seeing other people grow, and even though you're pouring out, you know, you get filled up spiritually.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, you do because you're doing life with people. It's not like you you're just not coming to teach this class or teach this Bible study. Like you're coming in vulnerable because as a leader, if you're gonna come in with walls and saying I'm not gonna share, like there's no point in the group. You know, so you have to be transparent and you have to be able to to share also. Hey, I need prayer for this, or I need, you know, this, I'm struggling with this. Like, you have to be able to be transparent to to walk with people, to do life with people. And so they encourage me, you know. I learn from them. I learn a lot from people who just came to Saving Faith, you know. Um, and it's encouraging for me to see their fire. Um, you know, it like rekindles it and um and they pray for me. So, you know, it's a two-way street.
SPEAKER_03:Definitely is. So maybe a better question would have been like, what don't you do here at Life House Church?
SPEAKER_00:But you know, why don't I do here? I don't do parking.
SPEAKER_03:Well, it's a wonder. So but well, so much you know to talk about. I think you know, maybe could end too, like you said, and you could kind of give the exhortation like if you're not serving, if you're not working, doing something, using the gifts that God has given you, yes, you're really missing out. Like like you said, being filled up, seeing God's work, translation. There's just like so many things that God gives us when we work. So I don't know if you want to comment kind of any further, just you know, on how that's worked in your life and strengthen your faith as well.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I mean, I I can't, like I said, I can't see myself not serving on a Sunday morning. Um, and it's not in a legalistic way. It's the literally the joy of the Lord. Like, I want to serve, I want to connect with people. I want them to feel welcomed when they come in the door. I want them to see Jesus. And um, you know, if I wasn't part of that, I would miss out on so many relationships, so many God stories, um, you know, the connections that I've made. It's just God, it's amazing. It's an amazing work to be able to be part of it. And, you know, if people have the opportunity, I say get plugged in, you know, whether it's a connect group or serve, like there's so many areas to serve from, you know, it's not just children's ministry. You know, we have hospitality, there's parking team, there's ushering, there's being part of the A V team, you know, there's the student ministry, there's um, did I say Usher? I may have said Usher already. Um, worship team. Like there's so many areas, and you know, I highly, highly recommend if you're coming in on Sunday, just try it out. You know, approach one of us, you know, approach me, and we'll get you, we'll get you to your right fit. Um, there's so many areas to serve in and to get plugged into.
SPEAKER_03:Whatever your gifts are, you know, the hand can say to the you know, mouth or ear or whatever, like we're the whole body, we fit together. But you know, too many churches are 80-20. You know, we have 80% of the work done by 20% of the people, and it's because a lot of people don't feel that same desire you do. So we certainly would encourage that. But might be surprising after listening to all this, Jelsea does have a full-time job as well. So maybe talk to us, you know, we talk about really working for the Lord, but maybe talk a little bit about you know your career, what you do, and and also how coming to faith has changed, you know, your attitude and just in your work as well, and and redeems that.
SPEAKER_00:Um, yeah, so I currently work at JP Morgan as a um full-time executive administrative assistant. Um how God has worked, man, I my work ethic is obviously different. Um, the way I handle situations, the way I interact with people, um, I make friends everywhere. They call me the social butterfly at work, also. I mean, I just befriend everybody at work and then I'll start having God conversations. Um, a lot of the cleaning people in my job, like a lot of them are Spanish. So I'll start talking to them and we'll start talking about church, we'll start talking about the Lord. I've prayed for, you know, family members of people. Um, I've prayed for my bosses, you know, family members. I've, you know, people know where I stand. They know that I, you know, love the Lord. And um my work speaks for itself um because you know, God really changes people, I'm telling you, from the inside out. And uh yeah, and it's it's helped also in um the responsibilities, which could be good and bad, but um, my work speaks for itself. And you know, I've been given great opportunities. My my managers are amazing, they they work with me and um, you know, they just know where I stand. And uh it just yeah, I've been really blessed. The Lord has really blessed me as far as my full-time job.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, it can be both a mission field for people you mentioned talking to, as well as the way we witness. Yeah. Like you say, when you're working hard, you're willing to do those extra things because you're a Christian, you're not trying to just get some title or just get more money, you're willing to truly serve. Yes, it really sets you apart. You know, we're talking about faithfully. You want to be faithfully different with that person who's willing to stay and do those kind of things. So it sounds like that's a lot of what you do. Maybe has there been any particular ways God opened doors or you know, particular things, you know, especially since coming to faith, that you've seen a difference in the attitude and all.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. So as far as opening doors, uh, I started at JP three years ago. Um I was at an executive admin to two executives, and I currently now have six, um, which is both a blessing, and sometimes it's it's f it's busy. Um but it's they're all great. So I'm very thankful that all my managers are great. Like I said, the Lord has really blessed me in that. Um, I work for really great people. Um, I also have the opportunity to work alongside um, I'll mention her. Her name is Sam. Um, I love Sam and um I have adopted her as my own child pretty much at work. But you know, I've had conversations with her about church. Um, you know, she's she's visited uh a young adult's ministry with one of my youngest sons up in Pennsylvania. So I've been able to be a really good um contact for her. Like we've talked church, we've talked Bible scripture, and um, she recently lost her grandmother, so I was able to pray for her and her family and um just kind of be a witness in that way. Um and again, I would miss out if the if I wasn't connected the way that I am. You know, I would miss out on those opportunities.
SPEAKER_03:And really being, like we say, on mission to, you know, who's God working in their life. And this is what we always say at church, like you'll meet so many people that Pastor Mark or you know, other staff won't, that you are able, you know, we gather Sunday, but we scatter. And it's usually through our work, you know, that we're going to meet a lot of people and and just ways we can differentiate you know ourselves, not in a way to gain glory, but to give glory to God. You know, I was you know, shared a little bit just my own testimony of you know having a young engineer who was leaving the company, and it was me and another guy who are strong believers, and we were, you know, she said, something is different about you guys. And I was like, Well, I'll tell you exactly what's different. You know, Ken and I follow Christ. And so we treat you different because we love you the way he did, we serve you, we're not here to lord over you, you know, we're here to be different, like Paul tells you. So work is where we're able to do a lot of those things. And if we're unfaithful in our work, then it's not gonna help be a good testimony to Christ if we're real slack people and you know, not quality, and be like, oh, this is what Christians are all about. Okay. So why our work does matter.
SPEAKER_00:It does. And I mean, even on days where it's you know, it could be crazy busy, and sometimes I'm like, oh my gosh, I don't know where to start. Um, you know, just taking that moment to just be like, you know, start from somewhere, and it's you know, it's that attitude change. Um while it's still busy, like still having that joy of the Lord, even in the midst of the busy, it speaks to everyone around you because you're not losing your mind, you know, you're not using profanity like some people will do, or you're not like you know, making a fuss. Like you just you're working as onto the Lord, no matter where you are.
SPEAKER_03:Gives you totally different perspectives as to what you're doing on a daily basis. Correct. Awesome. Well, any other stories you would share with us or encouragement towards how people approach their work or or serving from from Jelsea's perspective?
SPEAKER_00:Um let's see. I am gonna encourage everyone to just get plugged in somewhere. Um if you're part of Life House Church and you've been here for a while, like I said, just you know, get plugged in. You know, if you're not plugged in, there's so many opportunities for us to get plugged in. Um come talk to me, come talk to one of the leaders. Like I'm sure we will gladly get you connected to where you need to be. And if you work in a secular place, um, you know, you you you have to be prayed up because when you w walk into these places, they don't know the Lord. A lot of times, you know, you're gonna encounter people that just are not walking with the Lord and their work ethics are different, their vocabulary is different, the way they carry themselves is different. Um so you have to be able to be um that light in that darkness because you never know who's watching you. And people are watching you.
SPEAKER_03:That's true.
SPEAKER_00:They're watching every moment.
SPEAKER_03:We testify before the world, right? Correct. Being a light and light in the darkness, salt, all those kind of things. Absolutely, especially, and I think like you said, you're gonna have different goals, different attitudes than others, but that's how you can be different when you're working as into the Lord and and viewing it in a completely different light than most people would. Right. You know, instead of it being your identity, your identities in Christ. Correct. Now I get to work entirely different. So that's really great.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03:Well, Jelsey, thanks for joining us. I think it's a great story. Again, we could go on for a while with all you do. But uh when we were thinking of who works you know so hard at Life House, your name absolutely is the top of the list, not in any way like you've shared to glorify yourself, but uh point to God. That's the point we want to make sure our listeners don't miss. It's not about I had to beg Jessie to come on. She didn't want to do this either. So, you know, it's just kind of kind of the ser humble servant that she is, but we know these are the kind of stories that encourage. And even if you don't come to Lifehouse, we would encourage you to get plugged into your local church, serve somewhere, do something. You know, it will bless you, it will bless others. Uh, we just, you know, really encourage people, especially in this time and context we're in. That's how we're called to live.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, especially in our time now. Yes, it's important to be that light.
SPEAKER_03:100%. Well, Life Talk family, stick with us in November. We'll have more great stories of other faithful people around here who I am begging to come on the podcast because the the people who would say they want to be here are probably not the service we want to talk to, but we're gonna hear some great stories. People who really pour their lives out uh can really testify to how working makes a difference. So thanks for joining us and we'll talk to you next time. Thanks for tuning in to the Life Talk Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and leave a review so others can find this content as well. And we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday for another great episode.
