Joannie is the president of Journey to Joy Ministries, and a native of York County, and a graduate of Dover High School. She received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, and has an Associate’s degree from Gulf Coast Community College. On December 13, 1987 she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. On April 16, 1994 Joannie was awakened by a loud audible voice saying, “II Corinthians 1:3-7”, this she believed was and is her call to ministry. Joannie has been a prayer minister since 2000 implementing her mission and vision which comes from Ephesians 4:11-16. Her training however started years before and has come from many sources including but not limited to: Washington Nazarene Bible College Pastoral Care and Counseling, Freedom thru Jesus Fellowship Ministry Training School, Basic and Advanced Elijah House Ministry of Prayer Counseling, American Association of Christian Counselors, Caring for People God’s Way, Internship with C.A.R.E. Inc. Baldwin Michigan, a residential/non-residential program for survivors of ritual trauma, attachment disorders and Dissociative Identity Disorder, Bethel School of Transformation, Honor Academy and training in ministry models: Shabar, Tree of Life, Fathers Ladder, and Sozo, Tom Hawkins, Restoration in Christ, Neil Anderson, Freedom in Christ, Chester and Betsy Kylstra, Restoring the Foundations, Covenant of Peace, Loved to Life, Boundaries; Access York, Domestic Violence Training, International Fellowship of Chaplains, Basic Chaplaincy Training.
Joannie also facilitates many training and teaching curriculums including: Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You, published by Shepherd’s House; Becoming Who You Are, by Dutch Sheets; Elijah House Prayer Ministry Training, by John & Paula Sandford; Mark Virkler’s, How To Hear God’s Voice and many others. Training is an ongoing process which Joannie believes must continue because God continues to reveal truth through His Word. She directed White Oaks Sanctuary, a residential program for woman in the recovery process from domestic violence and spouse abuse. As Founder and President of Journey to Joy Ministries Joannie continues to work with those who have experienced the trauma of abuse and incorporates all of her training and life experiences to minister to all seeking healing and wholeness caused by the many consequences of living in a fallen sinful world.