About Shekinah Full Gospel Church
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I entered this world on July 13, 1941 in Kansas City, Kansas. I was born again at the age of 24. My first six years of being discipled in the Christian life was under the leadership of Rev. Hershel Barnett and his son Rev. Tommy Barnett at Victoria Tabernacle Church in Kansas.
In 1970 I met Norman Onstad, who is now my husband, and we were married September 5, 1970 and moved to Joliet, Illinois. In 1972 our daughter Janelle was born. Janelle married in 1991 and now resides in Galatin, Tennessee with her husband Terry and their two children, Collyn and Kayleigh. Terry is an associate minister and Janelle is a pre school special ed teacher and assists her husband in ministry.
Since my conversion in 1964 I have fervently loved and served our Lord, Jesus Christ. I have enjoyed over the years a multi-faceted ministry and business life. I have been in leadership for 30 years and have been involved in all areas of church ministry, community leadership and professional areas. My international position in Zonta International, a service organization for executives, opened many doors for conducting leadership training conferences, workshops and international conventions in the United States and Europe.
My deep love for God, His word and people is my motivation for service. Using my spiritual gifts to aid in equipping Christians for service so they can mature and grow in the stature of Jesus is my greatest desire.
I became an ordained minister in 1995 thru the Association of International Gospel Assemblies, Inc. in DeSoto, Missouri. God instructed me it was time to obtain a minister’s license since I was speaking and traveling in the United States and to other countries.
The Shekinah Experience, Inc was organized for my evangelistic ministry. I received the name “Shekinah” through an experience in prayer while I attended a Christian Leadership Training Conference sponsored by Latter Rain Ministries in Litchfield, Illinois. God had instructed me that I would receive the name of the ministry while I was at the conference.
“Shekinah” means: The manifest presence of God and God dwells here.
In 2004 God instructed me to begin a small church which became a division of The Shekinah Experience, Inc. We met in my home for a year, preparing to move into a building and publicly begin our ministry to the community of Joliet.
The following is a more complete list of my continued involvement in the community, church and business.
My strongest and most faithful supporter has been my husband, Norman and my daughter, Janelle. I thank God every day for such wonderful support in the ministries God has entrusted to me over the years.