I grew up in a wonderful, committed Christian home and was privileged to have active Christian grandparents, aunts and uncles, as well as godly parents! I trusted Christ as my Savior after hearing the Gospel in Primary Church as a child, then followed the Lord in believer’s baptism a short time later. Growing up in a family of deacons, missionaries, teachers and servants of the Lord Jesus not only inspired me to follow their example, but prepared me to serve and teach as well. My mother began teaching me how to present a Bible lesson to children while I was still in high school, and thus began my love for the Bible and teaching.

After marrying Tom while he was still in college, we gave our lives to serve together as the Lord would be pleased to use us. We took II Corinthians 8:5 as our own special “commitment to serve” verse and gave ourselves to the Lord first, and then to our local Church. “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” Like the family of Stephanas mentioned in I Corinthians 16, we “addicted ourselves to the ministry of the saints.” Now, after 47 wonderful years of serving together with my husband, Tom, I am continuing without him as the Lord opens opportunities for me.

My church home is Lighthouse Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Brian Dunlop. Tom and I thoroughly enjoyed being active members in our church for many years, and I would be pleased to stay for the remainder of my life! Presently I teach a ladies’ Sunday school class on Sunday mornings and serve as a staff counselor.

Tom and I were blessed with two children. Our son, Thomas, is married with five children. He is a pastor in rural Michigan and a talented musician. His wife, Martha, is an accomplished musician and registered nurse. She is also a devoted wife and mother who has set aside her nursing career in order to raise her children. Martha (formerly Martha Mulfinger) keeps quite busy homeschooling the children and participating with her husband in ministry. They are based in Reading, Michigan.

Our daughter Michelle is a graduate of Bob Jones University and is married to Dr. Lee Brock. Michelle became a full-time mother and homemaker with the birth of their children, after having been an English and Special Ed professor at Maranatha Baptist College in Wisconsin. She has written an excellent book entitled “What Is Modesty?”, which we believe is the best available on the subject! Michelle has also written an insightful book every parent should read entitled “Parenting with Mercy”, which is a good companion to my study “Parenting with Wisdom”. And every child could benefit from her book entitled “Topical Bible for Kids”. Lee and Michelle have three children and live in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Lee is serving as a neonatologist in the Air Force. Michelle and Lee stay actively involved in their local church.

The Lord has graciously allowed me to teach various ladies’ Bible classes and given speaking opportunities with ladies’ groups over the past 35 years. After being a full time homemaker and home-schooling our children through high school, I returned to college along with the kids and eventually decided the Lord was leading me to give myself full time in ministry and Biblical counseling rather than seek career opportunities. Besides retreats and special ladies’ meetings, I have enjoyed teaching ladies’ soul winning and visitation, Christian parenting classes, various Bible studies and ladies’ Sunday school classes. I began writing Bible studies for my ladies’ class about 35 years ago and began reformatting the materials into Bible study books, which have become a helpful tool in counseling and mentoring women. I teach seminars on the material in these books and enjoy speaking at various conferences throughout the states. My greatest burden is for the problems Christian families face today, and my greatest love is ministering to women who have a heart for their family and children.