Alexander Harvey

Every thriving mission needs both vision and care. At Equipping Hope International, Elise Harvey brings both — along with wisdom, warmth, and a deep commitment to sustainable, Christ-centered work.

As a founding partner and behind-the-scenes advisor, Elise has helped shape Equipping Hope from the very beginning. She is the quiet strength behind the strategy, the voice of encouragement in hard seasons, and a faithful advocate for dignity-based ministry.

A Heart for the Margins

Elise’s journey into refugee ministry began not in a boardroom, but at home — as she and her husband Alexander Harvey stepped into friendship with a Congolese refugee family resettled in South Carolina.  That family was led by Augustine Mutabesha, who had spent over two decades in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp.

Elise and Alexander served on World Relief’s Good Neighbor Team, and Elise was there every step of the way — offering rides, helping with meals, doing laundry together at the laundromat, and simply being present as the Mutabesha family adjusted to life in the U.S.

Out of that relationship came conversations, prayer, and a growing burden to support refugees still living in the camp.  That burden would eventually become Equipping Hope International.

A Voice for Thoughtful, Sustainable Ministry

Elise brings a unique blend of insight and clarity to her role. She has worked professionally in nonprofit leadership, higher education, marketing, and ministry development. But her greatest contributions come from her posture — one of discernment, stewardship, and faithful presence.

From the beginning, Elise has helped shape the ethos of Equipping Hope:

        • That programs should honor agency, not dependency
        • That ministry must listen before it speaks
        • That long-term presence matters more than short-term results
        • That equipping individuals to have more independence over their own lives is more critical and Biblical than solely providing what we think of as aid.

Her input has helped guide key decisions about program design, brand identity, donor communication, and organizational culture. She is the kind of leader who asks hard questions and helps others ask them with grace.

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” — Proverbs 31:26

Elise lives this verse daily, both in her family and her ministry.

Family, Faith, and the Long Game

Elise and Alexander live in South Carolina, where they are raising their six children with a shared commitment to community, hospitality, and discipleship. Their home is often filled with conversation about global missions, purpose, and how to live a life that honors God in both small and large ways.

Elise is deeply engaged in her local church and homeschool community, where she advocates for Christ-centered education and holistic care for vulnerable families.  She furthers the mission and identity of purpose-driven organization through her role as Chief Creative Officer.  Her ability to connect ideas to action, and people to purpose continues to shape Equipping Hope’s mission.

Why Her Leadership Matters

Equipping Hope is not just a nonprofit.  It’s a vision carried by people who know what it means to walk with others over time.  Elise’s leadership reminds us that:

        • Every decision is a discipleship opportunity
        • Every program must serve real people, not just metrics
        • Every act of equipping is a form of worship

She is a voice of integrity in the background, a guidepost for organizational health, and a reminder that faithfulness in hidden spaces often bears the most lasting fruit.

Looking Ahead

As Equipping Hope prepares to expand — through programs like Seeds of Hope and the construction of a permanent educational center in Nyarugusu — Elise’s insight will continue to shape both the structure and spirit of the work.

Her quiet “yes” years ago helped lay the foundation.  And today, that yes is still growing.

With gratitude,


The Equipping Hope Team