Wendy Hanson, Family Life Pastor

Coaching the team in their role and prayerfully setting the spiritual tone, Wendy leads Open Door’s ministry to families with children.

She is thankful to God for giving wisdom, discernment, and strength to do this. Delighting in other’s gifts, Wendy loves to encourage children and those that minister to them. Enabling the team to function as a team  complements her capacity to be present to families in a personal way.

Wendy believes in the Jesus who was and is present to children. Responding to His call as an 8 year old, her understanding of this “yes” has grown since then through experiences of crisis and joy. Through events such as her brother’s traumatic motorcycle accident or a missions trip at age 14 she discovered no matter what happened in life, she was not alone.

Embracing the promise of His presence and our dependency in Him, Wendy points to John 15. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Twelve, fifteen, and twenty-one years ago Wendy and her husband Ray were blessed with their son Robbie, daughter Kjersti, and son Eric. More recently they adopted a dog who challenges Wendy to grow in patience.

Others that have challenged and inspired Wendy are Keith Green, Frodo, and teachers who encouraged her to pursue her talents and dreams. Among those talents are composing and singing music and extreme dexterity demonstrated by an ability to wiggle her toes continuously for long periods of time without rest. Perhaps this comes from the same place in her heart that has the ability to love squirmy, restless little children and their families.