Judy Gonnerman's Call to Missions

CBC graduate and full-time missionary, Judy Gonnerman, on the mission field in Kyrgyzstan. Here she stands with young ladies modeling dresses donated by ministry partners. (Click to enlarge)Charis Bible College graduate, Judy Gonnerman, has been serving the Lord as a full-time missionary since she finished her studies at CBC-Colorado in 1999. Judy and her husband, Bob Gonnerman, were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit in the late 1970s. A short time later, the couple heard Andrew speak in Kansas City, Missouri; both appreciated Andrew's down to earth ministry and were excited to learn more about God's love and grace. "Like many people, we had not heard much about God's grace and Andrew's teaching had a defining effect on our lives," said Judy.

Bob Gonnerman and the team he traveled with to Russia in 1997. In this photo they were in Murmansk.
(Click to enlarge)The Gonnermans both held secular jobs into the 1990s; Bob worked as a stock broker and a postal employee, and Judy worked in the health insurance industry. Judy retired from her job in 1992, choosing instead to be a stay-at-home mom and to homeschool the Gonnerman's twin, seven-year-old sons, Joshua and David. They settled their family on a farm in northwest Missouri where they worked, raised their family, and served a small rural church. All the while they continued to listen to Andrew's teaching.

Judy remembers hearing contemporary Christian music artist, Carman, sing the song, Lazarus, Come Forth in the mid 90s—only she heard the words, "Judy, Come Forth." Map of Russia indicating the location of Murmansk. (Click to enlarge)After listening to that song, the Lord began to speak to Judy that, like Lazarus, God had something more for her life. "Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom, which was a good place to be, but God had a better plan for him. In the same way, what Bob and I were doing was a good, but He had a better plan for our lives," said Judy.

In pursuit of what the future held for them, the Gonnermans turned their attention more fully to the things of God. In 1996, after listening to Andrew for nearly two decades, they worked their way through the CBC Correspondence curriculum for first-year students. In 1997, Bob and Judy, 63, and The Gonnermans (right) in Ufa, Russia. (Click to enlarge)51 respectively, moved their family to Colorado Springs to attend second year classes.

During the Gonnerman's second semester in Colorado, Linus LeFever, the CBC missions director at the time, asked Bob to consider going to Russia to help start at CBC extension school. Bob joined a short-term mission team and went to Russia. While he was away Judy would often say, “Bob is God's sheep and he knows His voice—the voice of a stranger he will not follow.” When Bob returned, and announced that he thought they should go to Russia, Judy had to remind herself that Bob knew His voice. "As a faith person, all I could do was gulp, smile, and say, "Okay," Judy recalled.Flying home. Bob in the airport in Portugal as the family headed back to the US a year and a half after his ALS diagnosis.
(Click to enlarge)

Judy was unable to visit Russia prior to making a final decision about serving there; she simply put her faith in God and trusted her husband's decision. The Gonnermans sold all their belongings and moved their family to Russia to assist in the launch of a new Bible college. Judy fell in love with the Russian people and has always been glad she took those steps pf faith.

Things went well for the family for their first year or so on the mission field; however, in the summer of 2000, Bob was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease) a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Bob's doctors advised the Gonnermans not to stay on the field. Considering that the doctors also said there was nothing they could do for Bob, the couple chose to continue to serve God.

Judy and her two sons, Joshua and David. (Click to enlarge)Determined to continue their work, the Gonnermans headed to Murmansk, Russia, but because of Bob's condition, the pastors they were assisting asked them to leave. Due to their love for the Russian people this was a hard time for the family. The Gonnermans turned their attention to Portugal where they helped another couple start a Bible college. They spent another seventeen months there before Bob became too weak to continue. "All Bob wanted to do was teach the Word. He taught his last lesson on April 15, 2002; we flew to the States on April 28 and he flew home to Jesus on May 10," said Judy.

Judy with Charis Bible Training Center students. Many of these are also university students in St. Petersburg. (Click to enlarge)Fifteen months later, at the age of 57, Judy and her boys headed back to the mission field in Russia where they joined Carrie Pickett at the CBC extension school, Charis Bible Training Center. Judy said, "It was like coming home to be reunited with old friends."

A short time later the boys returned to the States; Joshua to go to college and David to serve in the United States Navy. While Judy did travel to see them off, she returned to Russia knowing her work there wasn't finished.

In 2004, Judy was part of a CBTC mission team that went to Kyrgyzstan, and the Lord began to speak to her about a ministry there. Reluctant to move several thousand miles southeast, Judy at the children's home in Kyrgyzstan. (Click to enlarge)Judy made tentative plans to relocate in 2007. Circumstances and God's timing allowed her to stay in Russia an extra year. During her extended stay, the Russian Visa laws changed, making it necessary to leave Russia three out of every six months. This worked out perfectly for Judy as she was able to work and minister in both places. For Judy it proved to be the best of both worlds.

Today Judy still balances ministry in both locations. In Kyrgyzstan she works in a children's home and has also taken the opportunity to minister in many churches and to church leaders. In Judy teaching at CBTC in St. Petersburg. (Click to enlarge)St. Petersburg, Russia Judy steps in for Mike and Carrie Pickett during their three month visa rotation. While at CBTC she teaches and is involved with the foreign student groups.

Judy said one of her greatest joys is to see the Word of God change people. "There is nothing more wonderful to me, than to go back to some place I have ministered previously and hear their testimonies," said Judy. "The purpose of my ministry has always been to be where God wants me and be available to do what He wants, and that is still true. Teaching, hospitality and giving have always been a part of this, and as long as I receive God's provision in finances and health, I hope to be able to keep ministering to the body of Christ for years to come," Judy said thoughtfully.

Healing Journeys Reunion with the Deckers

In December of 2010 we posted a story called, The Breath of Life, in which we shared the healing testimonies of the Decker family, Tom, Lesley and Mary. The story shared the family's struggle to overcome Asthma and celebrated their victory over the life-threatening lung disease.

Last summer, Andrew had the opportunity to meet with the family at a special Healing Journeys Reunion held at The Sanctuary in Woodland Park, Colorado. A full decade has passed since Lesley and Mary Decker received their healings. Be sure to watch the interview below as the Deckers share with Andrew how the Word of God transformed their lives back then and what the Lord is doing in their lives now.

Nancy Eurell—She's Already Got It!

Nancy Eurell was set free from the agonizing pain of arthritis when she received a revelation of what Jesus had already done for her. (Click to enlarge)When Nancy Eurell was in her late thirties she could barely walk. She had suffered with tremendous lower-back pain since her teenage years. Nancy had dealt with her pain for so long that she considered the pain to be a normal part of walking. She had tried many things to find relief, including making regular visits to a chiropractor, but nothing completely relieved her symptoms. Nancy was a born again believer and a seasoned worship leader in her church in Sweden, but she was unaware that Jesus had already provided everything she needed to receive healing. At the age of 38, Nancy turned to medical doctors for answers.

When she finally sought medical help, doctors were shocked to find that both of Nancy's hips were completely worn out and in need of replacement. The doctors informed her that it appeared as though she had been born with congenital dislocation of the hip, a condition normally detected in infants. The condition had gone undetected and appeared to Nancy has been the worship leader in her church for years. Prior to receiving her healing she could be found sitting as she led. (Click to enlarge)be the root cause of her back pain and discomfort while walking. Add to this the additional finding of arthritis in both hips, and Nancy quickly agreed to have hip replacement surgery.

After surgery Nancy had a new lease on life. "For the first time in my life I could walk without pain! It was wonderful!" exclaimed Nancy. Unfortunately the relief and freedom from pain was short-lived. Nancy began to experience pain in other areas of her body; her shoulders, knees, hands and neck. As pain began to ravage her body, simple tasks became time consuming. The act of standing up straight in the morning became a long process. "The pain just seemed to get worse. I was stiff and the pain Nancy after hip replacement surgery. (Click to enlarge)was getting unbearable," Nancy remembered.

Continuing to feel more incapacitated each day, Nancy returned to the doctor. She was told that she had severe arthritis throughout her entire body. Nancy's doctors prescribed pain killers, anti-inflammatory medication and, in an effort to maintain the flexibility she did have, Nancy's doctors also challenged her to stay active.

At the age of 50, Nancy had finally had enough of the pain and man's wisdom and she turned to the Lord. She had always believed in a miracle-working God and had even seen others receive miracles during her time as a worship leader, but she said, "I did not know how to 'get it' other than asking and waiting for healing." Nancy went forward for prayer many times at church and began to study the Scriptures.An X-ray of Nancy's hip after her surgery. (Click to enlarge)

In January of 2011, during her quest to understand healing, Nancy came across Andrew's Gospel Truth program on television. After watching she visited the AWM website and downloaded Andrew's teachings and program podcasts to her iPod. Nancy would then listen while taking her daily power-walk. She listened to You've Already Got It over and over until she got it. "As I listened to You've Already Got It, it finally sunk in that Jesus had already provided healing for me and that I already had it in my Spirit. I started thanking [God] instead of asking. I must have listened to it 50 times, until I was completely convinced that healing was already mine! I knew I had it, there was no longer any doubt of what God's word says! I started speaking to the pain to go in Jesus name. I spoke words of life to my body and joints and spine," declared Nancy.Nancy directing the church chior (note the crutches in the background). She says of leading worship, "I'm Jesus biggest fan and love to lavish my praises upon Him!" (Click to enlarge)

As Nancy made her stand in the physical for what she knew was hers in the spirit, she still had some pain. Despite her revelation and her new confession, she chose to seek a second doctor's opinion. Nancy remembers the day she had new X-rays taken; she felt particularly well (pain free) on the day of her appointment. After approximately one week, Nancy was given the results from her new doctor. He told her that he could not find anything at all wrong with her back. Offended, Nancy became angry. "He treated me as if I was a hypochondriac! It took me about three weeks to realize that I had been healed—completely healed!" Nancy exclaimed.

Nancy has found freedom from the pain that once held her captive. Once it was a project for Nancy to stand upright, now she is able to run comfortably. (Click to enlarge)Nancy told her husband, Per-Olof, that she thought she had been healed. She went on to explain that her pain continued to decrease daily and that the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her. Amazed she began to share the news with her friends. And, by April of 2011, Nancy was completely and totally pain free. "I realized that the confession of the word through faith was the bridge that caused the manifestation of healing that I already had in my Spirit into the physical realm," Nancy said.

Not only can Nancy walk pain free today, but she's given up power-walking and taken up jogging as her choice of physical exercise. "Through Andrew's teaching I was completely convinced that God wanted me well! Actually, it was the teaching You've Already Got It that really caused me to have a revelation of the Word of God and what I have in Christ! I am so blessed and so thankful to Jesus for his great love and mercy!"