Today we’d like to introduce you to Pia Jo Reynolds.
Hi Pia Jo, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t grow up in a stable or predictable environment, so from a young age I became very aware of people, what they were carrying, what was missing, and how deeply we all need to be seen and cared for. In hindsight, I understand that shaped me more than anything. It gave me both a resilience and a sensitivity that have followed me into every season of my life.
As I got older, that awareness turned into a deep desire to be part of real, lasting transformation in people’s lives. I’ve spent years in ministry, leadership, and mobilizing efforts that bring people together around purpose, always with a focus on the heart, on healing, identity, and connection, not just short-term or visible outcomes. I’ve always been drawn to depth over distance and to the kind of work that changes people from the inside out. I love seeing people living in the fullness of who God designed them to be. That is what I live to see. I love sowing seeds in the present that will bear fruit 20, 40, or even 100 years from now.
My journey has been far from linear, full of ‘high highs’ and ‘low lows’, but those seasons have refined my convictions and clarified what matters most to me.
Over time, that path led me to where I am today. What has consistently driven me is a deep conviction that love is meant to be lived, not just spoken about. I have always been wired to ask what it would look like to reimagine environments, systems, and relationships with love as the foundation, not as an afterthought. I believe love looks like something, and I have felt a responsibility to explore what it means to partner with God in creating spaces where people are truly known, valued, and able to flourish. That conviction has shaped the way I lead, the way I build, and ultimately the work I have given my life to.
Today, I serve as CEO of the Morning Center, a nonprofit medical clinic serving the medically underserved in marginalized communities. I also spend time writing, speaking, and coaching around the themes that have shaped my life and work, particularly the healing power of love and the importance of team care and culture, often working closely with teams and leaders.
At the Morning Center, I have the privilege of helping lead a vision that provides high-quality medical care to marginalized communities while also cultivating a culture of love, value, and transformation that begins within our team and shapes everything we do. We are deeply focused on generational impact, and I believe the presence of Jesus is what makes that kind of lasting change possible.
Looking back, there is a clear thread through it all. I have always been drawn to the spaces where something is missing and to building what should have been there in the first place.
I am also a wife and a mother of four, and that is the greatest gift and highest calling in my life. My husband and I have been married for nearly 20 years, and our family is incredibly important to me. They ground me, shape me, and remind me of what matters most.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heck no. It has definitely not been a smooth road.
For most of my life, I’ve described myself as more of a “hippie artist,” and I’ve said more times than I can count that I would never be a CEO because I didn’t see myself as CEO material. I had a very specific idea of what that meant, and it felt nothing like who I am. That created a real internal tension for a long time.
A big part of my journey has been unlearning that. I’ve had to realize that it’s not my responsibility to become some version of a leader that I think the role requires. My responsibility is to be faithful to who God created me to be and trust that wherever He places me, He will grow me, mature me, and equip me. That has been a process, and honestly, it still is. It’s easy to slip back into thinking you have to meet expectations or fit a mold, but I’ve learned that what I bring to the table is something only I can bring.
Along the way, there have been very real challenges. Seasons of uncertainty, financial pressure, staffing challenges, and the complexity that comes with building something from the ground up while trying to care for people well. When you’re leading something that matters deeply, you feel the weight of it. And when you truly love the people you’re building with, that weight increases. As a leader, I’ve had to learn how to carry that without it consuming me.
At the same time, leadership has required a lot of humility and personal growth. It exposes what’s in you. I’ve had to confront my own limits, let go of control, and continue doing my own heart work. You can’t lead people into healing if you’re not willing to keep walking that path yourself, so I am committed to that.
At the end of the day, success for me is actually pretty simple. If I can get to the end of my life and know that I lived fully as who God created me to be, regardless of where He placed me, that’s enough. And in every relationship, every assignment, every space I’m in, my goal is that people I hold relationship with would be better because of it. Whether it’s my team or the people we serve, I want to know that they are better on the other side of our connection than they were before.
We’ve been impressed with Memphis Morning Center, 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?
I love this question because I genuinely love what I get to do. We are asking a simple but important question: what would maternal healthcare look like if love was actually the foundation?
The Morning Center is a nonprofit medical clinic that provides completely free prenatal and postpartum care to uninsured pregnant women who might not otherwise have access to it. We serve moms who are often navigating complex circumstances, and we are able to remove financial barriers entirely because we are 100% donor-funded and never require or bill insurance. Because we are 100% privately funded, we are free to practice medicine without rush, without financial pressure, and without coercion, which allows us to truly put people first.
What makes us different is not just what we do, but how we do it. We are reimagining maternal healthcare by combining high-quality medical care with deeply relational, whole-person support. We are not a quick in-and-out clinic. We walk with women throughout their pregnancy and beyond, taking time to know them, support them, and care for them as whole people. And while they are in our care, we partner with incredible community resources to help position them for stability as they step into motherhood. We really see it as coming alongside women, not just treating them.
At the core of everything we do is a belief that love is not fluffy or abstract. It is measurable, it is intentional, and it is the most excellent way. We believe the presence of God is healing, and that shapes the environment we create. When women walk through our doors, our hope is that it feels like coming home, like they can exhale and know they are safe and seen.
That shows up in the way we structure care, the way we lead our team, and the way we engage every person who walks through our doors. We are intentional about cultivating a culture of love, value, and transformation internally, because what is built within our team is what flows out to the moms and babies we serve. It is not something we turn on for patients, it is something we live in every day.
We are also deeply focused on long-term and generational impact. Pregnancy is not just a moment, it is a foundation. The way a mother is cared for during that time can shape not only her health, but her confidence, her relationships, and the trajectory of her family moving forward. Beyond that, how a mother experiences her pregnancy and the care she receives during that time also impacts the trajectory of her child, from physical development to emotional well-being and attachment. The environment a baby develops in matters, and the support a mother receives plays a significant role in that. That is why we take our role so seriously.
What I am most proud of is that we have not compromised who we are in order to grow. We have stayed rooted in our values while building something that is both medically excellent and deeply human. We have created a space where women feel seen, safe, and genuinely cared for, and where our team is able to lead and serve from that same place. That matters deeply to me.
If there is one thing I would want readers to know, it is that this kind of care is possible. You can provide excellent medical care without rushing people. You can build something sustainable without losing your values. And you can lead with love in a way that is both genuine and effective. We are seeing that happen every day.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have had many people play a role in who I am today. I don’t think anyone builds something meaningful alone. Actually, I am convinced of it. I have been deeply shaped by mentors, leaders, friends, and people who have loved me well along the way.
If I had to name a few who have been especially significant in this season, the first would be my husband. He has been a steady source of support, encouragement, and honesty. He is my best friend. My rock. My calm amidst chaos. He sees me clearly, believes in me, and has walked with me through every high and low. That kind of partnership has been invaluable.
I would also say my dear friend Matt Larson, the previous CEO of the Morning Center. He has a rare gift for seeing people, calling out what is in them, and creating space for them to step into it. His leadership and the way he empowered others played a significant role in preparing me for where I am today.
And ultimately, I have to say Jesus. My life would look completely different without Him. I know there are a lot of misunderstandings and misrepresentations about who He is, but my experience has been that He is kind, steady, and incredibly faithful. For much of my life, I tried to reason my way around fully trusting Him, but once I did, it changed everything. My friendship with Him is the foundation of my life, and His leadership is unlike anything else. It sustains me, guides me, and continues to shape who I am. It is because He loved first that I love.
I am deeply grateful for all of the people who have poured into me along the way, but those three have had a profound impact on both my life and the way I lead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://memphismorningcenter.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piajoloves
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonandpia
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pia-jo-reynolds-0b35a761/
