Surprised by the Healer Facilitators – Ginger and Loie

Get to Know Ginger

Hi, I am Ginger. I have been married 42 years to my husband Vince. We have two married sons and three grandchildren. What a blast it is to be a grandparent!  My passions include gardening, mentoring, and speaking at women’s retreats. I love seeing women grow in God’s truths through their brokenness. My heart rejoices when I see someone who is committed in walking through their pain with God. For years I have personally fought through my own healing with God, an excellent Christian counselor, and dear supportive friends. I have come out a totally different person. My journey is not over but it has given me a passion for God that I would not trade for anything.
I have been a volunteer with AI since the summer of 2013. I have seen a tremendous amount of change and growth in the ministry as well as with women who are being ministered to.
I have led Surprised By the Healer several times on my own and through AI. (Spoiler alert: My story is in one of the chapters of the book.)
Don’t be surprised if you find parts of your story in many of the chapters and be prepared for God to see God move!

Get to Know Loie

From the outside, we seemed happily married, but internally we were facing challenging personal battles. After 24 years of marriage, it felt like we still didn’t really know and understand each other. Loie was struggling so much with fear and stress that it was manifesting itself in her body. Years of unaddressed conflict were taking their toll.

In 2018, we were listening to the FamilyLife podcast and heard Juli being interviewed about her book “Rethinking Sexuality”. We began diving deep into Authentic Intimacy resources. As we went through podcasts and books, God began to reveal areas in our lives He wanted to heal. Loie had deep childhood trauma she needed to revisit. We had no community. Our marriage was suffering.

Encouraged by Juli on the podcast, we sought healing through marriage intensives and trauma therapy. Loie participated in an Online Coaching Intensive with Jennifer Degler, found community with an Online Book Study, and then attended last year’s Reclaim Conference. Today, after 29 years of marriage, our marriage is thriving, and we finally feel that we are getting to know and understand one another, something even our adult kids have benefitted from. Loie says her faith has deepened, her body has started to heal, and that she and Ivan are committed to building community. I went from kind of feeling like I was a spectator in life to now feeling like I am part of my world.

One of the first books that really convicted me back in 2018 was, What’s it Like to be Married to Me, by Linda Dillow. Not only did it challenge me to take a serious look at myself, but my walk with the Lord. I am eager to come along side women who are serious about seeking what God wants for them in their marriage.