Kenda lives in Fairfield Ohio with her hubby, Dave, of 38 years . They have two grown Children, Xan and Zak, and 4 grandkids. Kenda works as the Director of Eve Center, a Christian Organization that promotes healing and growth through peer-counseling and training. Davey and Kenda enjoy fishing, kayaking, hiking, and skiing. Kenda also enjoys Sports (especially soccer) and playing drums.
“By the Grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect,” Acts 20:24. The bulk of Spiritual growth, and subsequent ministry, came after the effects of sexual abuse had left me cold and emotionless, unable to love or be loved. I was a short-tempered, hard-nosed, independent “Christian.” Through counseling and earning a Christian Counseling degree I allowed the Grace of God to enter in and heal & transform my Life. New Life is what I received from the Grace of God and is what I desire to help others receive. From slavery to Freedom, anger to Peace, despair to Hope…this is my experience and my prayer for others.
Wrestling with sexual abuse forced me into the deep end of theology. “Is God really all good and all powerful? And if so, where was HE during the abuse?” “As a forgiven Christian, am I going to show forgiveness to the man who abused me?” As I wrestled with God, a stronger, more firm, steadfast faith developed as I trusted HIS Sovereignty and Grace. Forgiveness was unquestioned as I came to realize that the result of my own sin was no different than the result of his sin… we were both separated from God and needed redemption in Jesus.
The renewal of my mind happened as I flooded my brain with God’s Word to replace the effects of abuse with the love of Christ. I now consider the abuse a gift resulting in deeper faith. “And the God of all Grace, who called you to His eternal Glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast,” 1 Peter 5:10. What is more, as I was comforted by God, I can now comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
I began at Eve Center as a Volunteer, offering peer counseling to others who have been through sexual abuse. In 2013 I joined a staff of 2, managing 2 sites and seeing about 300 women a year. Since then, the LORD has grown the ministry to serving over 2000 women a year at 8 different locations with 13 staff and hundreds of volunteers. We cover any and every topic a woman could experience: Relationship struggles, anger, grief, loneliness, anxiety, abuse, Child loss due to miscarriage or abortion, infidelity, caretaking, tragic loss, shame, quilt and many more.