Cristie Jo

From Cristie Jo’s heart

My professional journey began in cosmetology, where I found great joy in blending creativity with a heart to serve others. Then, quite unexpectedly, I met a passionate, high-energy young evangelist—and five months later, we were married. From that moment on, we’ve been serving the Lord together, building a life and ministry rooted in God’s Word, faith, partnership, and purpose. Over time, our partnership grew into a family—three married children and eleven precious grandchildren, including adventurous triplet boys!

Early on, I made the intentional decision to devote myself to raising spiritually strong children who knew the Word of God. While Jerry spent seventeen years preaching week-long evangelistic crusades across America, I focused on shaping the hearts and lives of our children during their most formative years. What began at home eventually grew into a calling to teach and mentor others—teaching adult Bible studies, women’s conferences, and leading biblical support groups.

In today’s ever-changing culture, I consider it a privilege to invest in the next generation. Whether through teaching, storytelling for children, or simply listening, I long to help others build a strong biblical foundation and worldview that will sustain them through life’s joys and challenges. My time with our grandchildren—full of laughter, questions, and wide-eyed wonder—sparked the idea to write children’s picture books. That inspiration grew into the Lil Cristie Chronicles™, a storytelling adventure that draws from my childhood and communicates timeless biblical truths.

Our journey in ministry and parenting has taken Jerry and me around the globe, allowing us to share biblical, life-giving messages across churches, conferences, and diverse platforms. These experiences have deepened our gratitude for the church, God’s faithfulness, and broadened our passion for training others to live out their faith with courage and clarity.

In 2003, I joined the rising number of mothers returning to school. With our children nearing adulthood, I sensed the Lord leading me to complete the education I had once set aside. That decision—fueled by a love for learning—led to the completion of undergraduate and graduate degrees in Christian Education and Theology. I especially enjoy creating Christian Strong content that speaks biblical, applicable truth into today’s culture. My love for creativity continues to spark new ideas, initiatives, and projects.

Still, my greatest joy is found in Christ and the family He has graciously given us. Our children and grandchildren inspire my most meaningful ideas with their energy, humor, and zest for life. A daily highlight is sharing morning coffee with Jerry—the beans lovingly ground by his hands and our prayer times together. A close second? Riding bikes together while video chatting with our kids on Marco Polo. It’s chaotic, slightly hazardous, and completely us.

This current season has brought new lessons in faith and surrender. In December 2022, just days after my father passed away—and seven months earlier, saying goodbye to my mother as she entered eternity, and eight months before this, our precious grandson Wesley was ushered into the arms of Jesus—I found myself experiencing incredible loss and still grieving. I suddenly stepped into the unanticipated role of caregiver. Unexpectedly, my darling Jerry fell gravely ill. After weeks of misdiagnoses and being bedridden, on February 10, 2023, he was rushed to the hospital, and we were informed he had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)—a rare, life-threatening disorder typically seen in children with a significantly high fatality rate. By February 15, 2023, he was given 48 hours to live.

In that moment, we were broken before the Lord. We called upon every prayer warrior we knew. Within hours, Jerry’s oncologist began treatment with chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs. We prayed boldly with God’s people—not just for his cancer to respond, but for the raging inflammation in his body to subside. And by God’s mercy, we witnessed a miracle. Within those 48 hours, Jerry’s body responded. The HLH came under control, and on April 19, 2023, just eight weeks later, Jerry was declared in remission from cancer, where God has graced him to remain. We are deeply, humbly grateful for God’s healing hand and sustaining grace. After 12 cycles of Chemo and learning to walk again after 61 PT sessions, Jerry has regained his strength and is back running on the treadmill, and doing great, and he is excited to enter this new season of teaching God’s Word and preaching the Gospel of Jesus.

More than ever before, I cherish daily walks with Jerry and time spent outdoors—just being still, talking with the Lord, and savoring each moment. My heart swells when I see a call or text light up my phone from one of our kids or grandkids. With deep European roots, preparing hearty German meals for family continues to be a favorite tradition. And when we find time to rest, you'll likely find us under a beach umbrella—Jerry by my side, my Bible and a good book in hand, the waves in the distance, and a golden sunset brushing the sky. That, to me, is just about perfect—until eternity comes into view.