Hidden Gems: Meet Vivian Villanueva of Crown of Faith Network

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivian Villanueva.

Hi Vivian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story has really been a journey of faith, loss, motherhood, healing, and learning to trust God even when I didn’t understand what He was doing.

Before Crown of Faith Network, I spent years working in behavioral health and nonprofit/community outreach, serving people through counseling, support programs, and connecting them with resources. I also spent time building a career in insurance and entrepreneurship, so I’ve always had a heart for both serving people and building something meaningful.

But some of the biggest shifts in my life came through some of my hardest seasons. After experiencing miscarriage, postpartum depression, motherhood, and seasons where I felt like I had lost pieces of myself, I began to understand how many women are quietly carrying things that no one sees. I started my podcast in August 2024, as a way to have honest conversations about faith, grief, identity, healing, motherhood, and purpose.

Eventually, God began leading me into a season of being intentional about what I was building. That season eventually became the foundation for Crown of Faith Network.

Crown of Faith Network began from a desire to create a space and platform where women could share their voices, feel seen, supported, and reminded that their circumstances do not disqualify them from having purpose. We officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Oct 2025, and since then, the vision has continued to grow.

Today, COFN serves women through practical resources, community, events, prayer, workshops, outreach, and opportunities for women to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. One of the things closest to my heart is Crown Closet, our referral-based clothing ministry, where women can receive professional and everyday clothing and other essentials with dignity.

What I’ve learned along the way is that sometimes the thing you think is a setback is actually preparing you for the assignment ahead. I didn’t start with a perfect plan or all the resources. I simply kept saying yes to the next step God put in front of me.

Crown of Faith Network is still growing, and so am I. I’m learning that building something meaningful isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about being willing to start, remain teachable, and keep showing up.

At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: women should know that they are not defined by what they have been through. There is still purpose on the other side of the pain, and there is still room to rebuild, dream, lead, and become who God created them to be.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. It has been a beautiful road, but it has not been a smooth one.

One of the biggest struggles has been learning how to build something from the ground up while also navigating my own seasons of motherhood, grief, healing, work, and life. There were times when I questioned whether I was moving too slowly or whether I was doing enough. I’ve had to learn that building something meaningful doesn’t always look like constant growth or being busy.

There have also been practical challenges that come with starting a nonprofit—figuring out funding, creating sustainable systems, finding the right people to work alongside me, understanding the difference between vision and execution, and learning how to lead while still learning myself.

I’ve also had seasons where I had to step back. That was difficult for me because I naturally want to keep moving and helping. But I came to understand that sometimes obedience looks like resting, pausing, reassessing, and allowing God to redirect you rather than forcing something simply because you started it.

There have been disappointments, unexpected changes, financial limitations, and moments where things didn’t come together the way I envisioned. But those experiences have taught me a lot about patience, discernment, boundaries, and stewardship.

One thing I’m especially learning is that I don’t have to build everything at once. Crown of Faith Network doesn’t have to become everything overnight. I want to build it in a way that is sustainable and genuine, while staying true to the women we are called to serve.

So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road. But I can honestly say the difficult parts have shaped me just as much as the victories have. They have taught me that growth isn’t always about how much you accomplish—it can also be about who you become along the way.

We’ve been impressed with Crown of Faith Network , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Crown of Faith Network (COFN) is a women-centered nonprofit created to remind women that their story does not end with what they have been through. We create spaces where women can share their voices, find practical support, encouragement, community, and opportunities to grow in faith, purpose, leadership, and life.

At the heart of COFN is the belief that women often need more than encouragement—they need tangible resources and a community that meets them where they are. That is why our work includes community events, workshops, prayer and Bible study, outreach, resource connections, and programs designed to support women who are rebuilding, transitioning, or simply trying to figure out their next chapter.

One of the programs I’m especially proud of is Crown Closet, our referral-based clothing ministry. We provide women with clothing and essentials, while creating an experience centered around dignity. It isn’t simply about giving someone clothes; it’s about reminding her that she matters and that she deserves to feel confident as she steps into her next opportunity.

What sets Crown of Faith Network apart is that we don’t want to create a culture where women feel like they have to have everything together before they belong. We make room for women who are rebuilding, starting over, growing in their faith, pursuing a business, navigating motherhood, returning to the workforce, or simply trying to find themselves again.

We are also intentional about creating community without making women feel pressured to fit into one particular box. Faith is foundational to who we are, but we believe in meeting women with compassion and practical support.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Crown of Faith Network has developed an identity that feels both intentional and welcoming. The crown represents more than a logo to us. It represents identity, dignity, purpose, and the reminder that a woman’s circumstances do not determine her worth.

I want readers to know that COFN is still growing. We are not a huge organization with endless resources, and we don’t pretend to have everything figured out. We are building intentionally, one woman and one chapter at a time.

Our goal isn’t simply to host events or provide resources. It’s to help create an environment where women can say, “I’m not where I want to be yet, but I don’t have to walk there alone.”

That is what Crown of Faith Network means to me: faith, purpose, empowerment, and community in action.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thecrownoffaithnetwork.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crownoffaithnetwork?stkn=MWIzOTVqbWZxeWFyYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581405193962&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thecrownoffaithnetwork?si=Z49rw3F5ASwExMbz