Family: My
husband Terry and I are blessed to have two married adult children, a daughter
and a son. They are
believers who married believers, which is a fabulous gift from the Lord
to us as
parents.
We
rejoice in
our four small
grandchildren
and
look
for more to be added to our family in the future!
Education:
A bachelor’s degree in Nursing from St. Olaf College, Northfield,
Minnesota, and master of science in psychiatric nursing from the
University of Colorado, Boulder. Credentialed for Advanced Practice by
the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and Certified in Christian Ministry
by the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Equipped for Service: When our family began attending
this church in 1987, I found myself pondering how a Care Ministries department
might “look” at the church
since one had not been established. I also secretly wished that I
could be used by the Lord to accomplish this task. However, I felt a leadership
role at the church would be unattainable with “only” my nursing
background. My educational focus was on the whole person (physical, emotional,
social, spiritual), but not on theology.
When my husband and I became church members, we got involved in many
aspects of ministry. We started the Stephen Ministry program which provided
a clear structure for helping those needing support. We worked in the Evangelism
Explosion ministry for several years. We volunteered in initiating and
leading support groups, along with training many area therapists to do
Freedom Appointments for the first Dr. Neil T. Anderson Freedom in Christ
conference at the church.
When Pastor Steve surprised me by asking me to develop a Care Ministry,
I reconsidered my earlier belief that serving was not possible for a “nurse” in
a church. I saw that my earlier pondering, my volunteer involvement, and
my nursing background were indeed preparatory by the Lord to equip me to
use my gifts in this way.
Prepared for Service:
The Lord gave me the spiritual gift of administration when I was saved,
which has been the best preparation by Him for the role in which I function.
Also, my education and work experiences in counseling gave me skills in
multi-tasking, thinking expansively, demonstrating compassion and practicing
discernment.
Appreciation for NHC:
First and foremost I appreciate the church’s adherence to the doctrinal
statements of the Evangelical Free Church of America. After my husband
and I both accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we left a mainline
church to search for one based on biblical truth, and this church was “right
on” I also appreciate the small church within a big church feeling
I get here. The small church component allows connection in family fellowships
in which people are known personally, and the big church feeling gives
people the phenomenal worship experience and the possibility for a large
range of ministries in the church as a whole.
 Free
Time: I love to do recreational activities with my husband,
including fishing and relaxing at a family cabin in Ontario, Canada,
and scuba diving in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. We have been
doing both as a couple and family for over 20 years. I also enjoy organizing
family photographs, keeping a yearly history of our family’s activities
since we were married, participating in political meetings and conventions,
studying commentaries and challenging Christian books, chatting with female
friends over lunch, exercising either formally or just walking our dog,
and recently, I’ve been spending as much time with our young grandchildren
as possible!
Scripture: Ever since I was a young girl, I have
loved Psalm 46 about God being our refuge and strength. I had the intellectual
belief that God was mighty and that he loved me, as the Psalm attests.
Now that I know Jesus personally, this Psalm has even greater importance
to me. Ever since beginning Care Ministries, 1 John 3:18 has been important
to me, in that we are not to love others with just words or tongue, but
with actions and in truth. My goal in Care Ministries has been two fold,
based on this verse. #1: To
establish a depth of ministry "actions” resulting in no one
leaving Care Ministries empty handed, so to speak, with only kind words
being spoken. #2: To be discerning of biblical truths resulting
in no one leaving Care Ministries with counterfeit religious ideas being
communicated.
Recommended Resources:
A book called “The Remarkable Birth of the Planet Earth,” which
I believe is out of print, turned me from an evolutionist unbeliever to
a creationist believer. Two commentaries by Dr. Henry Morris have also
had a great impact on me: "The Genesis Record" and "The Revelation
Record." I believe Genesis and Revelation are the bookends of the
Bible and hold all other books in between together. Without
an understanding of these two “bookend books,” I believe that
the ones in between don’t make sense. All of the commentaries I have
studied by Dr. Henry Ironside have been impactful for me, in that he exposits
the Bible simply but profoundly.
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