Vickie Janson

Vickie lives with her husband, Joe on a small ranch in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Southwest Colorado. Together they enjoy the splendor of God's creation while cross-country skiing in the local mountains and sailing on nearby lakes. While on vacation, they enjoy deep-sea fishing and scuba diving in the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans. They also enjoy the nostalgia of owning and showing several hot rods and motorcycles. Vickie's college education and experience in Business Administration enabled her to teach and carry out "the business of doing business" in the health care field for over 35 years. She now works with her husband in their Custom Home Design firm.

When their two daughters, Kristy and Sherry were murdered by a neighborhood boy in 1983 Vickie thought her purpose in life had ended. Through much prayer and seeking the Lord she sensed the Holy Spirit encouraging her to devote her attention and skills to teaching women biblical truths so that they, in turn might teach their children those truths as the Lord commands in His Word. Her deep burning desire is for all women to know and understand that Jesus Christ came to save us, and he came so that we may have life and have it abundantly no matter what life throws at us. We live in stressful times, but we do not have to BE stressed! We can be overcomers because Jesus said, through him, we could! Vickie has served in women's ministries for over 25 years in many positions including Missionary Correspondent, Bible Study Teacher, Prayer Chain Coordinator, Women's Ministries Director, Retreat and Conference Speaker. She has also been a guest on CBN's 700 Club, the Rock Church Network, Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh, a speaker at Women's Aglow International and many conferences, retreats and special events in churches throughout the Southwest and California. She has served on the Leadership Board of Women United in Christ since its inception in 1997, and as the Director oversees all aspects of the ministry.

Cindy Kelley

Cindy, a native Coloradan, has been married to her high school sweetheart Pat for over 34 years. They raised their two now grown daughters, Tara & Kodie, in beautiful Durango. Cindy's desire in life from the time she was a little girl was to be a mother and homemaker. While raising her daughters and keeping her home Cindy also worked outside the home and has 32 years experience in office management.

Growing up in a broken home, Cindy experienced much sadness and pain in her childhood. Her life was almost shattered when her fiancé, Pat, suffered a near fatal gunshot wound, and her younger sister and her sisters' fiancé were both killed in an auto accident. These tragedies happened in the same year and caused Cindy to begin a search for answers, which lead her to the Lord. She accepted Jesus Christ as her savior and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was then that she made the decision to allow God to use her to reach out and touch others through what he'd brought her through.

Cindy and her husband live on a mountain rim overlooking the magnificently beautiful Animas Valley in Durango. They rebuilt their home after the 2002 devastating wildfires in Southwest Colorado completely destroyed their home without warning. While running for their lives, Cindy and her family watched as the fire turned years of memories to ashes. Again she made the choice to allow God to use her for his glory, to proclaim his power and forgiveness through this tragedy also. She has a heart for serving and has helped in many areas of women's ministries over the years from clean up to Women's Ministry Director. She has been a friend and encourager to many women over the years. Her first response to any problem is "Let's pray"! Cindy has been a guest speaker at many Christian churches and women's functions throughout the Four Corners area sharing her testimony. She has served on the Durango Community Worship Board with her husband, and has been on the Leadership Board of Women United in Christ since it's beginning in 1997. She presently serves as Ministries Director.

Annette Schultheiss

After living in Maui, Hawaii for over 8 years, Annette, her husband Vic and son Jonathan relocated to Southwest Colorado. They now live on a 36 acre ranch on the Piedra River along with a variety of animals including mules, miniature donkeys, a breeding Jack and three dogs. As a family they enjoy fishing and riding the mules in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Vic and Jonathan also use the mules for hunting each fall. Annette is very detailed and uses her gifts of organization and business skills in the banking industry. She is currently employed as a commercial loan assistant.

Annette has a heart for women's ministry. In Hawaii where her foundation in Christ was formed she was selected as a leader for a women's group at her church. After moving to Colorado she accepted the leadership role once again at her new church. After she attended her first Women United in Christ conference she knew that God had given her direction to volunteer her talents to serve others through this ministry and has served on the Leadership Board ever since. She started as the Treasurer, then Facilities Coordinator and now is the Speaker Coordinator. As the Speaker Coordinator she reviews potential speaker's CDs and DVDs and presents them to the Leadership Board for consideration.

Penny Falconer

Penny is a woman after God's own heart and is always ready and willing to help others. She has made daily devotions a part of her life and has God's holy Word planted deep in her heart. In her many years as a believer Penny has served others in a variety of ways. She's taught Sunday School, and Bible Study, served as coordinator for meal preparation and delivery to needy families and to the sick. She's helped in the church office and the church kitchen on a regular basis. Penny has also served on the Deacon Board. She is Grandma Penny to countless children, many of whom are grown and now have children of their own. Her home is always open to those in need for as long as they are in need. She is full of grace and kindness for all of God's children. Truly she is an example of a godly woman.

Her most rewarding and enjoyable task, she says, is helping with Women United in Christ. She serves as the Area Churches Coordinator contacting and working with over 200 churches in the Four Corners area and their representatives. It is through her efforts and organization that we are able to keep all the churches in the Four Corners informed of upcoming conferences and events.

Sherry Gurholt

Sherry and her husband of 25 years, Gary, moved to southwest Colorado in late 2004 after building their retirement home in the pines. Since their marriage they moved from San Diego (after Gary retired from the Navy) to Hawaii, then back to San Diego. While Sherry is retired, Gary is employed by a company contracted to the Navy and thoroughly enjoys his work. Whenever she can, Sherry travels with Gary in their RV to various west coast Naval stations when he has work to do on one of our air craft carriers. They especially enjoy the trips to San Diego so they can visit with their four children (Gary has two sons and Sherry has a son and daughter) and eight grandchildren. Every so often she gets to fly to meet him at places where they cannot take the motor home - places like London and Hawaii. When they are not traveling for business they enjoy touring our national parks and enjoy boating in the summer in one of the local lakes.

1974 was a huge year for Sherry as she admitted and accepted the fact that she was an alcoholic and began her road to recovery. It was only when she cried out to God for help that sobriety came. Over the years that Sherry's been sober, she could absolutely see God at work in her life. Several years into sobriety her husband decided he'd rather not be married; and through the separation and divorce Sherry felt God's arms wrap around her and hold her. She believes that God has directed her life - from her marriage to Gary, to the moves they've made, coming to this beautiful area, and finally coming to where she is today. While Sherry always knew God was at work in her life, it wasn't until she moved to Colorado that she experienced a personal relationship with Jesus. The best part of all this is that Gary, who had bad experience with churches, has also accepted Jesus and his Savior.

Although Sherry has been active in various aspects at her church, she felt there was something lacking, so she began asking God what it was that He wanted from her. Shortly after Sherry was offered a position on the board of Women United in Christ and knew that God has answered her prayer. Sherry's experience as an administrative assistant should be very helpful as she serves the Lord in her new position.

Susan Lawson

Susan is one of our newest Leadership Board members and has lived in the Durango area since 1982. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended college in both California and Utah, working at Stanford University and in Silicon Valley for many years. Susan and her husband Mark live part-time in Durango and part-time in Silverton Colorado, where he is the Pastor of an inter-denominational church, Silverton Church on the Hill. Susan is a multi-tasker, running a furniture/antique restoration business and working side by side with her husband as a pastor's wife. Previously Susan worked for several years in advertising in the four corners area which has assisted her in the position of Publicity Coordinator for Women United in Christ.

Having been adopted at 6 weeks of age, Susan has developed a true heart for women facing unexpected pregnancies. After moving to Durango, Susan was introduced to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and at that time, she was born again. Shortly after that she was blessed through the adoption of her daughter, Heather, who shares the same testimony that life is truly a Gift from God. Susan has learned from her own personal experiences that life through the challenges of brokenness can be a life of restoration and healing if we turn it all over to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She has a heart of compassion for those who are broken through the trials of life. Her life scripture is Isaiah 54.

Sharon Talbot-Jarrett

Sharon's Christian education began when she was ten years old when her parents became very involved in her grandmother's church. Her father served as a Deacon in the church and her mother taught Sunday School. At her young age, the Word of God took root deep in her heart. Following her parent's footsteps, Sharon developed a heart for serving others as well. She helped organize and instruct others in Junior Church and even sang duets with her mother on occasion. Having a solid Christian foundation has kept her on solid ground through many tragedies and hardships in her adult life. As her world was crumbling all around her at times, Sharon stood on the promises of God, took many steps of faith, was comforted in the arms of her savior, Jesus and he picked her up and carried her through. Her sweet, quiet spirit is a quality unsurpassed by many. Her roots go deep and she walks in victory in the Lord.

Her secretarial skills and education in the banking industry keep Sharon on her toes. She is presently employed as a Senior Registered Sales Assistant with a leading international financial firm. We are blessed to have her on the Leadership Board as our Treasurer. In this role she keeps accurate records of all expenditures and budgets. She is also our Facilities Coordinator where she acts as a liaison with the conference facility and keeps things running smoothly.

Diane Knutson

Diane has been our Director of Music for the last 7 years and is responsible for selecting our music, worship team, and leading the practices. She lives in the Animas Valley with her husband, John (who is the pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church) and son, Patrick (who is a Junior at Durango High School.)

Diane has always had a love for music. She began playing the flute while growing up in southern California and continued when she attended the University of Northern Colorado, earning a Music Minor. After college graduation, Diane went to law school and then became a lawyer and municipal court judge. She began playing her flute at churches, with a variety of groups and in various settings. Thankful for this gift of music from the Lord and for opportunities to share it with others, she has grown in faith by attending Catholic, Evangelical Free, and Lutheran churches throughout the years. Diane brings a love of music that blesses our attendees who join us from numerous backgrounds. Diane stays active in her various callings as wife, mother and pastor's wife, by volunteering her time and talents with the Colorado Municipal Judges Association and Durango Choral Society Board, and by practicing law and serving as a Municipal Court Judge for Durango and Ignacio. However, one of her greatest joys and blessings is being able to work with the talented and committed women involved in our yearly Women United in Christ event!

Lora Hodges

Lora is the 2oo8 Music Team Leader for Women United in Christ. She and her husband Russell live in Farmington New Mexico where they share a combined family of 4 grown children (2 of whom are married) and 2 grandchildren. Lora wears many hats in her daily activities where she and her husband own and operate a music store and sound system business for events throughout the four corners area, along with teaching voice. Lora and her husband write and produce music and are in a Christian band where she is the lead singer. She has been involved in Praise & Worship in Church from her teen years and serves on the Worship Team at Living Word Church in Farmington where she has been a member for many years. Music has been a source of strength, expression and ministry in Lora's life.

From the very first Women United in Christ Conference she attended, she felt a pulling in her heart and knew that she was to be involved somehow. Since that time, the Lord has placed her in the Praise and Worship aspect of the Ministry where she now holds the position of Worship Leader for Women United in Christ and Transformations Ministries where she is able to share her passion for worship in serving the Lord

At the age of 9 years old, she first accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior which would prove to be her strength as she faced many life challenges. Lora's heart for women and teenage girls is to encourage them with her own testimony of knowing the pain of finding her way through many insecurities as a teen in a single-parent home, of living in the chaos and turmoil of an alcoholic environment, divorce, being a single mother and sole provider for her children, and finding strength, grace, forgiveness and healing along the way. Lora's desire is to encourage others to hold on when they are facing trials and choices and find themselves in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations, to truly have a relationship with God, to know the love, redemption and peace of God as we enter into His presence in our thanks and worship of Him.

Lisa Papararo

10/17/98

Judy Hampton

Women With A Heart for God

10/16/99

Pam Farrel

Women of Influence

10/14/00

Kathy Blume

Women of Worship

10/13/01

Susan Hunt

Women of Strength

10/12/02

Vickie Janson

Women of Victory

10/11/03

Donna Jones

Women of Integrity

10/09/04

Lisa Harper

Women of Hope

10/08/05

Gigi Graham

Women Fully Reliant on God

10/14/06

Suzette Brawner

Women of Wisdom

10/13/07