Joe & Stephanie
DeMott
Denver, Colorado
Colorado State Directors
After years of marital problems, including
physical abuse and adultery, and near divorce, Joe and Stephanie have walked
through healing and dedicated their lives to the preservation and salvation
of marriages all over the world. While working with University of the Family
they have ministered to thousands of couples by Marriage Breakthrough Encounters
as well as one on one to couples and Marriage Ministries International
home cell Married for Life Groups. Joe and Stephanie have been married
since 1975 and have four children. Joe is a Denver Police Detective
and worked in the Homicide Unit for 11 years. The DeMott's have been ministering
with University of the Family since 1986 and have a full time ministry
call as missionaries to marriages. They serve as Ambassadors for University
of the Family and have ministered in Ethiopia, Denmark, Sweden, Italy,
Scotland and England as well as all over the U.S. >more<
Gerry & Nancy
Gardner
Austin, Texas
Texas State Directors
After
seven years of marriage, Gerry and Nancy began their quest for marital healing
by becoming part of a Married for Life group in 1993. They discovered
that many of their marital problems were related to unhealed wounds from
past sexual sin, drugs, alcohol, an eating disorder, abortion and adultery.
They experienced God’s healing power and the miracle of forgiveness in a
mighty way and were passionately stirred by the revelation that God did not
only want to restore their marriage but wanted to use it them as a powerful
“one-flesh” team for His purposes.
In 1994, they became active in leadership with Univ. of the Family and have
faithfully embraced God’s call to speak hope into hopeless situations and
identity into a world inundated with identity crisis. One of their
greatest rewards is having seen how their journey toward oneness in marriage
has positively impacted their four precious children. They are convinced
that one of the greatest treasures they can offer their children is a mom
and dad living out God’s Word in their marriage.
Scho & Sonya Lobell
Gonzales, Louisiana
Area Directors
Scho
and Sonya had both experienced the pain of divorce before their marriage
in 1977. They both thought that they knew everything they needed to know
in order to make their life together wonderful. Little did they know
that their marriage would nearly be destroyed by selfishness, pride, anger,
and rage which sometimes resulted in violence. During this time
they also experienced the trials, sorrow and pain of losing a child in a
car accident as well as losing a business. Their faith
in God was the only thing that saved their marriage.
Scho and Sonya have two living children, and three grandchildren.
Because of the hardships and turmoil they experienced in their marriage,
the Lord has given them a passion to help other couples and be a witness
for what Jesus can do in any marriage. Today, because
of God's grace, the Lobells are lovers and best friends! Their message is
one of love and honor, hope and healing, restoration and respect.
Percy & Daynelle
Kimbrough
San Antonio, Texas
SE Texas Area Directors
Within
the first five years of marriage, Percy and Daynelle had to deal with adultery
and the ultimate betrayal and also struggled with unforgiveness. Through
the application of God’s Word concerning marital commitment and forgiveness
in their life and relationship, their marriage was brought out of darkness
and death into God’s marvelous light. They now exercise supernatural
faith to see marriages healed, reconciled and retored in Jesus’ name.
The Kimbroughs have been married 33 years and are the proud parents of four
children and three grandchildren. Over the past 28 years they have
dedicated their lives to helping couples overcome marital difficulties and
receive God’s plan for their marriage.
Mike & Jeanne
Preskenis
Dallas, Texas
Group Leaders
For
the first 25 years of Mike & Jeanne’s marriage, they lived under one
roof with two separate purposes and two separate directions. They were
deceived into believing that this was normal. Through prayer and seeking
God’s will from His Word they discovered that there are biblical roles for
a husband and wife. They were set free from the traditions that were
handed down for generations. They became more open, transparent and
trusting of each other and began to walk in a oneness that they had never
experienced before. Now they are walking out God’s biblical purpose
for a one-flesh couple.
Today, after 33 years of marriage, Mike and Jeanne are passionate about praying
together, speaking the Word of God over each other and their marriage
and helping other couples’ marriages be restored and rejuvenated by teaching
them God’s blueprint for marriage from His Word. They have three grown,
married children and six grandchildren. They have been able to pass on these
principles to their children and are rejoicing in being able to see the manifestation
of Jer. 32:39, “God’s righteousness is with their children’s children.”
Ron & Sherry
Torbert
Houston, Texas
Region 3 Pastoral Directors
Ron
and Sherry were both blessed to be raised in Christian homes with parents
who were committed to each other until death. This gave them a great example
and foundation for their marriage. However, it wasn’t until sometime after
they were married that they both came into a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ and experienced the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Their eyes were
opened to see how much more God had for them and their marriage. With
God’s help and the Biblical principles taught in the Married for Life course,
they have been able to overcome the devastating effects that sexual sin,
including pornography and adultery, had on their intimacy. Many have
been helped and encouraged as they openly share their journey of healing
in their spiritual, emotional and physical intimacy.
Ron’s passion for truth and Sherry’s gift of exhortation enable them
to impart Biblical truths with very practical application. Thirty-four
years of marriage, two children and two grandchildren have given them a deep
reservoir of experience from which to share. Their experience in pastoring
a local church has given them a special heart to minister to pastor’s marriages.
They have opened their home as a bed & breakfast for ministry leaders.
